Chicken tenders can fit into your meal plans almost wherever you need them — except for breakfast…maybe. Use them as a side, main entree, sandwich filling, or salad protein. They’re tasty, satisfying, and easy to customize.
The drawback? Traditionally, chicken tenders are deep-fried in oil, which presents some health concerns and makes a giant mess in your kitchen. Fortunately, you can address both issues by learning the secrets of making baked, breaded chicken tenders. Sure, they lack the oily bite — but they make up for it in crunch when you know what you’re doing. And that, too, is an easy problem to solve. Keep reading for the download on how to cook breaded chicken tenders in the oven.
Baked chicken tenders cooking tips
Follow these tips for great results every time.
Preheat the oven
Always start with a preheated oven. Preheating ensures quick, even, and predictable cooking.
Use paper towels
Out of the package, raw chicken is moist. Use paper towels to dry the excess moisture so the seasoning sticks to the meat. Otherwise, it will bind to the liquid and then run off as the chicken’s temperature rises.
Breading
A three-step breading process is the most reliable. Dredge the tenders in flour, then egg, then a crunchy coating like breadcrumbs. You can do the three-step dip process twice for an extra crunch.
Seasoning
You can add seasoning to any of the three elements of your breading. Try adding dried spices to the flour, hot sauce or buttermilk to the egg, or shredded cheese to the breadcrumbs.
Prepare the baking sheet
Coat your baking pan with cooking spray or a light coat of vegetable oil. Do not use olive oil, since it may smoke in the oven. Arrange the tenders on the baking sheet, spaced evenly apart. Add a bit of water to the baking pan and toss it into the preheated oven.
Baked chicken tenders cooking time
At 400°F or 200°C, breaded chicken tenders take 15 to 20 minutes too cook. This can vary depending on your oven and the size of the tenders. Always use a meat thermometer to verify the chicken reaches a safe temperature of 165°F or 74°C.
Oven-baked breaded chicken tenders recipe
PrintOven-baked breaded chicken tenders
These baked chicken tenders come together in 30 minutes, without the hassle of deep-frying.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven-baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
- 1 cup breadcrumbs, plain or Panko for extra crunch
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tbsp water
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- Cooking spray or drizzle of oil
Instructions
- Prep. Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C. Use paper towels to dry the raw tenders. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set up the breading station by adding the flour and dried seasonings to one pie plate or shallow dish. In a second dish, add the eggs and water, whisked. In a third dish, add the breadcrumbs.
- Dredge and dip. Dip each tender in the flour, egg, then breadcrumbs, shaking off excess between the first two steps. Apply light pressure in the third step, to push the breadcrumbs onto the meat.
- Arrange. Arrange the breaded tenders on the baking sheet, space evenly apart. Spray them lightly with cooking spray or mist with oil.
- Bake. Bake the tenders for 15 to 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F or 74°C.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 342
- Sugar: 1.8 g
- Sodium: 864.8 mg
- Fat: 8.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 32.2 g
- Protein: 30.5 g
- Cholesterol: 147.9 mg
