9 Quick and Easy Chicken Tender Recipes (Kids Will Love Them)

From crispy air fried tenders to saucy Caesar chicken, these are our favorite ways to cook and serve chicken tenders.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published October 21, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
french onion chicken in a skillet at a table setting with glasses, a bowl of bread, and a small bowl of herbs

Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

Chicken tenders never disappoint. I appreciate how quick they cook how easy they are to work with, perfect for weeknights. They're versatile, too—chicken tenders can be saucy in a simple skillet dinner or coated and turned crispy. The crowd-pleasers are a hit with everyone, kids and adults alike. These recipes will be, too.

  • Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders on a plate with ranch dip in a cup

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "We like using salty, crunchy kettle chips, but we’ve also used corn chips and tortilla chips with success. Try fun flavors to mix things up a bit." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas

    Sheet pan with cooked chicken strips and assorted vegetables surrounded by bowls of tortilla shells shredded cheese salsa and guacamole

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "An array of toppings is what makes fajitas such a perfect option for picky eaters: You can opt for alllll the toppings—sour cream and salsa and guacamole and chopped scallions and shredded Monterey Jack and on and on—or none of the above." —Deborah Koenig, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Caesar Pasta

    Close-up: chicken caesar pasta recipe

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "I made this last night and it was really good. I substituted anchovy paste and just used a little to give it some authentic caesar taste without being too fishy, and it worked well." —Greg, Reader

  • Baked Parmesan Chicken Nuggets

    A serving tray with homemade chicken nuggets and ketchup on it.

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

    "We ask you to pat the chicken pieces with paper towels. Patting the chicken pieces dry will help the chicken have crispy breading when baked." —Elise Bauer, Founder

    Continue to 5 of 9 below

  • Hot Honey Chicken

    hot honey tenders on a platter with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas 

    "My preference is to serve the tenders with white rice, but brown rice or another whole grain would also be delicious. I also love to serve them over cold soba noodles or even cooked ramen noodles. Stir-fried broccoli is a fast and easy vegetable side, but I love carrots and bok choy, which can also be stir-fried or sautéed as a quick accompaniment." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Italian Skillet Chicken with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Onions

    A shot of the Italian chicken ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickle

    "Use a 12-inch skillet (measured across the top) with high sides to cook this meal. A smaller skillet may not be large enough to fit all of the ingredients." —Summer Miller, Contributor

  • French Onion Chicken

    french onion chicken in a skillet at a table setting with glasses, a bowl of bread, and a small bowl of herbs

    Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu

    "Caramelized onions notoriously take ages to make. This recipe adds a little brown sugar to the onions and has you stir them over medium-high heat to speed up the caramelization process. This means you’ll just end up stirring onions for about 10 minutes, rather than up to 40 minutes." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Southwest Skillet Chicken with Beans and Corn

    Easy Skillet Chicken - close up of chicken tenders with black beans, corn, and red and green bell peppers

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickle

    "If you make this on a day when you don’t have the suggested vegetables on hand, don’t worry about it. Serve the chicken with a side salad, tortillas, Cilantro Lime Rice or a vegetable of your choice." —Summer Miller, Contributor

    Continue to 9 of 9 below

  • Goldfish Chicken Tenders

    Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "While you could fry these, I prefer to bake them. The crackers get really crispy and form a satisfying crust, and cleanup is much easier if you bake them." —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

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