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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Air-Fryer Everything Bagel Chicken Strips

I love the flavor profile of everything bagels, so I re-created it with traditional breaded chicken fingers. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida

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Taste of Home

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

These buffalo chicken tenders get a spicy kick thanks to homemade sauce. They taste like they're from a restaurant, but are so easy to make at home. Blue cheese dipping sauce takes them over the top. —Dahlia Abrams, Detroit, Michigan

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Baked Chicken with Bacon-Tomato Relish

We eat a lot of chicken for dinner, so I'm always trying to do something a little different with it. My children love the crispiness of this chicken, and my husband and I love the flavorful relish—you can't go wrong with bacon! —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

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Sheet-Pan Pineapple Chicken Fajitas

For our fajitas, I combine chicken and pineapple for a different flavor. These fajitas are more on the sweet side, but my family loves them! —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Grecian Chicken

The caper, tomato and olive flavors will whisk you away to the Greek isles. This easy skillet dish is perfect for hectic weeknights. —Jan Marler, Murchison, Texas

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Tex-Mex Chicken Strips

I was looking for a way to amp up the flavor of regular chicken strips so I crushed up some leftover corn chips to create a crispy, flavorful coating. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida

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Taste of Home

Skillet Plum Chicken Tenders

If you love plums, this recipe is for you! I combine the fruit with chicken tenders for a quick, easy and flavorful meal. Serve with brown rice or orzo pasta. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Thai Peanut Chicken and Noodles

This versatile chicken recipe is very similar to chicken pad Thai but easier to make and tastes just as good. Rice noodles can be swapped with mung bean noodles or any type of egg noodles. —Kristina Segarra, Yonkers, New York

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Dinner Poppers

I could eat jalapeno poppers all day long, but who wants to say they had seven stuffed peppers for dinner? For this meal-in-one, I use poblanos for my husband and son, and hotter peppers for my daughter and me. —Sherri Jerzyk, Tucson, Arizona

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Chicken Piccata Pockets

My husband loves chicken piccata. I tried it in a puff pastry pocket with a bit of cream cheese; it tasted sensational. When he took leftovers to work, everyone asked what smelled so great. —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois

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Grilled Chicken Chopped Salad

Layered desserts always grab my family’s attention, but salads? Not so much. I wondered if I could get everyone on board by presenting a healthy salad in an eye-catching way. I’m happy to say that it worked. —Christine Hadden, Whitman, Massachusetts

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Citrus-Honey Chicken

We raise heirloom-breed chickens, so I'm always looking for chicken recipes. This one with oven baked chicken tenderloins and orange and honey flavors is tops at our house. —Beth Nafziger, Lowville, NY

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Taste of Home

Mango & Grilled Chicken Salad

We live in the hot South, and this awesome fruity chicken salad is a weeknight standout. I buy salad greens and add veggies for color and crunch. —Sherry Little, Sherwood, Arkansas

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Crispy Sage Chicken Tenders

One of my mom's favorite chicken recipes used fresh sage. Her version was smothered with gravy, but we like these panko-crusted tenders as they are. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan

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Apricot Cranberry Chicken

Before we had kids, my husband and I used to make a lot of challenging recipes, but now we keep things a little simpler. This tangy chicken has big flavors that everybody likes. —Brooke Ruzek, Elk River, Minnesota

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Basil-Lemon Chicken

Even though I'm not known for my green thumb, I've somehow managed to keep a kitchen herb garden going. I chose this skillet lemon basil chicken to debut my first batch of fresh herbs. —Juli Snaer, Enid, Oklahoma

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Crispy BBQ Chip Tenders

These crunchy chicken tenders are a little sweet, a little tangy and a whole lot of fun. In half an hour, your family's new favorite dish is ready to eat. When I have extra time, I roast garlic and add it to the sauce. —Andreann Geise, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

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Apple-Mustard Chicken Tenders

My husband says this dish is sweet and a little bit sassy, just like me. I like to use Granny Smith apples for a bit of tartness. Winesaps are great for this dish, too. —Linda Cifuentes, Mahomet, Illinois

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Tuscan Chicken Tenders with Pesto Sauce

Golden bites of breaded chicken? You can't go wrong! A green and red pesto sauce for dipping adds a flavorful accent and festive color. Serve the little tenders warm or at room temperature. —Mary Lou Cook, Welches, Oregon

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Gorgonzola & Orange Chicken Tenders

My mom likes to make this for family gatherings, and we all like to eat it. Marmalade and Gorgonzola might sound like an unusual combo, but they actually make a great pair. —Yvette Gorman, Denver, Pennsylvania

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Slow-Simmered Meat Ragu

After a day of simmering in the slow-cooker, this ragu is not your typical spaghetti sauce. It's almost like a stew, so feel free to skip the pasta. —Laurie LaClair, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Popcorn & Pretzel Chicken Tenders

My daughter, Alivia, thought it would be tasty fun to coat chicken tenders with two of our favorite movie-watching snacks, popcorn and pretzels. Crunchy and crispy, they bring on a lot of smiles when served with a creamy and sweet mustard sauce. —Suzanne Clark, Phoenix, Arizona

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Chestnut-Onion Stuffed Turducken Bundles

A friend told me about turducken, and these bundles are my best attempt at creating an easy version. The flavor of all three birds comes through and goes wonderfully with the sauce. —Barbara Lento, Houston, Pennsylvania

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Lime-Ginger Chicken Tenders

We cook a lot of boneless, skinless chicken breasts because they're low in fat, high in protein, and almost always a smart buy at the grocery store. To keep things exciting, I add a few of our favorites to the mix like jalapenos, lime and fresh ginger. —Samantha Anderson, Fort Worth, Texas

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Taste of Home

Chicken Soba Noodle Toss

This is one of my favorite meals for busy weeknights. You can prepare all the ingredients the day before and then put the dish together just before dinner. —Elizabeth Brown, Lowell, Massachusetts

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Sausage Chicken Jambalaya

For anyone who enjoys entertaining, this jambalaya is the perfect one-pot meal to feed a crowd. It’s comforting, spicy and easy to make.—Betty Benthin, Grass Valley, California

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Taste of Home

Italian Chicken Tenderloins

My friend made this meal for my husband and me after our first child was born. Since chicken tenderloin recipes can be so caloric, I trimmed down the fat and carbs, but we love it just the same. —Beth Ann Stein, Richmond, Indiana

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Mexican Skillet Rice

I never come home with leftovers when I take this dish to potlucks and parties. But I do bring back quite a few compliments. —Mary Ann Dell, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania

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Seasoned Chicken Strips

These strips are designed for kids, but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would also be great on a salad. —Becky Oliver, Fairplay, Colorado

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Taste of Home

Spicy Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This is one of my go-to meals when I want a fun dinner. I love the spicy Asian flavors against the cool lettuce and the added crunch of peanuts and water chestnuts. —Brittany Allyn, Nashville, Tennessee

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