Throw Raw Chicken Tenderloins in a Casserole Dish and Add 4 Simple Ingredients for an Easy Family Dinner
Easy Ways to Customize the Recipe
Once you have made the basic version, you can easily change the flavors.
For a little heat, add crushed red pepper flakes or a small amount of cayenne pepper to the topping.
If you love garlic, replace some or all of the garlic powder with finely minced fresh garlic.
For extra herb flavor, add fresh parsley after the casserole comes out of the oven. Fresh basil can also be delicious.
You can also experiment with the cheese. Parmesan provides a particularly strong savory flavor, but a small amount of shredded mozzarella on top can make the finished casserole cheesier.
For a crispier topping, sprinkle a thin layer of breadcrumbs over the chicken before baking.
These additions aren’t necessary—the basic four-ingredient topping is already flavorful—but they make it easy to adapt the recipe to your family’s preferences.
How to Keep Chicken Tenderloins From Drying Out
Chicken tenderloins cook faster than larger pieces of chicken, which is convenient, but that also means they can become overcooked if forgotten in the oven.
Start checking the chicken toward the earlier end of the suggested cooking range, especially if your tenderloins are small.
A digital food thermometer is extremely useful here.
Once the thickest tenderloin has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), there is usually no benefit to continuing to bake it for a long time.
Allowing the chicken to rest briefly after cooking is also helpful.
Storing Leftovers
If you have leftovers, allow them to cool and transfer them to a covered container. Refrigerate cooked chicken promptly rather than leaving it sitting at room temperature for an extended period.
Properly refrigerated cooked chicken can generally be kept for 3–4 days.
When reheating, heat the chicken thoroughly. A microwave is convenient, but reheating it gently in the oven can help preserve the texture of the topping.
The leftover chicken is also useful for quick lunches.
Slice it and add it to sandwiches, wraps, salads, pasta, or rice bowls.
Can You Prepare the Casserole Ahead of Time?
You can do some of the preparation ahead of time.
For example, the Parmesan topping can be mixed and refrigerated separately. Then, when you’re ready to cook dinner, arrange the chicken in the casserole dish, add the topping, and bake.
If you assemble the entire casserole ahead of time, keep the raw chicken refrigerated until you’re ready to cook it.
Never leave raw chicken sitting at room temperature for long periods.
Also remember to wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw chicken and clean any utensils, cutting boards, countertops, or other surfaces that came into contact with it.
There is no need to wash raw chicken before cooking. Washing it can actually spread bacteria around the sink and nearby kitchen surfaces through splashing.
A Simple Dinner Worth Keeping
You don’t need dozens of ingredients to turn ordinary chicken into a flavorful family dinner.
With chicken tenderloins, mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, you can put together a creamy baked chicken casserole with only a few minutes of hands-on preparation.
Simply arrange the raw tenderloins in your casserole dish, mix the four topping ingredients, spread the mixture over the chicken, and bake until the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) internally.
Serve it with potatoes for a comforting dinner, rice for an easy weeknight meal, or vegetables and salad for something lighter.
It’s the kind of straightforward recipe that’s especially useful to keep around for busy evenings: simple ingredients, minimal cleanup, and a warm homemade meal straight from the oven.
