Baked Chicken Tenders

Name: Baked Chicken Tenders
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: american
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups full-fat Greek yogurt, labneh or sour cream; 1/4 cup finely chopped chives; 1/4 cup finely chopped parsley; 2 tablespoons finely chopped dill; 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice; 1 small garlic clove, finely grated or chopped; Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper; 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts; Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper; 1 cup all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 2 large eggs, beaten to blend; 2 cups bread crumbs (preferably panko or other coarse bread crumbs); 3 tablespoons olive oil

By Alison Roman

Total Time: 45 minutes
Rating: 4(2,987)
Comments: Read comments

Chicken tenders may be known as a kid favorite, but it's hard to find an adult who doesn't enjoy them just as much. And there's a lot to love when a crisp, golden brown coating meets juicy, tender chicken strips. This weeknight version strays slightly from the traditional deep-fried recipe: It can be pan-fried (see tip below), but it shines when baked in the oven. Proper chicken tenders, or the smaller muscle underneath the breast, can be hard to find, but boneless, skinless breasts — from chicken, or even turkey — sliced into thin strips are an excellent stand-in. For a little punch, feel free to add cayenne, crushed red-pepper flakes or fennel seed, or ground cumin to the flour mixture. Lastly, this version is paired with an herbed yogurt dip, but it can also be served with ketchup.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

For the Dip

1½cups full-fat Greek yogurt, labneh or sour cream
¼cup finely chopped chives
¼cup finely chopped parsley
2tablespoons finely chopped dill
2tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1small garlic clove, finely grated or chopped
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

For the Chicken

1½pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1cup all-purpose flour
2teaspoons smoked paprika
2large eggs, beaten to blend
2cups bread crumbs (preferably panko or other coarse bread crumbs)
3tablespoons olive oil

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Make the recipe with us

Step 1
Make the dip: Mix yogurt, chives, parsley, dill, lemon juice and garlic in a small bowl; season with salt and plenty of pepper. Set aside.
Step 2
Prepare the chicken: Heat oven to 450 degrees. Cut chicken breasts lengthwise into about 1¼-inch-wide strips. Season with salt and pepper, and set aside.
Step 3
Mix together flour and paprika in a medium bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Place eggs in a large bowl and whisk with 1 teaspoon water. Season with salt and pepper. Put bread crumbs in a large bowl or shallow baking dish, and season with salt and pepper.
Step 4
Working with few pieces at a time, toss the chicken in the flour mixture, making sure it’s evenly coated. Shake off excess flour, and dip into egg wash. Shake off any excess.
Step 5
Dip chicken into bread crumb mixture a few pieces at a time, pressing to adhere as many bread crumbs as possible. Shake off any excess, and set chicken aside on a large plate.
Step 6
Place breaded chicken strips on a foil- or parchment-lined rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, and bake until one side is beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Using tongs or a spatula, flip chicken and continue to cook until the other side is golden brown and crisp, another 6 to 8 minutes. Serve with herbed yogurt dip.

Tip

If pan-frying, heat ½ cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once oil is shimmering and hot (and registers about 375 degrees on a thermometer), working in batches, add chicken strips, taking care not to crowd the skillet. Fry until one side is golden brown and crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Flip chicken using tongs or a spatula, and continue to fry until the other side is golden brown and crisp, another 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer chicken to a paper towel-lined plate and season with salt. Serve with herbed yogurt dip.

Ratings

4 out of 5

2,987 user ratings

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Comments

Linda7 years ago

Skip the flour,egg, crumbs mess. Give tenders with a coat of good mayo (yes, mayonnaise!), dip in crumbs and bake. Also no need for oil drizzle. Works on fish too.

ingrid7 years ago

when preparing chicken I like to marinate it in buttermilk for at least a 1/2 hour -- excellent tenderizer ! (also, since the chicken is then moist I skip the egg and flour dredge, and go straight for the bread crumbs -- panko, parmesan, red pepper flakes -- but, that's a different story ;) )

SL7 years ago

Toss the panko crumbs with a little olive oil and toast to a golden brown at 425 degrees in the oven before using in the breading process. Will result in beautifully brown and appetizing tenders...without the white /uncooked edges typically resulting from breaded chicken.

SheriE2 weeks ago

I prepared exactly as instructed and the tenders Came out delicious, tender and crispy. I wouldn’t change a thing. This would be fun to do with kids. Let ‘em get a little messy. They would probably have fun.

Just Me3 weeks ago

There are a lot of redundant bowls in the video. To transfer breadcrumbs from one bowl to another is redundant. To put breaded chicken onto a bowl to then transfer it to an oiled parchment paper is redundant - why not put breaded chicken onto parchment right away? The efficiency lover in me cringes at all these extra dishes you'd have to wash afterwards! :)

Bevan Davies3 months ago

Just cooked this tonight. Perfect! I used sour cream for the dip and fresh greens. The smoked paprika lends a nice touch. The chicken tenders were a little thicker than they might have been, so I cooked them for maybe four minutes longer. A lot of prep time, but worth it!

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