Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders – super simple 3-ingredient marinade that tastes just as good as the restaurant. Italian dressing, lime juice, and honey. We make this chicken at least once a month! Can cook on the grill, stovetop, air fryer, or in the oven. Double the recipe – leftovers are great on a salad or in a wrap. We love this gluten-free marinade!
Originally posted March 20, 2009
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Pin This RecipeHoney Lime Grilled Chicken
The Grilled Chicken Tenders Sandwich is my favorite menu item at the Cracker Barrel. SO it is no surprise that these Copycat Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders are one of our all-time favorite recipes. I’ve been making this recipe for as long as I can remember. It is super simple to make with only three ingredients. Italian dressing, lime juice, and honey. The chicken is super juicy and packed full of great flavor. You can really taste the honey and lime. I always double the recipe when I make this. The leftover chicken is perfect for quick meals later in the week.
How to Make Copycat Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders
This chicken is super easy to make. Whisk together Italian dressing, lime juice, and honey. Pour the marinade over the chicken and let it hang out in the refrigerator a few hours to overnight. When ready to eat, remove the chicken from the marinade and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- You can use any cut of chicken that you enjoy. Tenderloins, breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.
- You can use boneless or bone-in chicken. You will need to adjust the cooking time to ensure an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- For a kick, use Mike’s Hot Honey.
- Are Copycat Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders gluten-free? Yes. All fo the ingredients in this recipe are gluten-free.
- No grill? No problem! You can cook the chicken inside and it will be just as delicious!
- Bake the tenders at 400ºf for about 15 minutes.
- Pan sear the chicken tenders for about 3 minutes per side in a skillet.
- Can you cook chicken tenders in the air fryer? Yes! Here is our instructions on cooking chicken tenders in the air fryer: https://www.plainchicken.com/air-fryer-pecan-chicken-tenders/
What to Serve with Grilled Chicken
As I said, this is one of our favorite chicken marinade recipes. We honestly make this at least once a month all year round. The chicken has tons of great flavor and it so easy to make. We usually serve the chicken with some green beans and potatoes. It is also great on a salad or some toasted homemade bread like they serve it at the Cracker Barrel!
Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this easy chicken:
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Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders
Ingredients:
- 2 cups Italian dressing
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- 6 Tbsp honey
- 2 lb chicken tenderloins
Instructions:
- Whisk together Italian dressing, lime juice, and honey.
- Place chicken in a ziplock freezer bag. Pour marinade over the chicken and refrigerate a few hours to overnight.
- Prepare the grill.
- Remove chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.
- Cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
Notes:
- You can use any cut of chicken that you enjoy. Tenderloins, breasts, thighs, or drumsticks.
- You can use boneless or bone-in chicken. You will need to adjust the cooking time to ensure an internal temperature of 165ºF.
- For a kick, use Mike’s Hot Honey.
- Are Copycat Cracker Barrel Grilled Chicken Tenders gluten-free? Yes. All fo the ingredients in this recipe are gluten-free.
- No grill? No problem! You can cook the chicken inside and it will be just as delicious!
- Bake the tenders at 400ºf for about 15 minutes.
- Pan sear the chicken tenders for about 3 minutes per side in a skillet.
- Can you cook chicken tenders in the air fryer? Yes! Here is our instructions on cooking chicken tenders in the air fryer: https://www.plainchicken.com/air-fryer-pecan-chicken-tenders/
Steph
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Can you cook these in a crock pot?
Sure
If I bake them in the oven do I sear fry them after or before? Sorry, I’m not a very experienced cook.😅
You don’t have to cook them in the skillet before baking. You can, but you don’t have to. You can also just cook them in the skillet for a few minutes on each side.
If no lime juice is available, can you use lemon juice?
sure
Made this in my Power XL Air Fryer Grill. OMG – it was so good. Didn’t have any chicken tenders so I used chicken breasts that I pounded to 1/2 inch and they came out great. Served with homemade potato salad. Thanks so much for posting this recipe.
SO glad you enjoyed it!