Description
Crispy baked chicken tenders with creamy mustard dip blend golden crunchiness with tangy comfort. Succulent chicken meets zesty sauce, promising a delightful meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1.5 pounds (680 grams) chicken tenders
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Finishing and Optional Ingredients:
- Olive oil spray
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven to a scorching 425°F and strategically position a wire rack atop a parchment-lined baking sheet for optimal air circulation.
- Thoroughly eliminate moisture from chicken using paper towels, transforming breasts into uniform 1-inch strips if necessary.
- Craft three distinct seasoning stations: the first holding seasoned flour, the second containing whisked eggs, and the third housing a robust panko mixture enriched with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Execute a precise coating technique by first rolling chicken in flour, ensuring a delicate powdery layer, then immersing in egg wash, and finally enrobing with the aromatic panko blend.
- Apply gentle pressure while coating to guarantee maximum crispy adherence to each tender.
- Arrange coated chicken on the prepared wire rack, then delicately mist the surface with olive oil to enhance golden browning.
- Slide into the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes, performing a midway flip to ensure uniform crispiness and achieving an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Simultaneously, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, and honey to create a tangy, creamy dipping sauce.
- Refrigerate the mustard sauce to allow flavors to meld while chicken bakes.
- Upon completion, garnish with fresh parsley and serve the crispy tenders alongside the chilled mustard dip.
Notes
- Select chicken tenders for more consistent size and easier coating, ensuring even cooking and crispy texture.
- Crush panko breadcrumbs slightly to create a more compact, crunchier exterior that adheres better to chicken.
- Pat chicken completely dry before coating to prevent soggy breading and promote maximum crispiness.
- Use a wire rack on the baking sheet to allow air circulation, creating an evenly crisp coating without excess oil pooling.
- Adjust spice levels by increasing or decreasing garlic and onion powder to suit personal taste preferences.
- Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container and reheat in the oven to maintain crispiness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg