Description
Crispy, juicy oven-fried chicken tenders made with panko breadcrumbs and buttermilk. This healthy-ish, kid-approved recipe is ready in just 20 minutes and offers a deep-fried texture without the mess.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 large eggs
- 1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Olive oil spray or melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Trim chicken breasts and cut into 1-inch thick, 3-4 inch long strips. Pat dry with paper towels.
- Place chicken strips in a bowl and pour buttermilk over them. Toss to coat and let sit for 5-10 minutes.
- In a shallow dish, combine panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
- In another shallow dish, whisk the eggs until smooth.
- Set up an assembly line: buttermilk chicken, egg wash, and breadcrumb mixture.
- Dip chicken in buttermilk, then egg wash, then press firmly into the breadcrumb mixture to coat evenly.
- Place coated tenders on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, ensuring they are spaced out.
- Spray the tops of the tenders generously with olive oil spray.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Do not flip.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use a wire rack to ensure air circulation for maximum crispiness. Do not crowd the pan. For extra crunch, double-dip in egg and breadcrumbs. Rest the chicken for 2-3 minutes after baking to retain juices. Can be frozen unbaked or cooked.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4-5 tenders per serv
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 18
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 35
Keywords: oven-fried chicken, chicken tenders, baked chicken, quick dinner, weeknight meals, crispy chicken, healthy fried chicken, panko chicken