Grilled chicken is always such a great and these Grilled Chicken Tenders with Balsamic Rosemary Marinade are so easy! A quick simple marinade with pantry staples soaks right into the chicken tenders, then they’re grilled to perfection. Perfect for summer nights when you want an easy, flavorful meal.
Grilled Chicken Fingers
Chicken fingers, chicken strips and chicken tenders are all one and the same. No matter what you call them, they’re the small piece of chicken tenderloin located under the breast of the chicken. While it’s pretty common to see them fried, grilling them is a great option.
Chicken tenders are pretty pliable, and because the meat is soft, it absorbs marinade really well. This results in a shorter marinade time, which gets dinner on the table faster!
Grilled Chicken Marinade
I use the same recipe for my chicken tender marinade as I do for our grilled chicken thigh recipe. I love the sweet and savory finish of the balsamic vinegar with the dijon and the rosemary. Super aromatic, lots of flavor.
Marinade Ingredients:
- Soy Sauce
- Balsamic Vinegar
- Olive Oil
- Garlic
- Honey
- Dijon Mustard
- Worcestershire
- Rosemary
- Brown Sugar
Chicken Tenderloin Marinade
Mix up the marinade, and pour it into a seal top ziplock bag (or a casserole dish). For chicken tenderloins, I recommend marinating them for a shorter period of time. Chicken tenders have less fat than other cuts, and the vinegar can tenderize the meat so a shorter marinade time of about 2 hours or less is perfect.
How to Grill Chicken Tenders
My husband purchased a Traegar, which I was honestly not a fan of because of aesthetics, but I love it now. If you grill often, I totally recommend it!
- Preheat grill to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Place chicken on grill, and flip over at the 6-7 minute mark.
- Continue to cook for additional 6-7 minutes.
- Chicken is fully cooked once it reaches 165 degrees internally.
The beauty of chicken tenderloins is how fast they cook. I love them for a weeknight meal, or an easy lunch by the pool. It’s also nice to just grab a piece of chicken and eat it without any frills. A perfect protein filled, flavorful snack.
Serving Grilled Chicken Fingers
I will eat these just on their own, and snack on them during the day. If I’m serving them as a meal, I love them plate lunch style with some steamed rice, and Hawaiian mac salad!
More Easy Chicken Recipes:
- Sheet Pan Chicken Breasts
- Greek Yogurt Chicken
- Rosemary Chicken
- Baked Chicken Thighs
- Air Fried Chicken Tenders
What do you think about this recipe? Have questions? Comment below! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula,while you’re at it…We love to see your pics!
Cheers to easy Summer recipes! – Kathi and Rachel
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
Chicken Tender Marinade
- 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp rosemary (dried or fresh chopped)
- 1 tsp worcestershire
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Combine marinade ingredients together in a sealable plastic bag. 'Smush' around to combine ingredients.
- Add chicken to marinade & fully coat. Marinate for 30 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Preheat grill to 400 degrees fahrenheit.
- Place chicken on grill and close lid for 6-7 minutes. Flip chicken and cook on opposite side for 6-7 minutes. Chicken is fully cooked once it reaches 165 degrees fahrenheit at its thickest point.
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