Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

There’s something about the combination of bright citrus and cracked pepper that makes this Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe one of our favorite meals to throw on the grill all summer long. Made with minimal ingredients, these juicy chicken chicken tenderloins soak up a simple lemon pepper chicken marinade of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, fresh lemon zest, garlic powder, coarse black pepper, and fresh lemon for incredible flavor in every bite. Whether you’re cooking on a gas grill or charcoal grill, this easy dinner recipe comes together with very little effort and delivers delicious chicken that’s tender, flavorful, and versatile. Serve it alongside your favorite vegetables, slice it over salads, tuck it into wraps, or enjoy it straight off the grill. It’s one of those easy grilling recipes you’ll find yourself making again and again, and it’s sure to become a family favorite. Be sure to scroll down to the recipe card Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders for the complete recipe.

Why I love this chicken so much

Normally my go-to meal in the summer is meat on the grill, vegetable, and a salad.  If we are lucky a starch is thrown in.  But this year we had a little oopsa-daisy happen, and we were without a grill for a few weeks.  (oopsa-daisy = new driver backing over grill that mom left smack dab in the middle of the driveway).  Finally our new grill has arrived, assembled and shiny and I have been using it non-stop.  Now my only dilemma is that I remember to thaw out the meat so I can grill it! And that brings me to one of the reasons I love this chicken so much. Chicken tenderloins can be thawed relitively quickly, and they take to marinate beautifully. There is alot of lemon in this marinade so you only need to marinade for a few hours if that’s all you have, or up to 24 if your planning ahead for the next day. The second reason I love this recipe so much is that lemon pepper chicken tenders go with just about anything. Top a salad with them, add a pasta salad, or even just butter noodles with parmesan. (Because if you have a picky eater this is what they eat.) This easy chicken recipe is one of those recipes that you will want to keep in your back pocket and make on repeat.

Gather these ingredients

1. Measure marinade ingredients into a small bowl. This recipe is extremely adaptable. Make a double batch, because it’s great to have leftovers for salads, or wraps the next day. Add fresh herbs like rosemary, basil, thyme, or parsley for an added dimension of flavor!

2. Add chicken tenderloins to a zip-loc bag, pour marinade over chicken. Add zest, portions of the lemon rind, and even whole portions of the lemon for added lemon flavor.

3. You can let the marinated chicken sit on the counter for up to 30–60 minutes before grilling to take the chill off and help it cook more evenly. If you’re meal prepping, combine the chicken and lemon pepper marinade in a large plastic bag and refrigerate for up to 8 hours before grilling. The extra marinating time allows the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, and seasonings to infuse the chicken with even more flavor.

Zesting: Use a microplane or fine grater to scrape off only the yellow part of the rind. Add about 1 to 2 teaspoons of this zest to your marinade. If using a vegetable peeler as I have, make sure to only get the yellow outer rind, the white pith can be bitter.

A quick note about citrus marinades: Fresh lemon juice adds bright flavor and helps tenderize the chicken, but balance is key. Too much acid or marinating for too long can begin to break down the proteins in the meat, resulting in a mushy texture instead of tender, juicy chicken. That’s why this marinade includes olive oil, which helps balance the acidity while adding moisture and flavor. For the best results, marinate the chicken for 30 minutes to 4 hours. Avoid marinating much longer than 8 hours to maintain the perfect texture.

Our favorite and most versatile marinade is Lemon Pepper.  It’s quick easy and the flavors adapt well to most side dishes, and the left overs are perfect chopped up over a salad or added to this pasta salad.

More grilling inspiration

• Green Goddess Dressing with Grilled Vegetables
• Chicken Souvlaki
• BBQ Ribs

This Lemon Pepper Chicken Recipe is proof that a handful of simple ingredients can create something truly memorable. The combination of olive oil, fresh lemon juice, fresh lemon zest, garlic powder, and coarse black pepper transforms ordinary chicken tenderloins into perfect chicken that’s tender, flavorful, and incredibly versatile. Whether you’re grilling chicken for a busy weeknight meal or serving friends at your next backyard barbecue, this recipe is always a hit with the entire family. If you make these Grilled Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders, I’d love for you to leave a star rating and review on the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others find the recipe! And if you enjoyed it, be sure to save it to Pinterest and share it with someone looking for more easy grilling recipes and dependable chicken recipes.

I hope this Lemon Pepper Chicken brings your people around the table for a meal filled with good food and meaningful conversation. Thank you so much for being here and for trusting Eat2Gather to help feed your family, friends, and community—it truly means the world to me.

If you enjoyed this recipe, I’d be so grateful if you would leave a star rating and review in the recipe card below. Your feedback helps others discover the recipe and supports my small business. If you share it on Instagram, I’d love to see it! Tag @eat2gather so I can cheer you on. You can also save it to Pinterest or send the recipe link to a friend, neighbor, or anyone who could use an easy, delicious dinner idea. From my table to yours, Sheila