Pasture-Raised Chicken Tenderloins

Pasture rotation is central to how the Hale family raises poultry at Windy Meadows Family Farm. Their mobile shelters are moved regularly, giving the birds access to fresh ground where they can move and forage outdoors.

The chickens receive non GMO, soy free supplemental feed and are raised without antibiotics. Processing takes place on the farm in their USDA inspected facility, allowing the family to remain closely involved throughout the process.

A chicken tenderloin is the small strip of meat located underneath the main breast. Each chicken has only two, which makes tenderloins a smaller and naturally more limited cut than full boneless breasts.

Their smaller size and naturally tender texture make them especially convenient when you want chicken that can go straight from the package into the skillet or oven.

Tenderloins and breast meat come from the same general area of the chicken, but they are different cuts.

A full chicken breast is larger and usually needs to be sliced, cubed or pounded depending on the recipe. Tenderloins are already small and evenly portioned, making them especially convenient for quick cooking.

They are a good choice when you want the mild flavor of chicken breast with less cutting and preparation.

Tenderloins cook quickly because of their smaller size, so they do best when cooked just until done rather than left over high heat for an extended period.

• Skillet: Season and cook over medium heat until lightly browned and completely cooked.
• Oven: Season and bake for an easy hands off preparation.
• Grill: Marinate or season, then grill quickly over moderate heat.
• Chicken strips: Bread or season whole tenderloins for homemade chicken strips.

Their mild flavor, smaller size and tender texture make tenderloins especially easy to work into familiar family meals.

• Homemade chicken strips
• Chicken wraps
• Simple chicken and roasted vegetables
• Rice or grain bowls
• Chicken quesadillas or tacos
• Lunch plates with fruit and vegetables
• Sliced chicken over salads

Tenderloins are easy to cook in batches because the pieces are already portioned and similar in size.

Cook a batch with simple seasoning, then use them throughout the week in salads, wraps, lunches, bowls and quick dinners. Keeping the seasoning simple gives you more flexibility when using the leftovers in different meals.

Keep chicken tenderloins refrigerated or frozen according to the package instructions. Thaw frozen chicken in the refrigerator and follow normal food safety practices when handling raw poultry.

Refrigerate cooked tenderloins promptly and store leftovers properly for future meals.