Description

Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders are golden, crunchy, and juicy on the inside, made with a seasoned coating and baked at high heat instead of frying. This recipe delivers classic comfort food flavor with a lighter feel, perfect for family meals, meal prep, or quick weeknight dinners. The tender chicken stays moist while the panko coating turns beautifully crisp in the oven.

Ingredients

All purpose flour or whole wheat flour, one cup

Large eggs, three at room temperature

Water, three tablespoons

Paprika, two teaspoons

Garlic powder, one and one half teaspoons

Onion powder, half teaspoon

Fine sea salt, one teaspoon

Ground black pepper, quarter teaspoon

Panko bread crumbs, two cups

Chicken tenders, two pounds

Olive oil spray or neutral cooking spray for baking

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to high heat and place an oven safe wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet, then lightly coat the rack with cooking spray

2. Set up three shallow bowls with flour in the first bowl

3. Whisk the eggs with water in the second bowl until smooth, then mix in paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper until evenly combined

4. Place the panko bread crumbs in the third bowl and gently fluff them to remove clumps

5. Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture

6. Coat each chicken tender in flour, shaking off extra, then dip into the seasoned egg mixture, and press firmly into the panko bread crumbs

7. Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared wire rack with space between each piece

8. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray to help browning

9. Bake until the coating is golden and the chicken is cooked through, then briefly switch to broil if extra crispness is desired

10. Remove from the oven and let rest briefly before serving

Notes

If a wire rack is not available, the chicken can be baked directly on a lined baking sheet and flipped halfway through cooking

Chicken breasts can be sliced into strips if chicken tenders are not available

For best crispiness, avoid overcrowding the pan and bake in batches if necessary

Leftover chicken tenders can be refrigerated for several days or frozen for longer storage and reheated in the oven to restore crunch

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes
Category: Main Dish
Method: Oven Baked
Cuisine: American