Pan Fried Chicken Tenders are a delicious and easy-to-make meal that is perfect for any occasion. This recipe is a great way to enjoy juicy and flavorful chicken tenders that are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.
Prep the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Add the chicken to a mixing bowl and add the garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Using clean hands mix well.
Cook the chicken. Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a skillet. Once hot, add the chicken tenders. Cook for 3 minutes without moving. Flip then cook an additional 2-3 minutes or until the internal temperature hits 165°F.
2 tablespoons olive oil
Serve. Serve hot or cold as is or with your favorite recipe.
Notes
Cook until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Always insert the meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken tender when temping.
Only use fresh tenders when pan frying for best results. Defrost frozen tenderloins in the fridge.
Arrange the tenders in the skillet in a single layer to not overcrowd the skillet with tenderloins. If cooking in bulk, make multiple batches or use a larger skillet.
Let the skillet preheat before adding the chicken. This is necessary for making crispy chicken.
Customize the flavorprofile of this recipe by swapping out any of the spices for your personal favorites.
Add a hint of spice by mixing red pepper flakes into the seasoning blend or sprinkling on the top of individual chicken tenders.
Do not flip chicken until the edges start to turn white and the tenders easily pull away from the pan.
Take advantage of the flavors in the skillet by deglazing with chicken or vegetable broth after the chicken has been removed. Scrape the glaze (aka fond) from the bottom of the skillet to simmer with the broth to create a flavorful sauce that can be drizzled over the chicken or used as a gravy for potatoes.
Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking to keep the juices from running all over the plate.
CKC Features both Gluten-Free Guidance and Kids Cooking Instructions: If you're new to eating gluten-free we understand it's overwhelming trying to figure out which foods may contain gluten and which ones don't. All of our gluten-free recipes marked with this symbol ✅ represent foods that need to be checked for gluten or cross-contamination.The ⭐️ symbol in the recipe below denotes the steps in which kid cooks may need a helper (depending on age). If there is no ⭐️ symbol, that step (or recipe) doesn't require a helper.