Grilled Chicken Strips are a flavorful addition to any dinner. Mix together the spices, oil, and lemon and let marinate for an hour before grilling. The chicken only takes 10 minutes to grill and comes out fork-tender and full of flavor.
If you’re on the hunt for a delicious and easy-to-make grilled chicken recipe, look no further! These grilled chicken strips are the epitome of mouthwatering goodness. My family absolutely loves when I make this for dinner. I think it’s because the marinade infuses the chicken tenderloins with a delightful blend of zesty lemon, fragrant garlic, and a medley of spices, making every bite a burst of flavor. Even my daughter who sometimes find paprika as “spicy” enjoys this recipe with no complaints. The marinade not only enhances the taste but also ensures the chicken remains tender and juicy after grilling.
We love chicken strips in my home. Whether I make these grilled chicken strips or my air fried chicken tenders or even baked chicken strips it’s a go to when looking to make something fresh but in a short amount of time. Whether you’re preparing a quick weeknight meal or hosting a backyard barbecue, these grilled chicken strips will undoubtedly impress your family and friends with their delectable taste. Trying to figure out what to make with these chicken strips? Check out my 17 mouthwatering sides to serve with chicken tenders!
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Why this Recipe Works
Flavorful Marinade – The marinade plays a crucial role in making this recipe a success. The combination of olive oil and lemon juice not only infuses the chicken tenderloins with a delightful citrusy tang but also helps keep the meat moist during grilling. The addition of garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme leaves, salt, and black pepper contributes to a harmonious blend of flavors that elevate the taste of the chicken. As the chicken marinates for at least an hour (or up to 12 hours), the ingredients penetrate deep into the meat, infusing it with rich flavors and aromas. This results in tender, juicy, and well-seasoned chicken strips that are bursting with taste in every bite.
Quick Cooking – If you are looking for a quick cooking protein chicken tenderloins are the ticket. They can be grilled in 10 minutes time making them ideal for an easy weeknight dinner or even entertaining for a crowd.
Camping Meal – If you are camping this is actually a great recipe to make since you can prep ahead of time and grill in minutes after a busy day of hiking and enjoying nature.
Ingredients
- Chicken – Chicken tenderloins work best for this recipe as they are more tender then traditional chicken breast.
- Spices – I like to use a blend of garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, and dried thyme. These are spices I always have on hand.
- Lemon Juice – I always keep a bottle of lemon juice in my refrigerator. I use the bottle type for this recipe but fresh also works.
- Olive Oil – I like to use olive oil for this recipe even though its not a great oil for grilling I love the flavor it gives.
Directions
First things first, give those chicken tenderloins a quick rinse and pat them dry.
Grab a large bowl and toss in the chicken. Now, pour in the olive oil and lemon juice, making sure all the chicken gets coated.
Time to add the magic! Sprinkle in the salt, garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme leaves, and black pepper. Get your hands in there and massage those flavors into the chicken until every piece is fully covered.
Cover up the bowl with some plastic wrap and pop it into the refrigerator. Let it hang out and marinate for at least 1 hour – you’ll thank us later! If you can’t wait that long, no worries, just don’t let it marinate for more than 12 hours.
Time to get that grill going! Preheat it to a toasty 500 degrees. Once it’s hot and ready, give it a quick clean and a spray of non-stick grilling spray. Now, lower the heat down to low.
Place those beautifully marinated chicken tenders on the grill. Let them cook for about 5 minutes on each side or until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees – that’s the magic number for perfectly cooked chicken!
Patience is a virtue, but we promise the wait will be worth it! Let the grilled chicken rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This step helps the juices settle, ensuring each bite is as juicy and flavorful as can be.
Now, you’re all set to dig in! Serve up those delicious grilled chicken strips immediately, and watch them disappear in no time.
There you have it, folks – a scrumptious grilled chicken strips recipe that’s both easy to make and insanely tasty. So fire up that grill, get your marinade on, and treat your taste buds to a delightful feast!
FAQs
Yes, you can use chicken breasts, but tenderloins are recommended for this recipe as they cook faster and are naturally more tender.
While an hour is ideal, you can marinate the chicken for up to 24 hours for even more intense flavor.
Absolutely. A few sprigs of fresh thyme will help amp up the flavor. If you decide to plate the grilled chicken tenders on a platter I suggest adding a few fresh sprigs as garnish to really elevate the dish.
Yes, you can use an indoor grill pan if you don’t have access to an outdoor grill. Ensure the pan is preheated and lightly oiled. Cook at medium heat for 10 minutes.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks when making grilled chicken tenderloins.
- Brine – The key to flavorful juicy chicken is a brine. In this case the lemon in my marinating process will be used as a brine to help break down the chicken and make it moist and not dry.
- Spice – For added flavor, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you prefer a bit of heat.
- Resting Time – Let the chicken strips rest for a couple of minutes after grilling to allow the juices to redistribute before serving.
- Marinate Ahead of Time – Make sure to give yourself enough time so that the chicken has at least an hour to marinate. You can marinate for up to 24 hours in advance (just omit the lemon juice if your planning to marinate for more then 12 hours then add at least a half hour before grilling).
What to Serve with Chicken Strips
Pair the Grilled Chicken Strips with skillet green beans and a house salad for a complete dinner that takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish! Here are a few more side dishes that I like to pair these chicken strips with.
If you make this grilled chicken tender recipe, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a ⭐ star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!
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Grilled Chicken Strips
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Pair of Tongs
- 1 Grill
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken strips
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Rinse and pat dry the chicken tenderloins. Then place them in a large bowl and coat them with the olive oil and lemon juice.
- Sprinkle on the salt, garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme leaves, and black pepper. Massage on to the chicken until all pieces are covered. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (no more then 12 hours).
- Preheat the grill to 500 degrees. Clean and spray with non-stick grilling spray. Then lower the heat down to low.
- Place the chicken tenders on the grill. Grill for 5 minutes on each side or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes then serve immediately.
Notes
-
- Brine – The key to flavorful juicy chicken is a brine. In this case the lemon in my marinating process will be used as a brine to help break down the chicken and make it moist and not dry.
-
- Spice – For added flavor, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes if you prefer a bit of heat.
-
- Resting Time – Let the chicken strips rest for a couple of minutes after grilling to allow the juices to redistribute before serving.
-
- Marinate Ahead of Time – Make sure to give yourself enough time so that the chicken has at least an hour to marinate. You can marinate for up to 24 hours in advance (just omit the lemon juice if your planning to marinate for more then 12 hours then add at least a half hour before grilling).
- Chicken Tenderloins – One 1 pound package of chicken tenderloins typically has 6-7 pieces in the package.
Cooking on a Dime
Oh fun! I have never tried feta on my greek chicken and now I must! Looks amazing.
Katie
It adds another dimension of flavor the chicken! I love it!
Suzanne Perazzini
This is a simple looking dish which I am sure is delicious. I love the look of the pasta salad behind it too. I saw that’s in your last post. Yum!
Katie
Thanks Suzanne! Super simple… stay tuned tomorrow I have another side dish to go with this duo!
Jen at The Three Little Piglets
That sounds way better than the slice of leftover pizza I had for dinner earlier!
Katie
Awe, Jen… sometimes leftover pizza can be a great treat!
Lee
Tried the Greek pasta salad Sunday night; I’ll try this. Greek seasonings are wonderful!!
Jessica@AKitchenAddiction
Oh, grilled feta. . .yum! Love this!
Amy at Kid Cultivation
So simple yet so much bright flavor! Can I just poke my fork over and grab one small strip?
Russell at Chasing Delicious
Yum! My kind of flavors!