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.
- Mix dressing, lime juice, and honey together.
- 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.)
- Cover the chicken and place it in the fridge to marinate for 1 hour.
- Discard the marinade after the tenders are ready to be cooked.
- Cook the tenders in a large skillet or grill in a grill pan until they are golden brown and done but not dry.
- 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.
Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast tenders
- 1/2 cup Italian Dressing
- 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoon honey
Instructions
- Mix dressing, lime juice, and honey together. Pour over chicken tenders, making sure all tenders are covered; marinate for 1 hour.
- Discard marinade after the chicken tenders are ready to be cooked. Braise tenders in a non-stick pan or grill to lightly golden in color but not dry.
I found this recipe years ago, and I made it quite a bit when my kids were younger (12 and 15 now). I never had lime juice, so I used orange. It was really good, but never quite the same as Cracker Barrell.
I just made it for the first time in years, and I did use lime juice. I made 1.6 pounds of chicken. It was exactly like Cracker Barrel and so extra delicious! My 15yo told me that he remembers I used to make it a lot and that this time was way better. I dont think my 12yo remembered it, but he was freaking out all through dinner because it was so great.
I made 4 sides to go with them, and we still managed to eat all of the chicken besides 2 little tenders! They just kept going back for more! Total win. So easy. Definitely need to make these a lot more often!! <3 Thank you SO MUCH!!
Thank you for this great recipe, my family loved it. We put these on a salad.
These are really delicious with Olive Garden Italian dressing. Also, if you flatten your chicken tenders a little they’re better.
This is a very easy recipe that my family loves, never any leftovers!
yum
I worked for C.B. and I have made all of their recipes. All you need is chicken and italian dressing. Cover the tenders with the italian dressing, place in a covered container and merinade overnight. It is that easy.
How do they make their green beans?
Here you go.
https://copykat.com/cracker-barrel-the-old-country-country-green-beans/
the video and written recipe is different? in the video you say one half of a 16 ounce bottle – that 8 oz/1 cup – not 1/2 cup? as to the honey, in the video you say 1 tablespoon but the written recipe says 1.5 teaspoon; and same with lime, 1 tsp vs a whole lime?
new cook – so I’m confused! but will try anyway.
thank you – as I LOVE CB’s grilled chicken tenders! yum …
The recipe was great!! The video helped. Thank you so much. I hope you are still doing this site
I am still recreating recipes 😉
These sound great. I love chicken recipes. Thanks for sharing this. Simon
Please provide a brand of Italian Dressing – I’m assuming you mean the “clearish” version.
I prefer Wishbone Italian dressing or a store brand Italian dressing.
My daughter~in~law said this is very good. I can’t wait to try it for young guests next week!
Hi Stephanie,
Cracker Barrel had for a short time fried chicken tenders with a delicious honey pepper dipping sauce, it was so good…but they no longer have it on the menu. Have you by any chance eaten it and know how it
was made. It was sweet & sour tasting with a bit of heat from the pepper. Thanking you in advance for
your help. I so enjoy the recipes you share with all of us. As of now I have not been disappointed in a
single recipe that I have tried. Keep up the delicious work.
Ann
I am also looking for the honey/black pepper dipping sauce. I had it with the buttermilk fried chicken. It was a perfect blend. I noticed yesterday the buttermilk chicken is back but not the sauce. I would love to have the recipe!
At my age I have used a number of stoves. The problem I have with recipes is that they will tell you to cook at medium or medium hight heat yet I have never seen a stove with those particular settings.
I have seen some really old cookbooks, and perhaps stoves that specified the heat for the stove top portion.
You didn’t mention what the internal temp has to be for chicken which should be 160 – 165 F. I know you can remove it from the hear source at 155 F as it will continue to cook as it rests .
Great point. I will see what I can do to mention in the recipe what temperature to cook the chicken too. I appreciate your comments!
Going to try this tonight. I have never seen a recipe where u drained the seasoning from dressing so I made my own dressing and just didn’t add the seasonings. We’ll see how it turns out…..
I hope it turned out ok for you.
Hello, I just made the Cracker Barrel chicken and it is GREAT! I am going to try a little more honey next time but other than that it was right on! I think this is going to be a family favorite! Thank you so much for this recipie and for all of the others. I can’t wait to try more! I have told everyone about your site! THANKS AGAIN!
Sara, I hope you had a chance to try more recipes!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE their Grilled Chicken Tenderloin Sandwich- I will make these and recreate the sandwich from memory. We have no CB in CA, so I miss it!
I wished there were more of them out there. They have good stuff.
I use to be a grill cook at Cracker Barrel, and We used Marzetti Italian Dressing and nothing else and marinate for 12 hours.
how much how do you make the hashbrown casserole
Yep I work there now and thats all they use… love those grilled tenders!!!
Is it just Italian? Or sweet Italian, or house Italian?
I asked at cb how they made them and they said exactly the same????
What is the brownish sauce on the plate with tenders?
It was some of the sauce that was in the pan after cooking.
@ Tonja – I wish your post wasn’t from so far back (2010) and you could tell me which Marzetti Italian Dressing they use – there are a few.
Plain marzetti italian dressing?
I didnt have time to marinate so I just put all the ingredients in the pan and sauteed it with it and it turned out awesome!! Put green chilies and montrey jack cheese on it for their green chili chicken made with these strips! Yummmy!
I MADE THESE LAST NIGHT. THEY WERE AWESOME. I CUT SOME UP ON A SALAD AND ATE THE REST BY THEMSELVES. NEXT TIME I’M GOING TO TRY WITH MORE HONEY.
My hubby and I made this today and it is GREAT! The only things we did differently then the recipie says is…We used lemon juice instead of lime (but we plan to buy some lime and try it next time). And we did NOT drain the Italian dressing. The kids loved it too!!