Chicken Tenders Recipes

HOW TO MAKE BUTTERMILK CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Place chicken breasts in between 2 pieces of plastic wrap and pound to even thickness of about about 1/2″. Then cut into strips of about an inch thick. Place in a bowl with buttermilk and let sit in refrigerator for about an hour.
• In a large bowl, combine flour, season salt, paprika and parsley flakes. In another bowl, beat two eggs.
• In a deep frying pan, heat oil to about 350 degrees F (medium heat for about 5 minutes).
• Remove chicken strips from buttermilk, dredge in flour mix, the eggs, then back through flour. Set aside on a paper plate until complete.
• Carefully place coated chicken into pan with hot oil. Fry for about 3-4 minutes, then flip pieces over for another 3 minutes or until golden brown. Internal temp should be 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer.
• Carefully remove chicken from oil and drain on paper towels.

CRISPY OVEN BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200C/390F.
• Spread panko on a baking tray, spray with oil (spray vertically to avoid blowing the panko off the tray), then bake for 3 to 5 minutes until light golden. Transfer to bowl.
• Place a rack on a baking tray (not critical but bakes more evenly).
• Place the Batter ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork until combined.
• Add the chicken into the Batter and toss to coat.

EASY BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
• Place egg in a shallow dish. Place bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper into a large zip-top freezer bag and mix well. Dip 2 chicken strips into egg and then place into bread crumb mixture and shake to coat. Place coated chicken pieces onto the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Spray each chicken tender with cooking spray 2 times.
• Bake tenders in the preheated oven for 7 minutes; flip, continue to bake on opposite side until no longer pink in the centers, about 7 minutes more. Remove from the oven.
• Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
• Broil tenders in the preheated oven for extra crunch, about 2 minutes more.

GARLIC PARMESAN CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Trim the fat from the tenders.
• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Set out three bowls. Fill one with the white flour, about 1/4 teaspoon pepper, & about 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir,
• Fill the next bowl with the olive oil or butter and minced garlic. Stir.
• Place the basil, paprika, Panko, and parmesan cheese in the last. Stir.
• Place the tenders in the flour mixture, then the garlic oil, then the panko mixture making sure to evenly and thoroughly coat each piece.
• Place the tenders on the sheet and then place in the oven.
• Cook for 15 minutes and then flip the tenders and cook for another 5-8 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees F.
• Remove and enjoy immediately with the dipping sauce!

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425°F. Line cookie sheet with foil; spray with cooking spray.
• In shallow dish, place flour. In another shallow dish, beat egg and water. In third shallow dish, mix bread crumbs and cheese. Coat chicken with flour; dip into egg mixture, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Place on cookie sheet.
• Bake 15 to 20 minutes, turning once, until chicken is no longer pink in center and coating is golden brown. Serve with dipping sauce.

SUPER CRISPY CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Cut the chicken breasts into four tenders each and soak them in a bowl with the buttermilk and hot sauce for 30 minutes.
• Add the eggs to one bowl and the flour and spices to a second bowl.
• Dip each piece of chicken from the buttermilk bowl to the flour mixture.
• Dip it into the eggs then back into the flour mixture.
• Shake excess flour gently off and put the chicken onto a baking sheet.
• Repeat with all the pieces.
• Heat the oil (three inches deep) in a dutch oven on medium high heat to 350 degrees.
• Fry the chicken in small batches for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.

CHICKEN TENDERS RECIPE

Steps:

• Add olive oil and melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan/skillet over medium heat.
• Add the chicken tenders, season with paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Cook for 3 minutes on each side (season each side as you cook).
• Make room for the garlic, melt the remaining butter, and add the garlic. Cook for 30 seconds or until the garlic becomes fragrant.
• Season with Italian seasoning, and cook for one more minute.
• Add 2 tablespoons of water to the pan to deglaze it, and scrape off any bits stuck to the bottom of the pan (that's where all of the good flavor is).
• Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil leaves, and serve warm.

BISQUICK CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spray it with cooking spray.
• In a 1-gallon Ziploc bag, combine Bisquick mix, cheese, salt, and paprika.
• Dip half the chicken strips into the egg. Place the egg-washed chicken strips into the bag. Seal the bag and shake until the strips are coated.
• Transfer the strips onto the cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining chicken. Drizzle melted butter over the chicken strips.
• Bake for 12 to 14 minutes. At the 6-minute mark, flip the strips over with a pancake turner. Chicken tenders are done when they turn golden brown and no longer pink in the center.
• Enjoy!

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• To marinate the chicken: In a large sealable bag, combine the chicken tenders with the remaining marinade ingredients. Seal the bag tightly and massage the chicken until it is evenly coated with buttermilk and seasoning. Place in a bowl (in case of leakage) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
• To make the breading: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk until well blended, then add the buttermilk and stir with a fork until the mixture is evenly clumpy.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Remove the chicken tenders from the marinade a few at a time and toss into the breading mixture. Be sure to press the chicken firmly into the breading so clumps adhere to the meat. (It's a messy job: use one hand to remove the wet tenders from the bag and the other to toss in the breading.) Set breaded tenders on the prepared baking sheet.
• To fry the chicken: Line another baking sheet with a few layers of paper towels and set next to the stove. Add oil to a large, high-sided pot until the level reaches about ¾-inch. Heat over medium-high heat until oil is shimmering (about 350°). (If a cube of bread sizzles when you drop it in, it's ready.) Using tongs, place several chicken tenders in the hot oil without crowding the pan. Cook until golden brown on the bottom side, a few minutes, then flip and cook until the second side is also golden, a few minutes more. Set the cooked tenders on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Fry remaining tenders in batches adjusting the heat as necessary (if the tenders are browning too fast, lower the heat). Serve hot.
• Note: I find that it's hard to tell how golden the chicken is when it's immersed in the oil. It may only look lightly golden, but it's actually a perfect fried chicken golden brown. If you're unsure, simply pull a tender out of the oil and rest it on the paper towels to see the true color.
• Note: Nutritional information was calculated assuming that approximately ¼ cup of the oil is absorbed into the chicken tenders when frying.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, put the frozen tenders on a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and warm in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through and crisp, about 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

BISQUICK CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°F. Line baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.
• Add beaten egg to a small tray or rimmed plate. Mix Bisquick, cheese, garlic salt and paprika together and add to 1-gallon resealable plastic food-storage bag.
• Dip the chicken strips into egg; then place in bag of Bisquick mixture. Seal bag; shake to coat. Then REPEAT the process by dipping chicken into egg and shaking in Bisquick mix again. You don't want to skip this step - it makes the chicken crispy and perfectly breaded. Place chicken on prepared baking sheet. Drizzle butter over chicken.
• Bake 14 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken tenders half way through (7 minutes). Use an instant read meat thermometer to check temperature of chicken tenderloins. Poultry should be cooked until the internal temperature is 165ºF. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like honey mustard or ranch.
• Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Preheat air fryer according your manufacturer's directions.
• Add beaten egg to a small tray or rimmed plate. Mix Bisquick mix, cheese, salt and paprika and add to a 1-gallon resealable plastic food-storage bag.
• Dip the chicken strips into egg; then place in bag of Bisquick mixture. Seal bag; shake to coat. Then REPEAT the process by dipping chicken into egg and shaking in Bisquick mix again. You don't want to skip this step - it makes the chicken crispy and perfectly breaded. Place chicken on prepared baking sheet. Drizzle butter over chicken.
• Air fry at 425ºF for 10-12 minutes. Using tongs, turn chicken tenders half way through (5 - 6 minutes). Use an instant read meat thermometer to check temperature of chicken tenderloins. Poultry should be cooked until the internal temperature is 165ºF. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces like honey mustard or ranch.

GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN TENDERS (THE BEST!)

Steps:

• Season the chicken tenders with smoked paprika and cayenne pepper. Set aside.
• Heat up a cast-iron skillet (preferred) on high heat and add 3 tablespoons of butter. As soon as the butter melts and starts to sizzle, add the chicken tenders. Cook uninterrupted for 1-2 minutes, then turn over and start cooking the other side.
• Push the chicken tenders to the side of the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter follow by the minced garlic on the empty space on the skillet. Add the Italian seasoning on top of the chicken tenders and stir to combine well with the chicken and garlic.
• Add salt and lemon juice and continue to cook the chicken tenders until they are slightly charred on the both sides. Add the chopped parsley, stir to combine well. Turn off the heat and serve immediately with lemon wedges. Squeeze the lemon juice on top before serving.

CRISPY CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking tray / sheet with cooking oil spray, or a light coating of oil. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, oil, lemon juice, parsley, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Dip chicken tenders into egg mixture and let sit for 5 minutes while preparing crumb mixture. OPTIONAL: Cover and allow to marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour (if time allows).*
• In another bowl, combine both breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and parmesan cheese.
• Dredge the egg coated chicken in the breadcrumb/parmesan mixture, lightly pressing to evenly coat.
• Arrange tenders on the baking sheet / tray and lightly spray with cooking oil spray.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Flip and bake for a further 5-10 minutes or until cooked through. (Broil in the last 2-3 minutes for a golden crispy crumb!)

OVEN BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• In a large bowl, soak the chicken in buttermilk 15 to 30 minutes.
• Move the oven rack one spot up from the center position. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a gallon zip-top bag, toss together the flour, panko, seasoned salt, salt, pepper, and parsley, if desired. Using tongs, transfer the chicken, reserving the buttermilk, to the bag. Shake until well coated.
• Remove the chicken and dip in buttermilk once more. Return to the bag and toss in the flour mixture to coat. Repeat process with remaining chicken.
• Place chicken on the wire rack. Bake 10 minutes. Flip and bake an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the center reads 165°F. Don't overcook or they wont be as tender.
• Turn the oven to broil for the final minute of cooking to get an extra-crispy texture. Watch closely so they don't burn. Remove from the oven when golden brown.
• Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Serve immediately, or return to a wire rack in a 170°F oven to keep warm and crispy until ready to serve.

STOVETOP LEMON GARLIC BUTTER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Add the chicken, onion powder, salt, thyme, pepper and paprika to a large bowl and toss everything to combine.
• Melt the butter and olive oil together in a large skillet over medium heat, then cook the chicken tenders in two batches for 5-7 minutes each time, flipping the tenders halfway through.
• Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside. Add the garlic, stir, and cook for about 30 seconds or until it becomes fragrant.
• Stir in the chicken broth and lemon juice and let it simmer for about 5 minutes or until it has reduced.
• Add the chicken back to the pan, then flip it back and forth to ensure that it is coated in the lemon garlic sauce.
• Serve with fresh thyme for garnish if desired.

TONY'S CHICKEN TENDERS WITH HONEY MUSTARD SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oil to 350 degrees F.
• Cut the chicken breasts into long strips and set aside.
• Beat the 3 eggs in a separate bowl and measure the flour into another separate dish.
• Measure the panko into a pie plate or shallow bowl and season with garlic powder, lemon-pepper, cayenne, salt and pepper.
• Dip the chicken strips into the flour, the beaten egg and then dredge them into the seasoned panko.
• Fry in the hot peanut oil for 6 to 8 minutes, until golden brown, and remove to a paper towel lined sheet tray. Serve with Honey Mustard sauce.
• Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl and season with salt and pepper. The sauce can be held in the refrigerator for 1 week.