Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders: Easy Copycat Recipe with 3-Ingredient Marinade

There’s something special about biting into perfectly tender, juicy chicken that brings back memories of family dinners at Cracker Barrel. After years of trying to recreate their famous grilled chicken tenders at home, I cracked the code. The secret is a simple three-ingredient marinade that transforms ordinary chicken tenders into perfectly seasoned chicken tenders in minutes!

These cooked chicken tenders have a great flavor and can be eaten on their own, put in wrap sandwiches, or enjoyed on a salad. The possibilities are endless.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

What makes this chicken tenderloin recipe so good?

Who captures home cooking better than Cracker Barrel? To make this recipe, all you need is some chicken tenderloins, Italian dressing, lime juice, a touch of honey, and a few minutes, and you can prepare a delicious home-cooked dinner in no time. You will not need to hunt down these simple ingredients in your grocery store.

Recipe ingredients

This recipe is made with a simple 3-ingredient marinade.

• Chicken Tenders – Provides the most tender, quick-cooking chicken pieces that stay juicy and flavorful
• Honey – Balances the acidity with natural sweetness and promotes beautiful golden browning
• Italian Dressing – Acts as the flavor base with herbs, vinegar, and oil that penetrate the meat while adding moisture
• Fresh Lime Juice – Adds bright citrus notes that enhance all other flavors and provide subtle tenderizing acids

How to Make Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders

This recipe is super easy to make. The marinade is easy and well-balanced for chicken.

1. Mix dressing, lime juice, and honey together.
2. Pour the marinade over the tenderloin pieces, ensuring all tenders are evenly covered. (Want to do this step ahead of time? Pour the marinade and chicken tenderloins into a large Ziploc bag and toss this bag in the fridge for a few hours.)
3. Cover the chicken and place it in the fridge to marinate for 1 hour.

4. Discard the marinade after the tenders are ready to be cooked.
5. Cook the tenders in a large skillet or grill in a grill pan until they are golden brown and done but not dry.
6. Serve with lime wedges and fresh parsley if desired.

Cooking tips

• Before proceeding with your recipe, cut off the small, gristly white tendon that protrudes from the top end of the tenderloin.
• Cook whole chicken tenders for approximately half the time as chicken breast halves.
• Chicken tenders are more porous than chicken breasts, so over-marinating can cause them to absorb too much liquid. If the marinade is salty (like many Asian marinades), don’t marinate for more than fifteen minutes or the salt will draw moisture out of the chicken.
• For stir-fry recipes, cut the tenders into one-inch pieces rather than thin slices, so that the meat doesn’t dry out.
• Add bite-sized pieces (1 inch) of raw chicken tenders to soups near the end of cooking time. If you boil the tenders, they will toughen up. Gently simmer them until they are just cooked through, about 3 minutes.
• If baking whole tenders of different sizes, place the smaller ones at the front of your baking sheet. This makes it easier to remove the smaller ones from the oven a minute or so earlier than the larger ones.

What can you serve with Cracker Barrel chicken tenders?

Of course, you may want to serve this with some green beans or carrots. I have more favorite recipes to share with you for possible side dishes, such as cooked cabbage, a huge garden salad, or a simple side salad like an arugula salad, or even some seasoned rice.

Storage and reheating instructions for leftovers

• Refrigerator Storage: Store cooked tenders in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Keep separate from any sauces or sides to maintain texture.
• Reheating Method: Warm in a 375°F oven for 10-15 minutes, or microwave at 50% power for 1-2 minutes to prevent overcooking.
• Freezing: Place cooked, cooled tenders on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to freezer bags for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Love Cracker Barrel? Try these copycat recipes

• How to Make Cracker Barrel Coca-Cola Cake
• Brussels Sprouts and Kale Salad
• Egg In a Basket Breakfast
• Fully Loaded Hashbrowns
• Cracker Barrel Hashbrowns Casserole

More Easy Chicken Recipes

• Chicken Katsu
• Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
• Baked Chicken Leg Quarters Recipes
• Chili’s Chicken Crispers
• Berry Burst Chicken Salad
• Apple Pecan Chicken Salad
• Keto Chicken Divan
• Long John Silver’s Chicken Tenders

Be sure to check out more copycat restaurant favorites and easy chicken recipes.

Can’t get enough Copycat recipes? Be sure to subscribe to the mailing list. Drop me a comment down below on what you serve with your grilled chicken.