Description
Juicy, golden garlic butter chicken tenders seared to perfection in a rich, savory sauce—perfect for a quick, comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken:
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For Cooking:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
Flavor & Garnish:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Season the Chicken: Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Sprinkle both sides evenly with salt, pepper, paprika, and onion powder to ensure each piece is well coated with flavor.
- Heat the Skillet: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter with the olive oil. Swirl to blend and allow the butter to become foamy but not brown.
- Sear the Chicken: Add the seasoned chicken tenders to the skillet in a single layer. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside on a plate.
- Make the Garlic Butter: Lower the heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, just until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Combine and Finish: Return the chicken tenders and any juices back to the skillet. Spoon the garlic butter over the tenders and cook for another 1-2 minutes, letting the flavors meld together.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley and serve with lemon wedges if desired. Enjoy immediately while hot and juicy!
Notes
- For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in the spices for up to 30 minutes before cooking.
- Chicken tenders cook quickly—avoid overcooking for the juiciest results.
- Want some heat? Add a pinch of red pepper flakes along with the garlic.
- This recipe also works with thinly sliced chicken breasts if you don’t have tenders.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main-course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 recipe (about 6 oz chicken)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 415 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 136 mg