This super low ingredient marinade is pantry friendly and super delicious! With tenders you only need to marinade them for 20 minutes to get loads of flavor!
Chicken tenders are exactly what you’d expect, they are tender! These are the no fail, never dry chicken choice that will always please a crowd. Tenders themselves do go on sale but can often be more expensive than breasts. I find that, in a pinch, purchasing breasts and slicing them into tender sized slices and marinating those, works well too and can save a few bucks!
How to Make the Marinated Chicken Tenders
To make the tenders, just create this simple marinade:
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbs lemon juice
2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 cloved minced garlic
1 tsp salt
You can marinate 1 or more pounds chicken and marinate for at least 20 minutes or up to 8 hours. Grill the chicken over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Alternatively, you could cook these pan seared for about 5 minutes on each side.
What to Serve With Chicken Tenders
If you’re looking for something on the grill, I highly recommend these marinated sweet potato wedges. This is a cilantro lime marinade that is a real game changer. And making these will keep all the heat outside.
If you’re more of a rice fan, I recommend this garlic butter rice. This recipe is full of flavor and super pantry friendly. It is a simple, budget friendly dish, that gets requested year after year on our family trips. My in-laws absolutely rave about this rice and, rightfully so! You slice up garlic to make these crispy little garlic chips and cook the rice in, you guessed it, butter and garlic. Top it off with the garlic crisps and some sliced scallions, if you have them. This recipe is a hit again and again!
If you aren’t a huge fan of garlic, my mother in law’s spinach rice is always a huge hit as well! Or you could try any of these delicious summer sides!
Watch Me Make This Entire Meal and Others!
These marinated chicken tenders are of the quintessential cheap summer recipes in my 10 Cheap and Simple Summer Dinners video. Or check out the blog here. If you are looking specifically for fast and cheap recipes I’d go check out these 15 recipes for $5 in under 10 minutes or this list of 25 of the best rice and beans recipes. No matter where you end up, you’ll be getting some great, cheap, and delicious recipes!
The Best Chicken Tender Marinade
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders or more
Marinade:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tsp italian seasoning
- 1 clove minced garlic
- 1 tsp salt
Instructions
- Mix all of the marinade ingredients together and add the chicken.
- Marinade in the refrigerator 20 minutes to 8 hours.
- Grill over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes on each side. Make sure the chicken is all the way cooked and 165 degrees inside and enjoy!
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