Description
Homemade crispy baked chicken tenders elevate weeknight dinners with golden, crunchy perfection. Seasoned breadcrumbs and a simple baking technique ensure you savor restaurant-quality flavor without excess oil.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredient:
- 28 ounces (794 grams) chicken tenders
Marinade:
- 1 large egg
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) garlic, minced
- 3/4 teaspoon (4 grams) salt
- 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) cracked pepper
Breading Mixture:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) regular breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup (60 grams) fresh grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) mild paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) onion powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a baking sheet with a light coating of cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Create a flavor-packed marinade by whisking egg, oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Submerge chicken tenders in the mixture and let them absorb the flavors for 5 minutes.
- Craft a crispy coating by blending breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and Parmesan cheese in a separate bowl.
- Thoroughly coat each marinated chicken tender in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure an even, thick layer of crumbs. Arrange the coated tenders on the prepared baking sheet and lightly mist with cooking spray.
- Bake the chicken tenders for 10 minutes, then carefully flip each piece to ensure even cooking. Continue baking for an additional 5-10 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
- For an extra golden and crispy exterior, activate the broiler for the final 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Choose chicken tenders of similar size to ensure even cooking and consistent crispiness across all pieces.
- Pat chicken dry before marinating to help the egg mixture and breadcrumbs adhere better and create a crunchier exterior.
- Experiment with gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Add extra flavor by incorporating herbs like thyme or rosemary into the breadcrumb mixture for a more complex taste profile.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg