Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders (Printable Version)
Golden, crunchy baked chicken tenders served with tangy honey mustard sauce. Great for family dinners or parties.
# What You Need:
→ For the Chicken Tenders
01 - 1½ lbs chicken tenders or chicken breasts, cut into strips
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 2 tbsp milk
05 - 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
06 - ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
07 - 1 tsp garlic powder
08 - 1 tsp paprika
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - ½ tsp black pepper
11 - Cooking spray or olive oil spray
→ For the Honey Mustard Sauce
12 - ¼ cup Dijon mustard
13 - ¼ cup honey
14 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise
15 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
16 - Pinch of salt and pepper
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - Set up three shallow bowls: place flour in the first bowl; whisk together eggs and milk in the second bowl; mix panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in the third bowl.
03 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Dredge each piece first in flour, then in egg mixture, then in the panko mixture. Press gently to ensure coating sticks.
04 - Arrange coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray tops with cooking spray.
05 - Bake for 22–25 minutes, turning halfway, until golden and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F).
06 - While chicken bakes, whisk together Dijon mustard, honey, mayonnaise, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt and pepper in a small bowl.
07 - Serve chicken tenders hot with honey mustard sauce for dipping.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The baked method gives you that perfect crunch without the mess and guilt of frying
- Homemade honey mustard tastes infinitely better than anything from a bottle
02 -
- Toasting your panko in a dry skillet before coating adds an extra layer of crunch that makes a huge difference
- Patting the chicken completely dry before coating prevents the breading from sliding off during baking
03 -
- Let the coated chicken sit for 10 minutes before baking to help the coating set
- Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep your fingers from getting completely coated