Grilled Chicken Tenders

Grill up these easy moist and chicken tenders for the kids or the kid in you. Ultra simple with these easy to follow step by step photo instructions.

Editor's Note: Originally Published May 30, 2013. Updated with expanded instructions and updated photos.

Do you have one of "those" kids? You know, the one who won't eat what you cook and you end up doing something separate and almost always unhealthy.

This is the solution — minimal work, time, and guaranteed to calm that 3-year-old dinner monster. You have steak, and they have healthy chicken tenders.

My Rating

A solid 4 for the adult but a 5 for little ones.

Pro Tips: Recipe Notes for Grilled Chicken Tenders

The Chicken

Chicken tenders are the chicken equivalent of a beef or pork tenderloin. So moist and tender if done right.

I like to cut the tendon that is attached to the meat off. You can't chew it, and the kids tend not to like it there.

You can also cut strips of chicken breasts to do this if you want, but they will cook a bit slower. But you are cooking to a final internal temperature anyway so it will be fine.

The Grill

You want a grill surface temperature of about 450. With tenders, a little under is much better than a little over on the temperature.

On my grill that is about medium or slightly more. On most gas grills, it will be medium-high.

A grill surface thermometer will help you a lot to be a better griller. Please see A Beginners Guide to Grill Temperature on a Gas Grill.

This can be done easily on a charcoal grill but not directly over the coals.

The Technique

Coat with a little olive oil. Then some salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Put over medium heat for 4-5 minutes flip once, and you're done in another 4-5 minutes. Make that about 12 minutes total time.

Give them a little sauce to dip like some ranch dressing or BBQ, and they will be in kiddy heaven.

Other Kid-Friendly Chicken Recipes

Oven Baked Chicken Legs: The Art of Drummies
Grilled Chicken Drumsticks: The Art of Drummies
Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Spicy Baked Chicken Strips
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Preheat grill to a surface temperature of about 450 which is medium-high on most gas grills and medium on a hot gas grill. Clean and oil the grill surface well.

Pat dry the chicken tenders. Trim the tendon as much as is easy to cut.

In a mixing bowl, mix 6 tenders with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, and granular garlic powder (optional). Adjust spices and oil according to the number of tenders and your taste.

Place over direct heat.

Grill until the chicken turns from a pink color to white along the edge (about 5 minutes). You will see the white moving up the sides. Flip and grill another approximate 4-5 minutes until internal temperature is 165 degrees. Time will vary with the size and thickness of the tender and your exact grill temperature.

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4.18 from 47 votes

Grilled Chicken Tenders

Grill up these easy moist and tender fingers for the kids or the kid in you.

Prep Time2 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time12 mins

Author: Dan Mikesell AKA DrDan

Servings/Adjust Amount: 6 tenders

Ingredients

• 6 Chicken tenders - or as many as needed
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon granular garlic powder - optional

US Customary - Convert to Metric

Instructions

• Preheat grill to a surface temperature of about 450 which is medium-high on most gas grills and medium on a hot gas grill. Clean and oil the grill surface well.
• Pat dry the chicken tenders. Trim the tendon as much as is easy to cut.
• In a mixing bowl, mix 6 tenders with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/4 teaspoon granular garlic powder (optional). Adjust spices and oil according to the number of tenders and your taste.
• Place over direct heat.
• Grill until the chicken turns from a pink color to white along the edge (about 5 minutes). You will see the white moving up the sides. Flip and grill another approximate 4-5 minutes until internal temperature is 165 degrees. Time will vary with the size and thickness of the tender and your exact grill temperature.

Recipe Notes

Pro Tips

1. This recipe is easy to combine with grilling chicken or pork since the grill temperature is the same.
2. If you do this with beef, you will need to turn down the heat on part of the grill.
3. The recommended surface temperature is 450. If you cook much hotter, they will dry.
4. The seasoning is approximately my 7:2:2 seasoning. Use that if you have it.
5. The final internal temperature of 165 is important for safety.
6. You may cut chicken strips out of chicken breasts. They may take a few minutes longer but you are cooking to the final internal temperature.
7. Kids love to dip so use a dip if you want. Just some Ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, or mayo is fine.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Cookout, Kids, Picnic

 

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ADJUST THE RECIPE SIZE:

You may adjust the number of servings in this recipe card under servings. This does the math for the ingredients for you. BUT it does NOT adjust the text of the instructions. So you need to do that yourself.  

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Grilled Chicken Tenders

Amount Per Serving (1 tender)

Calories 78 Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 1g5%

Cholesterol 32mg11%

Sodium 252mg11%

Potassium 185mg5%

Carbohydrates 1g0%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 11g22%

Vitamin A 15IU0%

Vitamin C 0.6mg1%

Calcium 3mg0%

Iron 0.2mg1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

 

Nutrition is generally for one serving. Number of servings is stated above and is my estimate of normal serving size for this recipe.

 

All nutritional information are estimates and may vary from your actual results. This is home cooking, and there are many variables. To taste ingredients such as salt will be my estimate of the average used.