Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders (Printable Version)
Golden-crusted chicken tenders baked to perfection and paired with homemade honey mustard sauce for a delicious family meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.1 lb chicken breast tenders or chicken breasts, cut into strips
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
→ Coating
06 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
07 - 2 large eggs
08 - 2 tablespoons water
09 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
10 - 1/2 cup regular breadcrumbs
11 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
12 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
→ Honey Mustard Sauce
13 - 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
14 - 2 tablespoons honey
15 - 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
16 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
17 - Pinch of salt and pepper
# Step-by-Step:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels. In a bowl, combine salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika. Toss chicken strips to coat evenly with seasoning mixture.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls in order: first bowl with flour, second bowl with whisked eggs mixed with water, and third bowl with panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, and oregano combined together.
04 - Working with one strip at a time, dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess. Dip into egg mixture until fully coated, then coat thoroughly in breadcrumb mixture. Arrange coated tenders on prepared baking sheet in a single layer.
05 - Drizzle or spray olive oil evenly over all chicken tenders for optimal crispiness.
06 - Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, turning halfway through cooking, until golden brown and cooked through. Internal temperature should reach 165°F.
07 - While chicken bakes, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, and pepper in a small bowl until smooth and combined.
08 - Transfer hot chicken tenders to serving plate and serve immediately with honey mustard sauce on the side.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The panko-regular breadcrumb combination creates that perfect crunch that even fastfood joints cant replicate without deep frying.
- Baking instead of frying means you can chat with family or sip something nice while dinner practically makes itself.
02 -
- Adding a little water to your egg wash makes it less thick and goopy, creating a thinner layer that helps breadcrumbs adhere better without clumping.
- Letting the coated tenders sit for 5 minutes before baking helps the coating set so it doesnt slide off during cooking, a disaster I learned about the hard way at a dinner party.
03 -
- Keep one hand dry and one hand wet during the breading process to avoid creating the finger-coating glue that happens when wet ingredients mix with dry ingredients on your hands.
- Leftover tenders maintain their crunch better when reheated in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes rather than the microwave, which turns that beautiful crust disappointingly soft.