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Crispy Parmesan Baked Chicken Tenders – Easy Kid-Friendly Dinner

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These crispy parmesan baked chicken tenders are crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and made with simple ingredients. They’re baked, not fried, and ready in about 20 minutes of prep time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) chicken breast tenders
  • 1 cup (240ml) buttermilk
  • 1.5 cups (150g) panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup (100g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp olive oil spray or melted butter

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Place a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet and spray it lightly with olive oil.
  2. If using whole chicken breasts, slice them into even strips about 1 inch thick. Pat them dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. Place the chicken strips in a bowl and pour the buttermilk over them. Let them soak for at least 15 minutes (up to 1 hour if time allows).
  4. Set up your breading station: In the first shallow bowl, add remaining buttermilk. In the second bowl, whisk the eggs until frothy. In the third bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  5. Working one piece at a time, dip a tender into the buttermilk, let excess drip off, then dip into the egg wash. Finally, press it into the breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat all sides. Shake off loose crumbs and place on the wire rack. Repeat with all tenders.
  6. Lightly spray the tops of the breaded tenders with olive oil spray or brush with melted butter.
  7. Bake for 15-18 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  8. Optional: For extra crunch, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
  9. Let the tenders rest on the wire rack for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the buttermilk soak—it keeps the chicken juicy. Use a wire rack for maximum crispiness. Don’t overcrowd the pan; leave at least an inch between tenders. For gluten-free, use gluten-free breadcrumbs. For dairy-free, use almond milk with lemon juice and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy chicken tenders, baked chicken tenders, parmesan chicken, kid-friendly dinner, easy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://tastytuck.com/crispy-parmesan-baked-chicken-tenders-easy-kid-friendly-dinner/