Baked Chicken Tenders

No matter how old you are, chicken tenders are the ultimate comfort food. Golden, crunchy and ideal for dipping, they’re a great choice for dinner, especially if you have picky eaters. While stopping at the drive-thru or frozen section of the grocery store is convenient, homemade oven-baked chicken tenders are tastier, better for you and easier than you might think.

Keep reading to learn how to make our baked chicken tenders recipe, plus we’ll show you tips and tricks for adding fun seasonings and making an extra-crunchy coating.

Ingredients for Baked Chicken Tenders

• Egg: An egg binds the bread crumb coating to the chicken. You can either use one egg or an egg substitute.
• Mustard: Squeeze a bit of mustard into the beaten egg. It’ll add a nice zippiness to the oven-baked chicken tenders.
• Garlic: Mince one clove of pungent garlic and add it to the egg mixture.
• Bread crumbs: Buy your bread crumbs from the store, whip up homemade bread crumbs yourself, or try a genius substitute for bread crumbs like ground nuts or pretzels. Feel free to use panko bread crumbs instead of regular dry bread crumbs too. Panko crumbs are larger and coarser, giving baked chicken tenders recipes more of a crunch.
• Seasonings: This oven-baked chicken tenders recipe is seasoned with dried basil, smoky paprika, and a bit of salt and pepper. Feel free to add more spices as you wish.
• Chicken: When you’re at the store, look for chicken tenderloins that have a pink hue and no signs of greying meat. Double-check that the sell-by date is a day or two out and the package is leak-free.

Directions

Step 1: Prep the dredge

First, preheat your oven to 400°F.

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In a shallow bowl, combine the egg, mustard and minced garlic with a whisk.

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In another shallow bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, basil, paprika, salt and pepper.

Step 2: Dredge the chicken

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Dip each chicken tender fully into the egg mixture, shake off the excess, then coat the chicken in the bread crumbs. While the tender is in the bread crumbs, gently press the crumbs into the chicken. This will help the breading stick and ensure it’s even over the whole tender.

Transfer the tenders to a baking sheet coated with cooking spray.

Test Kitchen Tip: To up the crunchiness of your tenders, give them a quick spritz of cooking spray on each side before they go in the oven.

Step 3: Bake the tenders

After all the chicken tenders have been breaded, bake them in your preheated oven until the breading is golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink and has reached 165°, 10 to 15 minutes.

Test Kitchen Tip: You may need to flip your chicken tenders around the halfway mark to prevent one side from browning too much. If you check and notice deep browning, gently flip each tender, trying not to move or squeeze it too much.

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Recipe Variations

• Play with the herbs: Add a dash each of parsley, oregano and grated Parmesan to the breading mixture for an Italian upgrade.
• Add in spices: Go Southwest by omitting the basil and sprinkling a teaspoon each of chili powder and cumin in the bread crumbs. Try something new by substituting curry powder for the basil in your crumb mixture.
• Bring on the heat: Squeeze a bit of hot sauce in the egg mixture. Cholula is our go-to, but you can use any brand that’s your favorite. Add chili flakes or ground cayenne to the dry breading. But be careful, a little bit will go a long way!
• Create more texture: Instead of dry bread crumbs, crush pretzels in a food processor or in a resealable bag for a coarser crumb with added saltiness. Crumbled cornflakes also make a great breading for chicken tenders, giving them a crisp texture.

How to Store Baked Chicken Tenders

If you happen to have leftover chicken tenders (kudos to your self-control), simply let them cool to room temp and store them in an airtight container for up to four days.

To reheat leftover tenders, bake them in a 350° oven until the internal temperature reaches 165°.

Can you freeze baked chicken tenders?

Yes, whether you’re meal prepping or have leftover chicken tenders, these homemade oven-baked chicken tenders can be frozen. You can do this by placing the baked, room-temperature chicken tenders in a freezer storage bag or airtight container and keeping them in the freezer for up to four months.

To use frozen chicken tenders, transfer them to the refrigerator to defrost overnight. Then, carefully transfer the tenders to a baking sheet and bake them in a 350° oven until the internal temperature reaches 165°.

Baked Chicken Tender Tips

What should I serve with baked chicken tenders recipes?

We have to be honest, oven-baked chicken tenders go well with pretty much everything! That said, these are the items we tend to serve alongside our tenders:

• A green vegetable: Whether it’s a simple side salad or veggie medley, something green is always a good idea.
• A starchy side: From ooey-gooey macaroni and cheese to crispy french fries, layer on the carbs.
• Lots of condiments: Load up your plate with hot honey, spicy ketchup, hot sauce, honey mustard, barbecue … the list can go on and on!

How can I use my oven-baked chicken tenders?

Besides eating them with a dipping sauce, you can roll the tenders into a lunch wrap or cut them up and toss them in a salad.

Can I air-fry this baked chicken tenders recipe instead?

You absolutely can air-fry chicken tenders instead of baking them! Spray the dredged chicken tenders with cooking spray, then cook them in a 400° air fryer for seven to eight minutes before flipping the tenders over and repeating on the other side.

Why is the breading falling off?

There are a few reasons why the breading keeps falling off the chicken. The most likely reason is that you aren’t drying the meat before running it through the dredging stations. Excess moisture won’t keep the breading on the chicken. Also, don’t be skimpy with the crumb coating! Really pat the chicken into the bread crumbs. Get every nook and cranny. Finally, and maybe the hardest to follow: Be patient. I know you want to dive right into the crispy chicken tenders, but you need to let the coating solidify and firm up a bit after it bakes.

How long does it take to bake chicken tenders?

Bake chicken tenders until they’re no longer pink and they reach an internal temp of 165°, which will take 10 to 15 minutes in a 400° oven.