How to Reheat Chicken Tenders

Chicken tenders are a favorite go-to meal for kids and adults alike.

So what happens if you want to reheat them, whether they were made a bit earlier or they’ve been sitting in your fridge for a few days?

In this short guide, we’ll give you the best methods to reheating chicken tenders (oven, skillet, air fryer and microwave).

We will also highlight the step-by-step instructions for each of these methods.

So, let us get right into it.

The Best Way to Reheat Chicken Tenders (3 Methods to Use)

The best way to reheat chicken tenders depends on what method the tenders were originally cooked and if they were stored in the refrigerator or frozen.

If you don’t know which cooking method was used, then we recommend using the oven as you will get great results, regardless if the chicken tenders were deep-fried or baked.

As for reheating options, the recommended methods are:

• Oven
• Skillet
• Air Fryer
• Microwave.

We will now take a detailed look at how to use each method below.

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How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in the Oven?

The oven is by far the best reheating method you can use when it comes to warming up chicken tenders.

With the oven, you will be able to retain the crispy texture of the crust and warm the meat up without drying it out.

The oven will take some time to reheat the chicken (10-15 minutes), so keep that in mind as it is not a quick-reheat method.

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C
2. Place the chicken tenders, evenly spaced apart on the pan and place in the oven
3. Let the tenders heat for 12-15 minutes
4. Keep an eye on them while they are in the oven. You will need to flip them over once at around the 5-7-minute mark.
5. Once the tenders have reached an internal temperature of 165°F or they’re steaming hot, remove from the oven and let them cool for a few minutes.
6. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce

Note: If the chicken tenders are frozen, you will leave them in for an additional 3-5 minutes.

How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in an Air Fryer?

Chicken tenders reheated in the air fryer allows them to keep the crunchy exterior, while the inside stays tender and juicy.

It is one of the best ways to reheat as it is quick and easy. 

Steps

1. Heat up the fryer to 380-400 F or 193-204 C.
2. Place the chicken tenders inside the basket and place in the air fryer, where it will warm up for around 5-7 minutes or until tender is heated through.
3. Midway through heating , turn the chicken tenders around to ensure even reheating.
4. Once reheated, remove from the basket and serve.

How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in a Skillet?

The skillet is one of the best methods for reheating chicken tenders.

The pan works well because you have a lot more control, it is quick and you can retain the crispy exterior of the tenders.

Steps

1. Heat up a skillet or pan over a medium flame.
2. Add a little oil or butter to the pan and then place the chicken tenders in it.
3. Warm up the chicken tenders for 2-3 minutes on each side.
4. Once heated, remove from the pan, allow to cool and serve.

How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in the Microwave?

While microwaves are pretty convenient, they’re not always the best option for reheating foods like chicken tenders.

Chicken tenders are usually fried or baked, which leaves them with a nice crispy exterior.

Fried crispy foods do not hold up well when microwaved. You will often find that the crust becomes soft and soggy.

If you do not particularly care are bout the texture and just want them warm, then using the microwave might not be an issue.

Steps

1. Place the chicken tenders in a microwave-safe plate or container
2. Microwave for 10-15 seconds on high.
3. Check to see if the tenders are heated up, if not microwave in 5 second intervals till warmed up.
4. Once heated, remove from the microwave, allow to cool and then serve.

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Wrapping it up

Reheating chicken tenders is not a difficult task, as there are different options to choose from.

The method you use will depend on your personal preferences and how much time you want to spend.

Ideally, it will come down to either the oven, skillet, air-fryer or microwave.

Now, I want to hear from you!

Which method do you think is the best?

What’s your preferred way to reheat chicken tenders at home? Let us know in the comments below!