If you’re looking for a bold, flavorful, and easy-to-make meal, these blackened chicken tenders are a must-try! Coated in a smoky, spicy blackened seasoning and seared to perfection, these chicken tenders have a delicious crispy crust on the outside while staying juicy and tender on the inside. This Blackened Chicken recipe is a quick and satisfying option for lunch, dinner, or meal prep. Plus, they’re made in just 15 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights!
When you need a new meal idea, you can’t go wrong with baked chicken tenderloin recipes. With no skin or bones to remove, tenders, strips, and tenderloins are convenient, quick, and easy to use!
The key to this blackened chicken recipe is the blackening seasoning, which is a blend of spices. When seared in a hot skillet or cooked on the grill, the seasoning forms a flavorful crust that locks in the moisture of the chicken, giving it that signature blackened look and taste.
Add just a few common spices and in no time, you’ll have a bold and flavorful dinner that the whole family is sure to love.
Why We Love This Blackened Chicken Recipe
- Flavorful and hearty!
This recipe makes a filling, flavorful, protein-rich meal. - Quick and easy
Learning how to blacken chicken isn’t difficult, and it only takes 20 minutes. This includes the prep work and cooking time! - They’re allergy friendly
Not only is this meal flavorful, but our blackened chicken recipe is low-carb, low-fat, gluten-free, and keto-friendly! As a result, it is a great option for people on special diets or with gluten allergies or sensitivities.
If you’re looking for a dish that captures the essence of Mardi Gras, this recipe is a must-try! For more delicious options to make your celebration complete, check out our Mardi Gras recipes that will have everyone dancing to the rhythm of great flavors.
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
The spicy blackening mix we use is similar to Popeye’s blackened chicken seasoning. It includes a pinch of cayenne pepper for a bit of extra heat.
- Boneless skinless chicken: The two are similar enough that it’s perfectly fine to substitute one for the other.
- Seasoning spices: Almost every grocery store sells blackening spices, but there’s no need to buy anything premade when it’s so simple to make at home! (See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the amount of each spice to use).
Recipe Variations
- Make it kid-friendly: As-is, this meal is not very toddler-friendly. But, older kids and adults who like a little bit of spice will love the bold flavor of the blackened chicken strips. If you’ll be making this meal for younger kids, we suggest cooking their portion first, without any seasoning. Then, add the blackening spices to the remaining pieces and cook them up.
- Spicy cajun: Add extra cayenne pepper and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the seasoning blend for a fiery kick. Serve with a side of remoulade sauce or spicy ranch for dipping.
- Low-sodium: Reduce or omit the salt and replace it with a salt-free Cajun or blackening spice blend. Use fresh lemon juice after cooking to enhance the flavor without extra sodium.
- Creamy twist: For a creamy, restaurant-style dish, slice the cooked tenders and toss them in a Cajun Alfredo sauce or a light garlic butter sauce. Serve over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes for a comforting meal.
How To Make Chicken Tenders From Boneless Breasts
Make chicken tenderloin recipes quickly and easily from whole boneless chicken breasts. If using bone-in chicken, remove the breast from the bones first. Learn more on how to cut a chicken breast into tenders with our quick guide plus tips.
If spicy foods are your favorite, you’ll go crazy for buffalo chicken wonton cups. Or, for some Tex-Mex heat, make a taco casserole with fritos, or some jalapeno stuffed poppers.
- Preheat the skillet before adding any ingredients.
You need the pan to be smoking hot. This is what helps the seasonings adhere to the tenders.
🎯 TFN Pro Tip
Pat the chicken dry for the best crust – Before coating the tenders with the spice mix, use a paper towel to pat them dry. This helps the seasoning stick better and creates that perfect blackened crust when cooked.
- Dredge your chicken through the spice mixture for a thick, even coating.
You want to coat the chicken with as much flavor as possible. - Don’t overcrowd the skillet.
Too many chicken tenders in the pan will slow down the cooking time. Leave at least an inch in between each piece.
- Don’t move the meat around.
Let the chicken cook (without moving it) for 3-4 minutes. After the seasoning forms a crust on the poultry, the blackened chicken tenders will naturally release themselves from the pan. - Check for doneness by taking the internal temperature of the chicken.
Use an instant-read kitchen thermometer to ensure the blackened chicken tenders are fully cooked. When the internal temp is 165º F. in the thickest portion of the meat, the chicken is safe to eat.
If you like quick dinners, you’ll flip for frozen chicken tenderloins in Instant Pot. The IP makes cleanup easy, and that’s a big plus on a busy night!
Serving Suggestions
Another way to mellow the spiciness of blackened food is with a creamy dipping sauce. A classic Cajun dish like this is often served with a mayo-based remoulade sauce, but they can be pretty spicy too! If you prefer something milder, try dipping your pieces of chicken into cool and creamy buttermilk ranch dressing, or blue cheese dressing—all of which help tame the heat while enhancing the flavor.
For a New Orleans-style meal, serve these blackened chicken tenderloins with self-rising cornmeal cornbread recipe or crispy hush puppies, which add a nice contrast in texture. A side of fluffy cook rice in Instant Pot is another great option to balance out the bold Cajun seasoning. If you’re looking for a lighter meal, slice the blackened pieces of chicken and serve them over salads, drizzled with ranch dressing or honey mustard, depending on your personal preferences. Whether you’re enjoying this dish with a fork and knife at the dinner table or dipping tenders straight into your favorite sauce, there’s no wrong way to serve this flavorful meal!
Recipe FAQs
This is a common misconception; blackened food is not burned at all. Rather, blackening is a cooking process that involves using a special blend of spices (also called blackening) to season food at very high heat. It’s commonly used on poultry, seafood, and even steak and fish.
The cayenne pepper gives this Cajun chicken a nice, spicy flavor. However, you are more than welcome to omit it if you want a little less spice.
A cast iron skillet works best because iron retains heat better than stainless steel or aluminum. This helps cook your chicken faster and more evenly. It also helps prevent the spices from burning before the chicken is done cooking.
The best way to ensure your Blackened Chicken Tenders are fully cooked is by using a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption. If you don’t have a thermometer, cut into the thickest piece—the juices should run clear, and there should be no pink in the center.
Let the leftovers cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To prevent them from getting soggy, store them on a paper towel inside the container to absorb excess moisture.
For the best texture, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them rubbery.
Yes! Preheat your air fryer to 400°F, place the chicken in a single layer, and cook for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through. This method is great for getting a crispy texture with less oil.
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Blackened Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- skillet
- basting brush
- tongs
- instant-read cooking thermometer
Ingredients
Chicken Tenders
- 1½ pounds chicken tenders or tenderloins *See Notes
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ – 1 teaspoon cayenne use less seasoning for milder spiciness
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Place a cast iron skillet or other heavy bottomed pan over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, prepare the tenders with seasonings.
- Using a basting brush, coat both sides of the chicken with melted butter. Season both sides generously with blackened seasoning. Alternatively, dip the chicken tenders into a bowl of melted butter, and then dredge through the seasonings.
- When the pan is smoking hot, carefully arrange the tenders inside, avoiding over crowding them. If your skillet is less than 10-inches, you may need to cook in two batches.
- Cook the tenders 3 minutes without moving them, until a flavorful crust forms on the bottom side. Use tongs to carefully turn the strips over, and continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes. Use an instant-read cooking thermometer to read the internal temperature at the thickest portion of one of the pieces. Remove from the pan when the internal temp is 163º F.
- Transfer to a serving platter and let the meat rest for 2 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Let the leftovers cool completely, then place them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To prevent them from getting soggy, store them on a paper towel inside the container to absorb excess moisture.
- For the best texture, reheat them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes or in the oven at 375°F for 8-10 minutes. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them rubbery.
Nutrition
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Previous
J. Daniel says
The blackened seasoning mix was great. Even my picky husband liked it.
I used 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper and it was the perfect amount of heat for us.
The recipe is quick and easy after spices are measured. I’m not sure where all the butter
in the pan came from in the picture. I used a cast iron pan and had it very hot. The seasonings
burned somewhat and next time I will try it in a stainless steel pan at a lower temperature.
So delicious and tender when using chicken tenders.
Nikki says
What fantastic flavors on these chicken tenders. I’m already thinking of ways to use them. Salads, pasta and just dipping.
Sky says
The spice mixture is delicious! My whole family loved these chicken tenders. I will definitely be making them again.