You'll need a fork, a napkin and a bit of elbow grease.
This TikTok Hack Shows You How to Remove Chicken Tendons
Updated on Jul. 25, 2024
If you’ve ever worked with chicken tenderloins before, you probably know all about chicken tendons. It’s a tough, white string of fat found in the middle of the chicken tender. While some people don’t mind them being left in the chicken, others would rather strip them out. But what’s the best chicken tendon removal strategy?
Sounds like a solution TikTok might have—no surprise! We’ve learned many helpful hacks from TikTok, including how to properly make mashed potatoes or thoroughly clean our ovens.
Now, this TikTok video shows us EXACTLY how to strip the tendons out of chicken!
How to Remove a Chicken Tendon in Seconds
To start, gather the necessary materials. You’ll need a fork, a napkin and a cutting board or plate of some sort.
Take the piece of chicken you’re looking to de-tendon and lay it flat on your cutting board. Next, locate the tendon itself. It should be the stringy white piece in the middle of the meat. You’ll want to dig the end of the tendon out and place it through the tines of the fork (with the fork upside down).
After that, take your napkin and grab the end of the tendon. Pull up on the tendon gently and watch it easily separate from the rest of the chicken. Voila!
This trick is from TikTok user @raerae738. She makes it look so easy:
@raerae738#lifehacks #allaboutthatchicken #fyp #followme♬ Ultimate life hacks – Kelly – The Life Bath
How Does This Work?
By isolating the tendon rather than working with the whole piece of chicken, you’re able to peel it out so much easier. It’s much better than trying to cut around the tendon or pull it out yourself. It never really works the way you want it to! Just remember to be gentle.
Recipes to Make with Chicken Tenders
Southern Fried Chicken StripsThis fried chicken tenders recipe requires just a few ingredients and quickly cooks up deliciously crispy bites that are full of flavor.
There's no shortage of ways to cook chicken tenderloins, but the most popular has to be crispy, crunchy chicken fingers. Use 1-1/2 teaspoons of garlic powder to make these chicken strips supremely irresistible.
Sheet-Pan Pineapple Chicken FajitasFor our fajitas, I combine chicken and pineapple for a different flavor. These fajitas are more on the sweet side, but my family loves them! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
Making fajitas in the oven instead of on the grill or stovetop helps you get dinner on the table in a flash, with a lot less mess. To make cleanup a breeze, line your sheet pans with heavy-duty aluminum foil first, or use truly nonstick cookware that needs little more than a quick rinse.
Air-Fryer Nashville Hot ChickenNo plans to travel to Tennessee? Learn how to make Nashville hot chicken in your home kitchen.
Nowhere near Nashville, but have a hankering for the city's famous hot chicken? This recipe will bring an authentic taste of Music City directly to your kitchen, wherever it may be.
Buffalo Chicken TendersThese homemade Buffalo chicken tenders taste like they’re from a restaurant, and they’re ready in only 20 minutes! They are a perfect party appetizer or quick dinner.
For the best of Buffalo wings without the bones, make easy Buffalo chicken tenders instead. To keep your fingers clean, cut the chicken tenders into bite-size pieces before breading and frying. Then serve your Buffalo popcorn chicken with toothpicks.
Dinner PoppersI could eat jalapeno poppers all day long, but who wants to say they had seven stuffed peppers for dinner? For this meal-in-one, I use poblanos for my husband and son, and hotter peppers for my daughter and me. —Sherri Jerzyk, Tucson, Arizona
Turn jalapeno poppers from an appetizer into a proper entree with this recipe for cheese-stuffed dinner poppers. Poblanos or bell peppers work well for milder palates; use spicier peppers if you like feeling the burn.
Chicken Piccata PocketsMy husband loves chicken piccata. I tried it in a puff pastry pocket with a bit of cream cheese; it tasted sensational. When he took leftovers to work, everyone asked what smelled so great. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
You can enjoy chicken piccata just about anywhere you please when you make it portable! These are wonderful when hot out of the oven, but you can enjoy them cooled for a workplace lunch or in an elegant picnic basket.
Chicken and Shrimp SatayI lightened up a recipe that I found in a cookbook, and these grilled kabobs were the tasty result. The scrumptious peanut butter dipping sauce is always a hit. —Hannah Barringer of Loudon, Tennessee
Why choose between chicken or shrimp? You can have both! Marinated in a blend of garlic, green onions and citrus, and served with a tangy peanut sauce, this recipe packs an unbelievable amount of flavor onto every single skewer.
Thai Chicken WrapsMaster these Thai chicken wraps with flavorful chicken, fresh veggies and a creamy homemade peanut sauce in just 25 minutes. You'll have a taste of Thailand without leaving the comfort of home.
Grecian ChickenThe caper, tomato and olive flavors will whisk you away to the Greek isles. This easy skillet dish is perfect for hectic weeknights. —Jan Marler, Murchison, Texas
The caper, tomato and olive flavors will whisk you away to the Greek isles in no time at all! Serve this with a big Greek salad on the side, plus plenty of salty feta cheese and a basket of homemade pita.
Tex-Mex Chicken StripsI was looking for a way to amp up the flavor of regular chicken strips so I crushed up some leftover corn chips to create a crispy, flavorful coating. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida
These chicken strips have serious crunch thanks to a coating make of crushed-up corn chips. If you like to dip chicken strips, use homemade guacamole, sour cream or ranch.
Skillet Plum Chicken TendersIf you love plums, this recipe is for you! I combine the fruit with chicken tenders for a quick, easy and flavorful meal. Serve with brown rice or orzo pasta. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada
For a dinner that's deliciously different, saute chicken tenders with sliced fresh plums. The flavor explosion doesn't stop with fruit—there's sweet apple jelly, savory red onion, spicy gingerroot, soy sauce and a bright pop of acid from balsamic vinegar.
Grilled Chicken Chopped SaladLayered desserts always grab my family’s attention, but salads? Not
so much. I wondered if I could get everyone on board by presenting
a healthy salad in an eye-catching way. I’m happy to say that it worked. —Christine Hadden, Whitman, Massachusetts
Have a trifle bowl that's gathering dust? Put it to with this chopped salad, which layers zesty chicken and crisp romaine lettuce with tender grilled vegetables. For extra texture, add a few layers of seasoned croutons.
Chicken Lettuce WrapsFilled with chicken, mushrooms, water chestnuts and carrots, these lettuce wraps are both healthy and yummy. The gingerroot, rice wine vinegar and teriyaki sauce give them delicious Asian flair. —Kendra Doss, Smithville, Missouri
Citrus-Honey ChickenWe raise heirloom-breed chickens, so I'm always looking for chicken recipes. This one with oven baked chicken tenderloins and orange and honey flavors is tops at our house. —Beth Nafziger, Lowville, NY
Oranges and chicken will always be a match made in heaven. In this easy recipe, chicken tenderloins are tossed in orange juice before being dredged in a breading spiked with orange zest. Add even more citrus flavor with a splash of freshly squeezed OJ in the warm honey butter sauce!
Mango & Grilled Chicken SaladWe live in the hot South, and this awesome fruity chicken salad is a weeknight standout. I buy salad greens and add veggies for color and crunch. —Sherry Little, Sherwood, Arkansas
This awesome fruity chicken salad is a weeknight standout, delivering a ton of big, bold flavor in a short amount of time. If you'd rather not use store-bought dressing, make your own raspberry vinaigrette at home.
Crispy Sage Chicken TendersOne of my mom's favorite chicken recipes used fresh sage. Her version was smothered with gravy, but we like these panko-crusted tenders as they are. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan
For a more grown-up take on crispy chicken tenders (and for a fun way to use up the bounty of a kitchen herb garden), this recipe loads up the breading with plenty of aromatic sage. If you don't have fresh sage on hand, use dried or frozen herbs instead.
Apricot Cranberry ChickenBefore we had kids, my husband and I used to make a lot of challenging recipes, but now we keep things a little simpler. This tangy chicken has big flavors that everybody likes. —Brooke Ruzek, Elk River, Minnesota
Outside of chicken, olive oil and salt, you'll only need five pantry ingredients to make this chicken dish. It simply explodes with autumn flavors, so serve with simple sides, like rice pilaf and an easy side salad.
Crispy BBQ Chip TendersThese crunchy chicken tenders are a little sweet, a little tangy and a whole lot of fun. In half an hour, your family's new favorite dish is ready to eat. When I have extra time, I roast garlic and add it to the sauce. —Andreann Geise, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
These crunchy potato chip-crusted chicken tenders are a whole lot of fun. If you have extra time, roast a head of garlic and add it to the sauce.
Apple-Mustard Chicken TendersMy husband says this dish is sweet and a little bit sassy, just like me. I like to use Granny Smith apples for a bit of tartness. Winesaps are great for this dish, too. —Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, Illinois
Have an excess of apples from an apple-picking trip? This five-ingredient recipe is a great way to put them to work. Use Granny Smith apples for a bit of tartness, though any cooking apple will work wonderfully.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps with BaconThis fuss-free meal is a favorite in our house, with its tender chicken, tortillas, crunchy vegetables and spicy buffalo wing sauce. Feel free to change the veggies to suit your taste. —Sarah Gottschalk, Richmond, Indiana
This fuss-free meal combines tender chicken, tortillas, crunchy vegetables and spicy buffalo wing sauce. This 10 minute lunch can be served with chips, fries or even more veggies.
Mexican Skillet RiceI never come home with leftovers when I take this dish to potlucks and parties. But I do bring back quite a few compliments. —Mary Ann Dell, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
This skillet dinner is colorful with just a bit of bite. The classic blend of Tex-Mex ingredients combined with the use of jarred salsas and peppers make it not only convenient but also a sure-fire hit.
Basil-Lemon ChickenEven though I'm not known for my green thumb, I've somehow managed to keep a kitchen herb garden going. I chose this skillet lemon basil chicken to debut my first batch of fresh herbs. —Juli Snaer, Enid, Oklahoma
This herby chicken sits on a bed of thin angel hair pasta for a light but satisfying dinner. The lemon-wine sauce can be doubled for a creamier dish.
Chicken-Pepper AlfredoWhen I want a lighter dinner, I use lean turkey bacon in this recipe. It gives the pasta that richness you want without all the extra fat. —Courtney Harris, Denton, Texas
This rich and creamy pasta uses jarred sauce for extra convenience. The roasted red pepper Alfredo sauce, bacon and mushrooms give the quick dinner a full flavor. The smokiness from the bacon really complements the seasoned chicken.
Slow-Simmered Meat RaguAfter a day of simmering in the slow-cooker, this ragu is not your typical spaghetti sauce. It's almost like a stew, so feel free to skip the pasta. —Laurie LaClair, North Richland Hills, Texas
After a day of simmering in the slow cooker, this ragu is not your typical spaghetti sauce. Full of pepperoni, sausage and tender braised chicken tenderloins, it's almost like a stew, so feel free to skip the pasta!
Seasoned Chicken StripsFeel like a kid again with this recipe for easy baked chicken tenders.
These savory strips are designed for kids, but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would be great on top of a Caesar or kale salad.
Lime-Ginger Chicken TendersWe cook a lot of boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they're low in fat, high in protein, and almost always a smart buy at the grocery store. To keep things exciting, I add a few of our favorites to the mix like jalapenos, lime and fresh ginger. —Samantha Anderson, Fort Worth, Texas
Even if you've never cooked a single thing in your life, you can make this ultra-flavorful chicken dish and be completely blown away. All you need to do is toss chicken tenderloins in a baking dish with bold, simple ingredients like lime juice, cilantro and cumin, bake for 20 to 25 minutes, and enjoy!
Chicken Soba Noodle TossThis is one of my favorite meals for busy weeknights. You can prepare all the ingredients the day before and then put the dish together just before dinner. —Elizabeth Brown, Lowell, Massachusetts
This dish gets from the stove to the table faster than takeout gets to your front door. Using a bag of fresh broccoli stir-fry blend vegetables helps save time; if you're not big on broccoli, any package of stir-fry vegetables will do.
Chicken JambalayaChicken jambalaya is a very tasty one-pot dish that doubles easily, reheats well and satisfies any craving you have for a meaty meal. This is a red jambalaya with tomatoes that requires little work outside of some chopping and sauteing.
Italian Chicken TenderloinsMy friend made this meal for my husband and me after our first child was born. Since chicken tenderloin recipes can be so caloric, I trimmed down the fat and carbs, but we love it just the same. —Beth Ann Stein, Richmond, Indiana
Consider this a slightly lighter take on chicken Parmigiana. Instead of being coated in bread crumbs and fried in oil, the chicken tenderloins are coated in a mixture of flour and ground Parmesan cheese, gently sauteed and topped with a light tomato-based sauce.
