Throw Raw Chicken Tenderloins in a Casserole Dish and Add 4 Simple Ingredients for an Easy Family Dinner
Some of the best family dinners are the ones that don’t require a long shopping list, complicated preparation, or hours in the kitchen. When you have chicken tenderloins in the refrigerator and need something quick and comforting, this simple baked chicken recipe is an excellent option.
The idea is incredibly easy: arrange raw chicken tenderloins in a casserole dish, cover them with a creamy, flavorful mixture made with only four main ingredients, and bake everything until the chicken is tender and fully cooked.
The result is juicy chicken covered with a rich Parmesan topping that becomes beautifully golden in the oven. It works for busy weeknights, casual family dinners, or those evenings when you simply don’t know what to cook.
Even better, most of the ingredients may already be sitting in your refrigerator or pantry.
Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Tenderloin Recipe
Chicken tenderloins are naturally convenient because they are smaller and thinner than whole chicken breasts. This means they cook relatively quickly and are easy to portion.
This recipe also requires very little preparation. There is no complicated marinade and no need to stand over the stove frying chicken in batches. Once the chicken is arranged in the casserole dish and covered with the topping, the oven handles most of the work.
The creamy Parmesan mixture helps protect the chicken from drying out while adding plenty of flavor.
You can serve these chicken tenderloins with mashed potatoes, rice, roasted vegetables, pasta, salad, or even a simple piece of crusty bread.
Ingredients
For approximately 4–6 servings, you will need:
For the chicken:
2 pounds chicken tenderloins
The 4 simple ingredients for the topping:
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
You can also add a small amount of salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste. Keep in mind that Parmesan cheese is naturally salty, so it is better to start with only a little additional salt.
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Baking Dish
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Lightly grease a glass casserole dish or baking dish large enough to hold the chicken tenderloins without piling them too deeply on top of one another.
If the tenderloins have excess moisture on their surface, gently pat them dry with paper towels before putting them into the dish.
Arrange the raw chicken tenderloins in a relatively even layer.
The pieces can touch each other, but avoiding large overlapping sections helps them cook more evenly.
Step 2: Make the Creamy Parmesan Topping
In a medium bowl, combine the mayonnaise, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
Stir everything together until you have a thick, creamy mixture.
This simple combination provides several layers of flavor. The mayonnaise creates a creamy coating, Parmesan contributes savory and salty notes, garlic powder adds depth, and Italian seasoning brings in familiar herb flavors.
You can taste the topping before it touches the raw chicken and adjust the seasonings if necessary.
Once the topping has come into contact with raw chicken, however, don’t taste it.
Step 3: Cover the Chicken
Spoon the Parmesan mixture over the chicken tenderloins.
Use the back of the spoon or a spatula to spread it across the tops of the chicken pieces. You don’t necessarily need an extremely thick coating. You simply want enough of the mixture to cover the chicken and give each piece plenty of flavor.
Make sure you use a clean utensil and follow normal food-safety practices while handling raw poultry.
At this point, the casserole is ready for the oven.
