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 200°C/390°F (180° fan-forced).
- Toast panko – 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).
- Dredge batter – 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.
- Crumb – Sprinkle surface with breadcrumbs, then press down to adhere. Transfer onto baking tray. Marvel at clean fingers, repeat with remaining chicken.
- Spray & bake – 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.
- Serve – 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!)
Hi Nagi, you are adorable and this recipe is the bomb! Thank you for giving me an excuse to eat chicken tenders whenever I want! 💋
I’m so glad you love them Jeanine!!
This is my new favorite recipe for chicken tenders. They turned out perfect! Plus, I marveled at my cleaned hands the whole time. Thank you so much for sharing. 🙂
WOOT! It’s life changing isn’t it Lo!? ❤️
I made crispy oven fried chicken tenders for my daughter and grandchildren and they loved them. I have tried many chicken tender recipes, but this is by far the best. Thank you!
Love your recipes – especially the video versions. Daughter asked for fried (breaded) chicken and I knew you would come up trumps! Cooking shortly so will let you know but never a fail yet with your recipes. Thank you Nagi – and Dozer (Robin the Viszla sends his love)
I hope it’s a winner Jenny! Give Robin a belly rub from me ❤️
My son has to have a simple meal on game day (American football) and has settled on chicken and rice. — but getting tired of plain chicken. Tried this recipe, and he loves it. Light enough for pre-game, substantial enough to nourish. And tastes fabulous!!
Wahoo, that’s great to hear Jodi!
I am making these right now. Bake the Panko at 390 and also the chicken when beaded at 390?
Yes that’s correct Evon!
This was easy and just delicious. Could also work in “nugget” size pieces for an appetizer on a toothpick. Thank you! Toasting the Panko first gives a great crunch to the coating.
Yes definitely!!!
I love the idea to mix egg and flour together. If I am making buffalo chicken strips, do I omit the mayo and mustard?
Can I do the same procedure if I make pork tonkatsu? This recipe is amazing! Even after reheating, the chicken is still tender and the bread crumbs still crispy.👏👏👏 Thank you!!
Yes definitely MM!
Looking forward to trying these. Is “oil spray” the same thing as Pam? Thanks!
Yes same thing Becky 🙂
what temp do you bake the chicken..290?
The instructions say to preheat the oven to 200C/390F.
I’m gonna make this for a backyard party for 30 of our friends tonight, Five of them are gonna play us some great jazz music, so I gotta make them some great eats! . I’ll keep you posted as to how the recipe turns our…being multiplied 😉
Enjoy Debi! Wish I was there!
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 😉
I made this for my husband tonight. He loved it. Thank you.
What a lucky guy! I’m so glad it was a hit Natashya!
I’ve made these for my family a couple times now, they love them!
That’s so awesome to hear Natanya!
My panko bread crumbs weren’t sticking to the chicken very well. Do you know what the problem is?
My panko bread crumbs weren’t sticking to the chicken very well. Does anyone know what the problem is?
Delicious chicken tenders & I love the honey mustard dipping sauce. Goes well with potatoes & I made a side salad. Perfect meal, thank you:)
Yessss! Perfection Sheri!
Thank you for posting this recipe! It was delicious with some homemade guacamole! 😀
Yum! Great idea Denise!!
The recipe was good but I think the panko needs a little seasoning other than that this was awesome
Hi Melinda, yes I normally season after the chicken is coated (in step 3) – N x
What can I use in substitute of the oil spray? Can I go without?
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!
That’s great Madelyn!
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.
It’s life changing isn’t it Karen!!
Super tasty! Loved the honey mustard sauce as well!
Wahoo, that’s great Barbara!