These grilled chicken tenderloins are seasoned with a simple but flavorful blend of spices. Then, they're grilled to perfection in just four minutes, creating tender, juicy, and flavorful tenderloins that you can use as a delicious main course or as an ingredient in other recipes.
You've seen a lot of intricate cheesecakes and creamy, saucy dishes on my site, so it might surprise you to know that I actually enjoy making simple, straightforward dishes.
I love quick and easy dishes like my air fryer chicken bites or hot honey shrimp because they can be served as-is or added to other recipes for even more flavor. Versatile recipes like these are what help me serve delicious dinners almost every night.
My newest recipe, these grilled chicken tenderloins, is another easy, instant favorite everyone will love. With just a few minutes of prep and a few more minutes on the grill, you'll have a delicious main course ready to go.
You can also add it Marry Me chicken recipe for a more substantial meal.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: These tenderloins require only a handful of ingredients.
- So Easy: Simply toss the chicken with the spices and grill. That's it!
- Customizable: It's easy to tweak this recipe to make it your own.
- Versatile: Serve these tenderloins as a main course or add them to other recipes, such as Marry Me chicken pasta or this citrus arugula salad. You can even use them as a delicious substitute in my hot honey chicken sandwiches recipe.
- Great for Meal Prep: Like my grilled chicken burgers, this recipe is freezer-friendly, allowing you to prepare as many tenderloins as needed and save them for future meals.
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Ingredients
I used Springer Mountain Farms boneless, skinless tenders. I love that they never use antibiotics or hormones, and their feed has no animal by-products.
I prefer Costabile olive oil for its quality, purity, and flavor. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK on Amazon for 15% off.
Refer to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for a complete list of ingredients and their precise quantities.
Variations
- Chicken Tenders: The seasonings in this recipe work well with any type of chicken.
- Seafood: Try this recipe with shrimp, crab, or lobster tails.
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for a kick of heat.
- Smoked: Use your favorite wood for a smoky version.
How to Make Grilled Chicken Tenderloins
Step 1: Wash the tenders and pat them dry. Then coat the chicken with olive oil and toss them with the seasonings.
Step 2: Add the tenders to the grill, close the lid, and cook at 430 to 450 degrees until their internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, flipping halfway through cooking.
Expert Tips
- Rub your grates with olive oil before preheating the grill to prevent sticking.
- Your grill is ready when you can only hold your hand about 3 inches above the grate for a few seconds before it becomes uncomfortable.
- It's important to coat the tenderloins in oil first and then toss them with the spices. This prevents clumping.
- Use a meat thermometer to prevent chicken that's either raw in the middle or dried out.
- If you use wood chips to add smoky flavor, ensure they soak for at least 30 minutes.
Grilled Chicken Tenderloins FAQ
Chicken tenderloins should be cooked for 2 to 4 minutes per side, depending on their thickness.
Only flip chicken tenderloins, or any meat, one time. This allows both sides to have the necessary contact time to achieve nice grill marks and the heat required to cook them thoroughly.
The biggest mistake people make when grilling chicken is either grilling it uncovered or constantly removing the lid to check the chicken. The lid should only be removed when flipping the chicken.
📖 Recipe
Grilled Chicken Tenderloins
Video
Equipment
- Grill
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 3 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoon oregano
- 3 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Wash and pat the chicken dry. Preheat the grill to between 430 and 450 degrees.
- Coat the tenderloins in oil. Then, toss them with the seasonings in a large bowl.
- Place the tenderloins on the hot grill, cover, and cook for 2 minutes. Flip the tenderloins and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Check the chicken with a meat thermometer. If the internal temperature registers 165 degrees, enjoy! If not, continue grilling for another minute.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
- Defrost overnight if frozen. Then, microwave at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
- Rub your grates with olive oil before preheating the grill to prevent sticking.
- Your grill is ready when you can only hold your hand about 3 inches above the grate for a few seconds before it becomes uncomfortable.
- It's important to coat the tenderloins in oil first and then toss them with the spices. This prevents clumping.
- Use a meat thermometer to prevent chicken that's either raw in the middle or dried out.
- If you use wood chips to add smoky flavor, ensure they soak for at least 30 minutes.
Nicole Kendrick says
My family loved this!