It is so tempting to empty a bag of frozen pre-made chicken tenders onto a sheet pan and bake them when in a hurry to get dinner on the table for the kids.
There is no denying that frozen tenders and nuggets are convenient. I am just not all that keen on some of the ingredients, especially the preservatives, fillers, and sodium.
Chicken Tenders Recipe
Making your own tenders can be much healthier and definitely tastier. It is fairly easy to make this recipe for baked chicken tenders that are as crunchy as deep-fried tenderloins.
The secret is to use potato chips for that super crunch factor.
Serve these tasty tenders with a dipping sauce, such as honey mustard, ranch dressing, or just ketchup. Here is an easy recipe for how to make baked chicken tenders.
How to Make Baked Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- 3 bowls
- Parchment lined baking sheets
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour (all-purpose, gluten-free, etc.)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tsp Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 5 cups tangy bbq chips, crushed
- 2 pounds boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
Time needed: 30 minutes.
My Recipe for Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders
- Let’s Get Cooking
Preheat the oven to 450°F
- Just Beat It
Lightly beat three eggs in a bowl and set aside.
- Time to Get Dirty
Combine flour and seasonings in a bowl mix to incorporate.
- Yes, Barbecue Chips
Crush barbecue chips in a plastic Ziploc bag and then pour into a medium-size bowl for dredging.
- Salt & Pepper
Lightly sprinkle the chicken tenderloins with salt and pepper.
- Flip Dip and Repeat
Coat the tenders in flour, then egg, then coat in barbecue chips and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Set a Timer
Bake for 10 minutes on one side flip over and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Done Now Dip
Serve with honey mustard, ranch, or ketchup.
Notes
The tenders should be fully cooked through before serving. Baking them in a high heat oven at 450° will help the internal temperature of the tenders rise quickly.
Frequently Asked Questions
The answer is simple: there is no difference between strips and tenderloins. The two terms are used interchangeably to refer to chicken breast slices or fingers.
You can absolutely air fry chicken tenders. They can be either fresh or frozen, naked, or breaded, and take only 8 to 10 minutes to cook. Check out air-fried.com for 3 different ways to cook chicken tenders in an air fryer.
This is a common question, especially for those who have a sensitivity to wheat gluten. It is also a great question for those who are on a keto or paleo diet. I like this recipe for chicken tenders that have a dry rub spice mixture.
Many people have an allergy to eggs. There are some terrific substitutes for eggs that will help the breadcrumbs to stick to the chicken. You can use mustard, eggless mayonnaise, plant-based liquid eggs, BBQ sauce, or just plain olive oil. Here is an easy recipe for egg-free crunchy chicken tenders.
Chicken tenders are simply sliced chicken breasts. You can also find packages of chicken tenders that are the small piece, or flap, of the chicken breast that the butcher often removes before packaging the whole breasts. These don’t need to be cut. I recommend using skinless, boneless chicken breasts to slice into tenders.
Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- 3 bowls
- Parchment lined baking sheets
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour (all-purpose, gluten-free, etc.)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 5 cups tangy bbq chips, crushed
- 2 lbs boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F
- Lightly beat three eggs in a bowl and set aside.
- Combine flour and seasonings in a bowl mix to incorporate.
- Crush barbecue chips in a plastic Ziploc bag and then pour into a medium-size bowl for dredging.
- Lightly sprinkle the chicken tenderloins with salt and pepper.
- Coat the tenders in flour, then egg, then coat in barbecue chips and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 10 minutes on one side flip over and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve with your favorite condiment or eat as is!
