These Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders are sweet, tangy, and incredibly easy to make. The chicken marinates in a simple honey mustard sauce and then cooks until golden and juicy in just a few minutes. They work great for a quick weeknight dinner, meal prep, or as a fun appetizer for the whole family. Serve them with extra honey mustard on the side for dipping!
I like to drizzle some of this homemade creamy honey mustard sauce on top for extra flavor.
20 minutes
easy Weeknight
Quick Look: Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🥣 Marinating Time: 2 hours
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 8 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 2 hours 18 minutes
- 🍗 Servings: 2 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 455 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Cook in frying pan
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: chicken tenders, honey, yellow mustard
- ⭐️ Difficulty: Easy! This is a great recipe for meal prep or a weeknight meal.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Julia left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“My husband LOVES honey mustard anything and this was a big hit! So easy on a weeknight. This will be on repeat at our house!”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Great for meal prep – I love to make a double batch of this recipe to have on hand as an easy protein for the week.
- Versatile recipe – I love a recipe like these chicken tenders because you can use it in everything from a sandwich to a salad to wrap. They are also great on their own.
- Family friendly – These honey mustard chicken tenders are perfect for an easy family meal! I love making these for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You only need a few simple ingredients to make these honey mustard chicken tenders.
- Boneless skinless chicken tenders – you can buy your chicken in tenders, or you can cut full chicken breasts into tenders
- Oil – I like to use avocado oil or olive oil for marinating and cooking these chicken tenders
- Honey – you only need a little bit of honey to add that perfect honey mustard flavor
- Yellow mustard – I prefer yellow mustard for this recipe, but you can opt for dijon mustard or whole grain mustard as well
- Soy sauce – use soy sauce or coconut aminos to deepen the flavor of your marinade
- Salt, pepper, garlic powder – this simple spice blend is all you need to season your chicken for this recipe
You can also make honey mustard chicken thighs using this simple recipe. The chicken thighs will take slightly longer to cook so be sure to check for an internal temperature of 165F.
If you need a side dish for your chicken tenders, I love this roasted veggie couscous salad.
How to make a Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Combine avocado oil, honey, yellow mustard, coconut aminos, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Step 2: Add chicken tenders to the bowl and toss to coat them. Marinate in the fridge for at least two hours.
Step 3: Heat a large pan over medium heat and add oil to the pan. When the oil is warm add the marinated tenders to the pan.
Step 4: Cook the chicken tenders over medium for 8 minutes flipping every 2 minutes. Enjoy!
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders 🍗
- Marinate for as long as you can – Even a half hour adds great flavor but overnight in the fridge gives the best results. The honey mustard really soaks into the chicken and makes every bite flavorful.
- Pat the chicken before cooking – After marinating, patting the chicken dry helps it sear in the pan instead of steam. This gives you a golden crust on the outside instead of a pale, soft coating.
- Do not crowd the pan – Cook the chicken tenders in a single layer with space between each piece. Crowding the pan drops the temperature of the pan and oil and the chicken will steam instead of sear.
- Let the chicken rest before cutting – Give the tenders 2-3 minutes to rest after cooking so the juices stay inside and every bite is moist.
For another honey mustard inspired recipe, try this honey mustard three bean salad.
Storage and Reheating
Once prepared, allow the tenders to cool completely. Then, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
You can reheat these on the stovetop, but if I have leftovers I prefer to eat them cold.
Recipe FAQs
How long should I marinate chicken tenders?
At minimum marinate for 15-30 minutes. For the best flavor, marinate in the fridge for 4 hours or even overnight.
Can I bake honey mustard chicken tenders instead of pan frying?
Yes! Bake at 400F for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
Can I grill honey mustard chicken tenders instead of frying?
Yes! Heat a grill or grill pan over medium high heat. Rotate the chicken tenders every 2 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
Can I use chicken breasts instead of tenders?
Yes! Slice boneless skinless chicken breasts into strips to make your own tenders. The cooking time may be slightly longer depending on thickness.
What dipping sauces go well with honey mustard chicken?
Extra honey mustard is the obvious choice, but these also taste great with ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, or a garlic aioli.
Check Out These Other Chicken Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
Email Recipe for Later
Recipe
Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp soy sauce or coconut aminos
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast tenders or full breasts cut into tenders
Instructions
- Combine 1/4 cup avocado oil, honey, yellow mustard, coconut aminos, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a mixing bowl
- If desired, remove tendon from chicken tenders using a paring knife or fork.
- Add chicken tenders to the bowl and toss to coat them
- Cover the bowl and marinate in the fridge for at least two hours
- Heat a large pan (I use a cast iron skillet) over medium heat and add 1 tbsp of oil to the pan
- When the oil is warm add the marinated tenders to the pan
- Cook the chicken tenders over medium for 8 minutes flipping every 2 minutes
- Enjoy immediately or store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days
Recipe Notes
- You can use chicken breasts and slice them into tenders.
- This marinade also works with chicken thighs.
- Dijon or whole grain mustard work as substitutes for yellow mustard.
- Marinate your chicken for four hours or even overnight for best results.
- Pat the chicken dry before cooking.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan to avoid steaming the chicken.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
Leave a Reply