These crunchy baked chicken tenders are life changing! The secret to truly golden, truly crunchy baked breaded chicken is to toast the breadcrumbs in the oven first. Bonus: No dirty fingers with my quick crumbing technique!
This is a reader-favourite recipe included by popular demand in my debut cookbook “Dinner”!
Really crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders
There is no feel-good story behind these crunchy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders. Quite simply, I am yet to meet anything deep fried that I didn’t love, but a) my waistline can’t afford the real thing every time I feel like it; and b) I reserve deep frying for “special occasions”. Because… well, you know.
Mess, oil wastage, gluey fingers.
Waistline. Bottom expansion.
Etc etc.
It also irritated me no end that the breadcrumbs always came out splotchy, no matter how much oil I used.
So this is how I make baked crumbed chicken.
Baked breaded chicken – my way
Toast the breadcrumbs in the oven for just a few minutes. This is the path to truly golden, truly crunchy baked breaded chicken even with a short bake time (max 20 minutes for chicken tenders). PS Much MUCH easier than pan frying!
One dredge batter – the usual process for crumbing is flour then egg then breadcrumbs. For this quick ‘n easy recipe, I combine the egg with flour plus mustard and mayo for flavour + oil (attempt to replicate deep fried) to make a thick batter in which the chicken is dredged. This stuff is great glue for the breadcrumbs!
Clean fingers! Use tongs to transfer the batter slathered chicken into the breadcrumbs. Sprinkle over breadcrumbs to cover, press down to adhere. Transfer to tray. Marvel at clean fingers!!
Give it a light spray of oil, bake for 15 minutes and voila! This is what you get:
LOOK HOW GOLDEN THEY ARE!! Just imagine that crunch when you bite into the juicy chicken inside!
Dipping Sauces
It’s pictured above with a Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. Just like Maccers. Only homemade. 🙂
Other Dipping Sauces: Try the Pink Steak Sauce from the Beef Kebabs, Sweet and Sour Sauce, Thousand Island, Tartare or even a classic Seafood Cocktail Sauce.
– Nagi x
Watch how to make it
This recipe features in my debut cookbook Dinner. The book is mostly new recipes, but this is a reader favourite included by popular demand!
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Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
Breadcrumb
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs (Note 1)
- Oil spray
Batter
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard (or other mustard)
- 2 tbsp flour
- 1/2 tsp salt
- Black pepper
Chicken
- 500 g/1 lb chicken tenderloins (or breast cut into 2/3″ / 1.5cm thick slices, lengthwise)
- Oil spray
Instructions
- 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.
Crumbing (see video & photo in post)
- Pick up chicken with tongs and place it into the panko bowl.
- Sprinkle surface with breadcrumbs, then press down to adhere. Transfer onto baking tray. Marvel at clean fingers, repeat with remaining chicken.
- Spray lightly with oil, sprinkle with a touch of salt (optional). Bake 15 minutes (medium) or up to 20 minutes if gigantic. Any longer = dried out chicken.
- Remove from oven and serve immediately, with Sauce of choice (Honey Mustard pictured, see Note 2) and sprinkled with fresh parsley, if desired.
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
Originally published April 2015, updated with new photos, video, words in post. No change to recipe, though some minor writing tidying up has been done.
More crunchy crumbed chicken
A crunchy golden crumb takes any chicken from bland to delicious!
LIFE OF DOZER
That hopeful sparkle in his eyes…. (it was false hope) (Oh wait, I lied. I gave him a bite!)
Debi says
I am making this recipe for an outdoor evening with our friends who get together once a year and play some great jazz music for us. I can’t wait to see how the chicken turns out for a crowd of 30! I’ll keep you posted 😉
Natashya says
I made this for my husband tonight. He loved it. Thank you.
Nagi says
What a lucky guy! I’m so glad it was a hit Natashya!
Natanya says
I’ve made these for my family a couple times now, they love them!
Nicole Hill says
My panko bread crumbs weren’t sticking to the chicken very well. Does anyone know what the problem is?
Nicole Hill says
My panko bread crumbs weren’t sticking to the chicken very well. Do you know what the problem is?
Nagi says
That’s so awesome to hear Natanya!
Sheri says
Delicious chicken tenders & I love the honey mustard dipping sauce. Goes well with potatoes & I made a side salad. Perfect meal, thank you:)
Nagi says
Yessss! Perfection Sheri!
Denise says
Thank you for posting this recipe! It was delicious with some homemade guacamole! 😀
Nagi says
Yum! Great idea Denise!!
melinda thomason says
The recipe was good but I think the panko needs a little seasoning other than that this was awesome
Nagi says
Hi Melinda, yes I normally season after the chicken is coated (in step 3) – N x
Brie says
What can I use in substitute of the oil spray? Can I go without?
Madelyn says
I’ve made these several times and they always turn out perfect! Also your honey mustard sauce is the best! Thank you!!! Give Dozer a hug!
Nagi says
That’s great Madelyn!
karen miller says
Made this for dinner tonight and the tenders were tasty and juicy. And there was no waste in the ingredients. Was nice to be able to keep my fingers clean also. Thanks for the tip.
Nagi says
It’s life changing isn’t it Karen!!
Barbara J MacKinnon says
Super tasty! Loved the honey mustard sauce as well!
Nagi says
Wahoo, that’s great Barbara!
Karen says
love, love, love these chicken tenders, so good and the recipe was super easy to follow and prep time was quick. Thank you
Nagi says
No worries Karen! Thanks for leaving a comment! -Nx
Cara Lynn says
I made this the other evening, didn’t make any changes to the recipe and it turned out AMAZING!! I shared the recipe with one of my co-workers and her 2 year old asked for seconds!! So good, I will be making this again!!
Nagi says
Perfect Cara!
Barbara B says
Fabulous!! Family loved this recipe!! Woohoo easy and mess free. The 15 minute timer is perfect. Thanx honey for teaching an old dog a new trick☺
Nagi says
Awesome Barbara, I’m so glad they were a hit!
Vinita says
Would the recipe work without mustard in the batter (ran out!). Love your recipes Nagi x
Reva says
I have made it ample number of times. Everytime it turns out perfect and delicious!!! My kid Love love love it. Thanks Nagi
Nagi says
Yes sure Vinita!
Betty says
Another great recipe from TinEats. My picky 3 year old granddaughter and 14 month grandson loved your chicken fingers. My husband and I enjoyed the honey dijon sauce; ketchup for the young ones. I also recommend from this site the chicken shawarma , wild rice salad and beef ragu. Thank You Nagi.
Nagi says
Winner winner chicken dinner Betty!
Carol says
Hi Nagi,
This recipe looks fabulous! I can’t wait to try it. But, I have a question? What is the temperature to bake the crumbs and what is the temperature to bake the chicken? Is it really 200 degrees for both?
Thanks so much!!!
Nagi says
Sure is Carol! Enjoy!
nadia says
Mine are in the oven now at 390 degrees farenheight, can’t wait to try them. Thank you for the great recipe!
Kathryn says
O.M.G. These were the BEST chicken tenders I have ever made. They are absolutely delicious! Thank you for this recipe! I will make these again and again!
Nagi says
That’s awesome to hear Kathryn!
Sherley S says
Absolutely delicious! And a baked version too! I’m pleased as punch that I don’t have to deep fry these anymore. My local supermarket doesn’t sell oil spray so I just bought a plastic spray bottle and transferred some oil into it. Worked! Thanks so much for this recipe!
Nagi says
I’m so glad it worked for you Sherley!
CaliG says
LOVE that I don’t need to dredge in 3-4 items. Also, toasting the panko first is key (and you can use crushed croutons in a pinch) so this was good recommendation. I agree with Nagi’s cook time for perfection. That said, if you want to cook 5-10 minutes more for extra crispy or burnt, you totally can, just watch every few minutes. This is a good recipe for those that have trouble cooking due to disability and/or can’t stand for long time (put all main ingredients in a bowl and just stir, drop precut (from store) tenders in & stir. Put breadcrumbs in large flat container w/lid, drop chicken in and shake to coat quickly). I think this is the easiest and best crispy chicken tenders recipe so far due to that reason. Thanks very much so I can have affordable dish that seems like takeout!
Nagi says
Woah thanks so much for letting me know CaliG!
Rose M. Fagerness says
Thank you for these delicious recipes. I’m very happy with these recipes and have made the honey mustard chicken and sauce like four times now. They are good reheated also.
Nagi says
That’s awesome to hear Rose!