This TikTok Hack Shows You How to Remove Chicken Tendons

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

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Southern Fried Chicken StripsThere'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.

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Sheet-Pan Pineapple Chicken Fajitas Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Sheet-Pan Pineapple Chicken FajitasMaking 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.

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Air-Fryer Nashville Hot ChickenNowhere 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.

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Buffalo Chicken TendersFor 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.

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Dinner PoppersTurn 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.

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Air-Fryer Everything Bagel Chicken StripsYour Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Seasoning may not belong on everything, but it definitely belongs on these tasty chicken strips! If there isn't a TJ's nearby, you can find a similar seasoning at these stores.

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Chicken Piccata PocketsYou 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.

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Baked Chicken with Bacon-Tomato RelishTry something different with breaded chicken tenders—smother them with a fresh tomato relish that's equal parts sweet, tart and smoky. You'll want to serve this sauce again on grilled fish, pork chops or sandwiches, so double the recipe! Next, learn how to make panko chicken tenders.

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Air-Fryer Sweet Potato-Crusted Chicken NuggetsTired of the usual chicken nuggets? Give this version a whirl. It uses pulverized sweet potato chips to make a salty-sweet coating. For dipping, make a batch of spiced maple mustard or spice up ranch dressing with a spoonful of adobo from a can of chipotles.

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Taste of Home

Honey-Dijon Chicken Salad This delightful main-dish salad has an easy dressing that lends a sweet-tangy flavor to the mix. You can follow the recipe as-is, or add in whatever healthy salad toppers you have on hand. Go to Recipe

Chicken and Shrimp SatayWhy 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.

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Hoisin Chicken WrapsThis recipe is inspired by Vietnamese chicken banh mi, particularly the fresh carrot, cucumber and radish topping. With so much fresh flavor, color and crunch, this wrap is wonderful for a quick lunch or easy dinner.

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Grecian ChickenThe 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.

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Taste of Home

Tex-Mex Chicken StripsThese 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.

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Taste of Home

Skillet Plum Chicken TendersFor 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.

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Grilled Chicken Chopped SaladHave 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.

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Taste of Home

Spicy Chicken Lettuce WrapsThis recipe looks so stunning, it's hard to believe the wraps come together in less than 30 minutes! You'll love the spicy Asian flavors against the cool lettuce with the added crunch of peanuts and water chestnuts.

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Citrus-Honey ChickenOranges 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!

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Taste of Home

Mango & Grilled Chicken SaladThis 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.

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Crispy Sage Chicken TendersFor 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.

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Apricot Cranberry ChickenOutside 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.

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Crispy BBQ Chip TendersThese 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.

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Apple-Mustard Chicken TendersHave 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.

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Taste of Home

Buffalo Chicken Wraps with BaconThis 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.

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Mexican Skillet RiceThis 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.

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Basil-Lemon ChickenThis 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.

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Chicken-Pepper AlfredoThis 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.

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Slow-Simmered Meat RaguAfter 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!

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Seasoned Chicken Strips Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Seasoned Chicken StripsThese 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.

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Lime-Ginger Chicken TendersEven 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!

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Taste of Home

Chicken Soba Noodle TossThis 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.

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Sausage Chicken JambalayaFor anyone who enjoys entertaining, this Creole jambalaya is the perfect one-pot meal to feed a crowd. It's comforting, spicy and easy to make. FYI: Here's the difference between Cajun and Creole food.

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Taste of Home

Italian Chicken TenderloinsConsider 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.

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