This quick and easy grilled chicken tenders recipe is taken from plain to phenomenal with the addition of a crave-worthy chipotle lime yogurt.
Grilled Chicken Tenders with Chipotle Lime Yogurt
When you start dreaming up entrées, such as these grilled chicken tenders, just so you can have an excuse to eat a certain sauce, you know you’ve hit the jackpot. It would seem strange if I just starting spooning this chipotle lime yogurt straight into my mouth, right? That goes right along with my tendency to eat an entire wedge of Brie in one sitting.
Maybe those are things that I need to save for my treasured “alone” moments.
My husband and I used to buy a fantastic bottled chipotle sauce that we found at our favorite specialty store. We squirted it on everything from eggs to roasted potatoes to sandwich wraps. And then it disappeared from the shelves and we were more upset than any adult should be over a condiment.
Clearly we have issues.
But what if I could whip up a sauce in my own kitchen that rivaled our beloved store-bought chipotle sauce? Well, that would be pretty darn awesome.
I set to work, starting with a base of plain yogurt, and it didn’t take long to come up with something good…okay, great. I stuck my finger in the bowl for “taste testing” purposes so many times that I needed to stage a personal intervention.
It was lunchtime and there were chicken tenders in the fridge, so I mixed the chicken into an easy spice marinade and gave it a turn on the grill. Chicken tenders are fantastic for quick meals because they cook on the grill in 5 minutes or less.
Other uses for the yogurt sauce:
- For all things good and right in this world, please do not limit this flavored yogurt to chicken.
- Serve it with fish, steak, pork and potatoes.
- Dollop it on sandwiches or use it in a layered salad.
- Use it to top fish or shrimp tacos.
- Serve it as a dip for raw vegetables, tortilla chips or grilled shrimp.
What to serve with grilled chicken:
- You can either serve grilled chicken straight-up with an accompanying sauce or salsa, or as part of a bigger dish.
- Chop up the chicken and incorporate it into a pasta salad or use it to top your favorite summer salad.
- Shred or chop the chicken and serve it in corn tortillas with the yogurt sauce and this slaw.
- Our favorite side dishes to serve with grilled chicken are Grilled Potatoes with Rosemary & Smoked Paprika, Grilled Sweet Potatoes, Balsamic Grilled Vegetables and a BLT slaw.
Other easy chicken tenders recipes:
Teriyaki Baked Chicken Tenders {Cookin’ Canuck}
Chicken Tenders with Cherry Ginger Glaze {Cookin’ Canuck}
Baked Honey Mustard Chicken {Good Life Eats}
Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders {Kitchen Dreaming}
Grilled Chicken Tenders Recipe with Chipotle Lime Yogurt
Ingredients
The Yogurt:
- 1 6 ounce container plain Greek yogurt
- 1/2 chipotle pepper seeded & minced
- 1 teaspoon adobo sauce from chipotle pepper can
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh lime juice
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
The Chicken:
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 teaspoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 1/4 pounds chicken tenders
Instructions
The Yogurt:
- In a medium bowl, combine the yogurt, chipotle pepper, adobo sauce, lime juice and salt. Stir to combine completely.
The Chicken:
- Using skewers for the chicken is optional. If you are using wooden skewers, soak them in warm water for 30 minutes prior to using to prevent them from catching fire on the grill.
- Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Lightly oil the grill.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the olive oil, lime juice, cumin, smoked paprika, salt and pepper.
- Add the chicken tenders and turn to coat. Marinate for 15 minutes.
- Remove the chicken tenders from the marinade and grill until the chicken is just cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. (If using skewers, thread the chicken onto the skewers before grilling.)
- Serve the chicken tenders with the chipotle lime yogurt.
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published on June 9, 2014 and was updated on July 3, 2019.
Disclosure: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Amanda
Chicken tenders are a favorite here so I’m glad we now have a grilled version that’s better for you. And this sauce is good enough to eat by the sooonful!
Ashley
We make these for dinner and they are great every single time. Will definitely make again!
Jessica Tennant
I had these saved for awhile and finally made them last week. Really easy to make and such a nice change from regular breaded tenders. My kids even ate it with the chipotle yogurt. I was shocked!
Olivia - Primavera Kitchen
I love this sauce and could literally eat it by the spoonful 😉
Carol at Wild Goose Tea
I don’t think you and your husband have issues. When I merely thought my favorite store bought chipotle dressing was gone, I flipped out. I pinned this JUST for the sauce. YUM!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
Your sauce ROCKS! Where is my straw?
Happy Valley Chow
What a fantastic recipe and those tenders definitely look grilled to perfection. Great job 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Dara
Thank you. I love that they only take a few minutes to grill, but it’s the yogurt sauce that really takes the whole thing over the top!
Bri | Bites of Bri
Dara, these look the perfect dinner. Nice and light but flavorful too! Thanks for sharing.
Dara
Thank you, Bri. They make a great meal for a busy weeknight.
cheri
This looks really good Dara, love that it is pretty healthy too, love the spices you have going on here.
Dara
Thanks, Cheri. Spices are definitely important when reducing the fat and calories in recipes. I don’t think I could cook without them!
Annalise @ Completely Delicious
Love the look of that chicken + chipotle sauce! Yum! Going to try these soon, for sure.
Dara
Thanks, Annalise! I hope you have a chance to try them.
Meagan @ A Zesty Bite
I’m always breading my chicken tenders and apparently I need to keep them as is. The sauce looks great.
Dara
Thanks, Meagan. Breading can be fantastic too, but be sure to try them grilled. They cook so quickly and have great flavor!
Amanda
I can just imagine the flavorful goodness of these tenders. Gotta try them soon! 🙂
Dara
Thanks, Amanda. I always forget how easy chicken tenders are to cook. This is one we’ll be making over and over again.
Ali | Gimme Some Oven
Oooooh, I’d take any excuse to make that sauce too. These look great!
Dara
Thanks, Ali. It’s addictive, for sure!
Jeanette | Jeanette's Healthy Living
I love spicy food and chipotle is one of those ingredients that add both smokiness and spice, so this sauce must go great with grilled chicken. Perfect for easy summer meals!
Dara
Thanks, Jeanette. I agree…the smokiness of chipotle peppers really does add something special. This yogurt is something I’ll be adding to many things I cook.
Taylor @ Food Faith Fitness
I LOVE chipotle/lime…and in a yogurt? YUM! You are the queen of quick, easy and healthy recipes that are DELISH Dara! Pinned 🙂
Dara
Thanks so much, Taylor! The quick, easy and healthy comes from pure necessity…I’m just glad my family enjoys the meals. 🙂