How to Reheat Chicken Tenders

My son loves tasty chicken tenders so I have been experimenting with making batches of chicken tenders at home.

Two of my favorite recipes are these sourdough fried chicken fingers and these baked sourdough chicken fingers.

When I make chicken tenders at home I like to make big batches saving some for a second meal later in the week and also freezing some for later.

When reheating chicken tenders I want them to be just as good as they were when they were freshly made.

Delicious chicken tenders should be juicy with a crispy exterior crust.

The last thing you want to do is reheat chicken tenders in the microwave. Microwaves create chewy soggy chicken tenders.

Here is a quick guide to the different ways to reheat crunchy chicken tenders.

Storage

Successfully reheating chicken tenders starts with proper storage.

To refrigerate chicken tenders, allow them to cool to room temperature and then place them in an airtight container. Chicken tenders can be refrigerated for 3 to 4 days.

To freeze leftover chicken tenders, allow them to cool to room temperature then place them on a baking sheet in a single layer. Place the chicken in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours until the chicken is completely frozen. Place the frozen chicken in an airtight container or freezer bag. Chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months.

It is important to let chicken tenders cool completely before storing them. If you try to store chicken tenders that are still warm the condensation from the heat will create moisture that will make your chicken tenders soggy.

Ways to Reheat Chicken Tenders

When heating chicken tenders you want to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The easiest way to check the internal temperature is with an instant-read thermometer.

Here are five different methods for reheating chicken tenders.

Oven

This is the best way to reheat a large batch of juicy chicken tenders and maintain their crispy skin in the oven. The hot air from the oven heats the chicken tenders evenly and removes moisture creating crispy chicken tenders.

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the chicken pieces on a baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet with foil for quick clean-up.
3. Bake refrigerated chicken tenders for 10 to 15 minutes. Bake frozen chicken tenders for 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Flip the chicken tenders halfway through the cooking time.

If you have a convection setting on your oven feel free to use it to reduce the amount of time needed by a few minutes.

Tip: If you bake the chicken tenders on a wire rack you don't have to worry about flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The wire rack allows the hot air to circulate around the chicken cooking it evenly.

Toaster Oven

If you only need to heat up a couple of chicken tenders, reheating them in a toaster oven is a great option. The results are just as good as the regular oven but you don't have to wait for the toaster oven to reheat. This means the chicken leftovers will cook in less time.

1. Set the temperature of the toaster oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the chicken tenders on a baking sheet.
3. Bake refrigerated chicken tenders for 10 to 15 minutes. Bake frozen chicken tenders for 20 to 25 minutes.
4. Flip the chicken tenders halfway through the cooking time.

Air Fryer

If you have an air fryer you can also reheat chicken tenders in there. This is the best method for cooking a small number of chicken tenders quickly. The hot air from the air fryer heats the chicken tenders evenly and removes moisture creating crispy chicken tenders.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
3. Cook room temperature chicken for 3 to 5 minutes. Cook frozen chicken for 7 to 10 minutes.
4. Flip the chicken tenders and restart the air fryer. Heat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes for room temperature chicken and an additional 7 to 10 minutes for frozen chicken tenders.

When using an air fryer you want to be careful to not crowd the chicken tenders. Leave a little space in between them to allow the hot air to circulate properly.

Stovetop

The stovetop is another easy way to reheat leftover pieces of chicken. This is great for days when you don't want to heat up your oven.

This is a great method to ensure the chicken tenders are heated evenly.

1. Add enough neutral oil (I use either vegetable or canola oil.) To coat the bottom of a skillet.
2. Heat the oil over medium heat.
3. Add the chicken to the skillet in a single layer
4. Cook for 2 minutes, flip the chicken tenders and cook for an additional minute.

Note: This method does not work well for chicken tenders that are still frozen. To cook frozen chicken tenders in a skillet it is best to let them thaw first.

Microwave

Reheating chicken tenders in the microwave oven isn't the best option. If you have no other options here are some tips to get the best results.

1. Place the smaller pieces of chicken in the center of a microwave-safe plate and arrange the larger pieces of chicken around the outer edge.
2. Microwave on high in 30-second intervals until the chicken is heated through.
3. Flip the chicken over halfway through the cooking time.

Note: This method does not work well for chicken tenders that are still frozen. To microwave frozen chicken tenders it is best to let them thaw first.

Tips

• When reheating chicken tenders don't crowd them together. Leave enough space to allow for air circulation around the chicken.
• Don't wrap or cover the chicken tenders while you reheat them. Doing so will trap the steam creating soggy chicken tenders.
• Most methods work best if you flip the chicken tenders halfway through the cooking time.
• Monitor the chicken as it reheats. Small pieces will cook faster than larger ones.
• Don't reheat chicken tenders multiple times. Reheating multiple times will dry the chicken out.
• These methods will also work well for reheating leftover fried chicken.

Serving Suggestions

While fried chicken tenders taste delicious dipped in a variety of sauces they also make a great addition to other recipes.

Use reheated chicken tenders in wraps or on sandwiches. Cut them up into smaller pieces and add them to a salad or stirfry.