Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe (2024)

By Alison Roman

Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe (1)

Total Time
45 minutes
Rating
4(2,816)
Notes
Read community notes

Chicken tenders may be known as a kid favorite, but it's hard to find an adult who doesn't enjoy them just as much. And there's a lot to love when a crisp, golden brown coating meets juicy, tender chicken strips. This weeknight version strays slightly from the traditional deep-fried recipe: It can be pan-fried (see tip below), but it shines when baked in the oven. Proper chicken tenders, or the smaller muscle underneath the breast, can be hard to find, but boneless, skinless breasts — from chicken, or even turkey — sliced into thin strips are an excellent stand-in. For a little punch, feel free to add cayenne, crushed red-pepper flakes or fennel seed, or ground cumin to the flour mixture. Lastly, this version is paired with an herbed yogurt dip, but it can also be served with ketchup.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

    For the Dip

    • cups full-fat Greek yogurt, labneh or sour cream
    • ¼cup finely chopped chives
    • ¼cup finely chopped parsley
    • 2tablespoons finely chopped dill
    • 2tablespoons fresh lemon juice
    • 1small garlic clove, finely grated or chopped
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

    For the Chicken

    • pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
    • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
    • 1cup all-purpose flour
    • 2teaspoons smoked paprika
    • 2large eggs, beaten to blend
    • 2cups bread crumbs (preferably panko or other coarse bread crumbs)
    • 3tablespoons olive oil

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

765 calories; 26 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 4 grams polyunsaturated fat; 70 grams carbohydrates; 5 grams dietary fiber; 8 grams sugars; 60 grams protein; 970 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe (2)

Preparation

Make the recipe with us

  1. Step

    1

    Make the dip: Mix yogurt, chives, parsley, dill, lemon juice and garlic in a small bowl; season with salt and plenty of pepper. Set aside.

  2. Step

    2

    Prepare the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut chicken breasts lengthwise into about 1¼-inch-wide strips. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.

  3. Step

    3

    Mix together flour and paprika in a medium bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Place eggs in a large bowl and whisk with 1 teaspoon water. Season with salt and pepper. Put bread crumbs in a large bowl or shallow baking dish, and season with salt and pepper.

  4. Step

    4

    Working with few pieces at a time, toss the chicken in the flour mixture, making sure it’s evenly coated. Shake off excess flour, and dip into egg wash. Shake off any excess.

  5. Step

    5

    Dip chicken into bread crumb mixture a few pieces at a time, pressing to adhere as many bread crumbs as possible. Shake off any excess, and set chicken aside on a large plate.

  6. Step

    6

    Place breaded chicken strips on a foil- or parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and bake until one side is beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Using tongs or a spatula, flip chicken and continue to cook until the other side is golden brown and crisp, another 6 to 8 minutes. Serve with herbed yogurt dip.

Tip

  • If pan-frying, heat ½ cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once oil is shimmering and hot (and registers about 375 degrees on a thermometer), working in batches, add chicken strips, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Fry until one side is golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip chicken using tongs or a spatula, and continue to fry until the other side is golden brown and crisp, another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt. Serve with herbed yogurt dip.

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2,816

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Linda

Skip the flour,egg, crumbs mess. Give tenders with a coat of good mayo (yes, mayonnaise!), dip in crumbs and bake. Also no need for oil drizzle. Works on fish too.

ingrid

when preparing chicken I like to marinate it in buttermilk for at least a 1/2 hour -- excellent tenderizer ! (also, since the chicken is then moist I skip the egg and flour dredge, and go straight for the bread crumbs -- panko, parmesan, red pepper flakes -- but, that's a different story ;) )

Nellie Armstrong

Marinate breast strips in lemon juice and garlic a la Julia Child's gougeres then bread as described.

SL

Toss the panko crumbs with a little olive oil and toast to a golden brown at 425 degrees in the oven before using in the breading process. Will result in beautifully brown and appetizing tenders...without the white /uncooked edges typically resulting from breaded chicken.

Lee

I learned on the farm from my Grandparents, Mom & Dad. All kinds of meats. More than 50 yrs cooking it STILL baffles me that recipes say to season the flour or crumbs to coat the protein. I've never EVER done that. I season the MEAT. When your coating comes off there goes your seasonings as well. Such a waste when multiplied x years of cooking that perfect juicy fried chicken.
DON'T season your flour - season the MEAT.
DON'T season your bread crumbs - season the meat. Peace.

Todd Hays

From someone: Put on a rack on top of a baking sheet, with parchment paper underneath. No need to flip. They brown and cook nicely. Cook at 375 for 25-30 minutes.

Elizabeth Fisher

Chicken tenders are even better tasting and moist if you add mustard to the egg wash. Delicious! I like to put mine on a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet so that all sides brown evenly.

adbwest83

I make chicken tenders with panko all the time. Why bother with the egg? Just pat the tenders dry and roll them in panko with salt and pepper. It adheres just fine. I saute them in canola oil with a knob of butter for flavor. Just a few minutes. Golden brown and delicious. Add butter to the pan and swirl til it browns. Then pour it over the tenders with a squeeze of lemon and sprinkle with parsley. Easiest dinner ever! Will try this dip and seasonings, but egg makes a mess and seems unnecessary.

Margaux Laskey, Staff Editor

It would work beautifully, and you won't have to worry as much about overdone chicken since thighs can handle a bit more abuse.

Craig Avery

We add parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs for a nuttier flavor, but this is essentially our standard recipe. You can use fish, chicken, or pork, as long as the portions are cut or pounded thin. Good recipe.

Cathy

Skip the flour,egg, crumbs mess. Give tenders with a coat of good mayo (yes, mayonnaise!), dip in crumbs and bake. Also no need for oil drizzle. Works on fish too.

TwirlyGirly

Absolutely pre-toast the Panko! It avoids overcooking the chicken, which often occurs because it takes longer for the Panko crumbs to sufficiently brown than it does for the chicken to cook. I pour a tablespoon or so oil in a zipper bag, close the bag and rub it so the oil evenly coats the bag, then toss in the Panko, close the bag, and shake. That evenly distributes the oil on the Panko crumbs.

Ricardo

Tough day at work, original intention was to warm up left over chinese food in the fridge but luckily started browsing through nyt, read the latest horror story about Trump and then stumbled over this recipe. It saved the day. Next time will add truckloads of red pepper to flour (wife is Korean). Thank you!

Lucy Lee

No flour or egg - coat with mayo, dip in crumbs and bake. no oil drizzle. bake on rack in baking pan.

Marinate in buttermilk 1/2 hour to overnight.

Mark

I add coconut and curry powder to the panko. Mix it up. Put on a rack on top of a baking sheet. No need to flip. They brown and cook nicely. The flavor with the coconut flakes and the curry is exceptional.

Emily

I made this exactly the recipe dictates and I thought it turned out extremely well. It is better than other baked chicken tender recipes I have tried!

P

I followed the exact directions and the meat turned out nice. I thought the crust was dry and not much flavor. Blue cheese helped.

Mickela

They turned out a bit dry. Maybe I didn't use enough oil before baking. I did so the next day when re-heating and they were better as leftovers. The dip was delicious.

rissable

Love this recipe. Make exactly as appears and comes out perfect every time

Signe

Used tenders. Kiddos and adults both loved these. Great flavor and crunch. Also made a second version for the adults using Old Bay seasoning in the flour layer - delicious.

Esther

Made this tonight. I did what several people suggested and brushed the tenders with mayo, then covered them with panko breadcrumbs that I toasted in a frying pan for about 5 minutes. I baked them at 450 for 7 minutes on each side. The mayo did keep them moist. I used Trader Joe's Aoli Garlic Mustard Sauce for the dip.

Emily Selinger

Oil/grease the pan. Maybe add butter

Brett

Kraft now sells premade aioli in garlic or chipotle that are quite good for chicken dipping, easier than the herb concoction here.

Jean

Add onion powder

kellyckpdx

Did anyone here actually just make this recipe?

Liz K

I love this recipe. It’s easy and flexible. I’ve recently been using it to introduce my kids to new flavor profiles by either modifying the sauce (new herbs) or swapping out the paprika for another flavor like curry. It’s a familiar food that they love and can use it as a backdrop for new flavors!

MP

Totally forgot to add the drizzle of olive oil to the chicken before baking and honestly (though perhaps lending to the freshness of the chicken) we did not miss it. I probably could have managed with half as much flour— a lot of it just went to waste. Did not have panko on hand, so just threw some Kashi Go cereal in the blender and used that. It worked really well!

JenBeee

The coating didn’t brown. Next time I’ll try the suggestion below of pre-toasting the bread crumbs.

Katie

Followed recipe as written and thought it turned out ok. The tenders definitely need a punchier dip to make interesting. Was easy and fast though, so I can see why it'd be good for parents.

Lori Glier

Made this today the chicken was so tender. Although we found the dip very plain. So we wanted more flavor to it.I added 1 Tablespoons of dried chives besides the fresh .More salt and pepper. Also a big dash of garlic salt.Just loved this recipe thanks for sharing!

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Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should I cover chicken tenderloins when baking? ›

Covering the chicken creates a barrier that prevents the top surface from drying out, resulting in tender meat. Enhanced flavor infusion. By covering the chicken, the flavors from seasonings, marinades or sauces have a better chance to infuse into the meat.

What temperature should chicken tenders be cooked at? ›

*165˚F IS THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN MUST REACH TO BE SAFE TO EAT.

What is the secret to cooking tender chicken? ›

The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade. The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.

How long does it take to bake chicken strips at 350 degrees? ›

How long do you bake chicken tenders at 350? In a 350-degree oven, chicken tenders will take between 20 to 30 minutes to bake. You want them to be an internal temperature of 165 degrees and no longer be pink in the center.

How do you keep chicken tenders from drying out in the oven? ›

Cook your chicken with fats like butter, ghee, avocado oil, or olive oil. You can even baste your chicken breasts and tenders the same way you would a steak, pouring melted fat over them repeatedly.

What happens if you don't cover chicken when baking? ›

You never have to worry about covering chicken while baking, as it's OK to bake it uncovered. Once your chicken is in the oven, it's hands-free until you need to check the temperature. Then, you can whip up a no-cook appetizer, vegetable or potato side dish, or dessert if you're feeling ambitious.

How do you not overcook chicken tenders? ›

Cook for 8-11 minutes at 380 degrees. To make sure my chicken is done, I like to use an instant read meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature is 165 degrees. You don't want to overcook your chicken and you definitely don't want to undercook it.

What is the hold time for cooked chicken tenders? ›

USDA recommends using cooked chicken within three to four days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days.

How to keep chicken moist when baking? ›

Temperature and Timing

Cooking lean meats at a high temperature means they cook more quickly, and this can help capture the moisture and flavor. Adler recommends cooking bone-in chicken breast at 450 degrees, which can take up to 20 minutes for a bone-in breast.

What makes chicken super tender? ›

Fortunately I have one method that makes unfailingly juicy and tender boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Simply heat the chicken breasts quickly on the stovetop then let them poach from the inside out in their juices in a covered pan. Need some chicken for a salad, or to top some pasta? This is the method.

How do you make chicken tender and not rubbery? ›

Best cooking methods to prevent rubbery chicken
  1. steaming.
  2. boiling/simmering.
  3. slow cooking (with liquid)
  4. stewing.
  5. braising.
  6. sous vide (a combination of dry/moist cooking)
Aug 2, 2021

Can you bake chicken at 350 for an hour? ›

At 350 degrees you should count on 20-25 minutes per pound for a 3 to 8 pound chicken. As with all meats, check the temperature 15-20 minutes before the time it should be done. You never know how accurate your oven is, and you don't want to overcook and dry out the chicken.

What is the best temperature to bake chicken? ›

Let's start out by saying 500 degrees isn't a temperature we'd recommend for chicken. Given the fact that drumsticks and thighs are dark meat and won't dry out as easily as breasts, the range from 350 to 450 degrees is okay for baking them. 350 to 375 is generally best for breasts.

What is the minimum cooking temperature for chicken strips? ›

Use the Oven.

For baked chicken tenders, cook them on a baking sheet in the oven at 400 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Should I use aluminum foil when baking chicken? ›

Many people opt for boneless, skinless chicken breasts for ease, but you can bake any cut of chicken in foil. Chicken breasts work well with the foil treatment, as steaming keeps the meat juicy and it cooks quickly even with the addition of veggies or starches. Chicken tenders would be a great cut to bake in foil, too.

Should you cover chicken when cooking in pan? ›

As the chicken cooks, cover the pan with a lid to trap the heat. This helps render the fat and water from the chicken for a crisp crust and evenly cooked meat.

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