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Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders

Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders

The Crispy Chef
Crispy baked chicken tenders offer all the golden crunch of fried chicken with none of the mess. Made with juicy chicken breast strips coated in a seasoned panko-parmesan crust, they bake up crisp on the outside, tender inside, and are a healthier, kid-approved meal prep favorite.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 350 kcal

Equipment

  • large baking sheet
  • Wire rack
  • Aluminum foil
  • three shallow bowls for breading station
  • Tongs
  • Cooking spray

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5–2 lbs chicken breasts (about 3 large), cut into ¾ inch strips
  • 1 cup buttermilk (optional for brining)
  • 1 tsp salt (for brine)
  • 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional for brine)
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 0.5 tsp salt (for flour station)
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper (for flour station)
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder (for flour station)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tsp hot sauce (optional for egg wash)
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 0.5 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 0.5 tsp salt (for breadcrumb coating)
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper (for breadcrumb coating)
  • cooking spray or melted butter (for crisping tops)

Instructions
 

  • Optional: Mix buttermilk, salt, and hot sauce in a bowl. Add chicken strips and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 4 hours. Pat dry before breading.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray.
  • Set up 3 bowls: 1) flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder; 2) eggs, milk, hot sauce; 3) panko, parmesan, paprika, garlic and onion powder, seasoning, salt, pepper.
  • Coat chicken in flour, then dip in egg wash, then press into breadcrumb mixture. Place on rack without overlapping.
  • Spray or brush tops of tenders with oil or melted butter. Bake 10 minutes, flip, spray again, then bake 8–10 more minutes until crispy and 165°F inside.
  • Let rest 2–3 minutes on the rack. Serve hot with dipping sauces. Reheat in oven to retain crispiness.

Notes

For extra crispiness, always spray or brush the tops with oil before baking. Don’t skip the wire rack – it makes a big difference. Want to spice it up? Try buffalo, ranch, or lemon pepper variations. These reheat well in the oven but avoid the microwave to preserve crunch.

Nutrition

Calories: 350kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 32gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 720mgPotassium: 480mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 220IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 180mgIron: 1.2mg
Keyword baked chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, healthy chicken tenders, panko chicken
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