Grilled Garlic Scape Lemon Chicken Tenders
What can you do with garlic scapes? If you’re staring down a bucketful, like I was, this is one of the fastest and tastiest ways to put it to work. These Garlic Scape Lemon Grilled Chicken Tenders take just 5 minutes to prepare and about 10 minutes to grill. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Garlic Scapes: Summer’s Secret Ingredient
If you follow me on Instagram, you might’ve seen my giant bucket of garlic scapes. I picked them from a friend’s farm down the road. Mine aren’t quite ready yet, so lucky me… I’ll have two harvests this year.
Garlic scapes are one of my favorite early summer finds. I’m always dreaming up new ways to use them, so don’t miss my recipes for Garlic Scape Compound Butter, Garlic Scape Pesto, and more below.
You can often find these stalks and flower buds of hardneck garlic at farmers’ markets or Asian specialty stores. If you are growing garlic, cut the scapes off to allow the garlic bulbs to grow larger.
What you Need
- Chicken Tenders: Be sure to trim any connective tissue off of them.
- Garlic Scapes: Run them through the food processor until finely chopped.
- Olive Oil: Use a high-quality olive oil, as this is a very short ingredient list.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is best, but bottled will work in a pinch.
- Salt and Pepper: Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.
How to Make Them
This is one of my go-to weeknight dinners when scapes are in season. Just whiz the garlic scapes in a food processor, mix with lemon juice and olive oil, and you’re halfway there.
Quick Steps:
- Salt and pepper both sides of your chicken tenders.
- Mix the scapes, olive oil and lemon juice together in a small bowl. Baste with the garlic scape mixture as they grill. Grill the scapes with the tenders for an easy side.
- If you have time, marinate the chicken in the mixture for about an hour. They’re still fantastic without the extra wait, but better after a marinade.
Pro tip: These cook fast, so don’t walk away from the grill.
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight storage container or a storage bag. Refrigerate promptly. Use leftovers within 3-4 days.
Leftovers will also freeze well. Make a big batch and freeze it for easy meal prep. Store in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.
Serve leftover tenders on top of a salad, using our garlic scape vinaigrette for a dressing, for an easy dinner the next day. Make easy chicken salad for lunch the next day.
Other Delicious Recipes that use Garlic Scapes on Binky’s Culinary Carnival
- Grilled Garlic Scapes Chicken Tenders
- Garlic Scape Butter
- Air Fryer Pork Loin
- Chicken Florentine Pizza
- Pasta Salad with Garlic Scape Pesto
Looking for More Grilled Chicken Recipes?
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Garlic Scape, Lemon Grilled Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast tenders
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp garlic scapes, run through food processor until fine
- 3 tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 tsp lemon juice, fresh or bottled
Instructions
- Salt and pepper chicken pieces on both sides.
- Mix remaining ingredients together and baste chicken pieces.
- Heat grill to medium high. Place chicken on grill and let it brown on the first side. Baste and turn to the second side. Depending on the size of your tenders, they should take approximately 10 minutes. Internal temperature should be 165°F
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Nutrition
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Originally Published July 13, 2018. Updated June 22, 2025.
- Recipe Name: Garlic Scape Lemon Grilled Chicken Tenders
- Type: Main course or entrée
- Main Ingredients: Chicken tenders, garlic scapes, olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Servings: 3 servings
- Sauce: Basted or marinated in garlic scape, lemon, and olive oil mixture
- Flavor Profile: Bright, garlicky, citrusy grilled chicken with herbal notes
- Best Sides: Macaroni Tuna Salad, Potato Salad, Foil Packet Potatoes
- Reheat Tips: Reheat gently in a covered skillet to avoid drying out or use cold
- Leftovers: Store in the fridge for up to 4 days; leftovers can be frozen up to 3 months
- Special Features: Garlic scape season favorite, done in under 20 minutes, includes step-by-step photos
I love this recipe, now I need to find enough garlic scape to last for the summer. What a great idea to use them
Thanks so much, Laura! Do they have any for sale at the markets over there? A lot of our farmers don’t realize people are looking for them. We need to educate the farmers! They just throw them in the compost pile!
I love garlic scapes! Glad to see I’m not the only one cooking with them! I have a few garlic scape recipes on my blog as well, and am actually just working on a beer steamed mussels with garlic scapes and lemon recipe!! Talk about YUM! I should have enough left over to make this for supper tomorrow!!
Oh yum! Those mussels sound amazing! Thank you Chef Markus! I appreciate your comment!
Garlic scrapes, who knew!!! Always good to have a recipe for chicken tenders. J
Garlic scapes are super tasty! See if you can find some! Thanks, Jere!
Oh this looks incredible! I just love garlic scapes and grilling them sounds like a fantastic idea. Thanks for the inspiration!
No problem, Christine! Glad to help! 🙂 Thanks for your comment!
Oh yummy! I just saw some garlic scapes in the farmers market yesterday!! Gotta go back and get some now. This looks amazing.
Thanks so much Dahn! I’m glad you saw them at the farmer’s market! Maybe farmers are finally getting the idea that they are a usable ingredient!
I love chicken tenders! And i love the fact that these are grilled and are garlic-lemon! Yum!
They are sooo good! Thank you Shanika!
Looks delicious! I love grilled chicken and this would be such a delicious variation!
Thanks so much Melissa! I really appreciate your comment!
I want garlic scapes! I don’t think I’ve ever had them unless someone cooked with them without me knowing! This looks delicious and super easy! And your photos are outstanding!
Thank you so much my friend! You’re the best! Come drive over, it’s only 6 hours. I’ll set you up with scapes and corned venison!