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!)
Love the batter. Came out fantastic!
Nagi If anyone hates deep fryng but loves KFC style chicken then simply combine this recipe with your KFC deep fried herbs and spices and you have a glorious alternative. Got hundreds of books and read recipes all day. Used to be a chef – yours is the best Tx
Thanks so much Nick!!
Super easy to make and sooo delicious!
I’m so glad you loved them Diane!
Just recently discovered your website and I don’t normally get excited about a cooking website, however you have such a wide range of quick and easy recipes that yours is already top of my favourites! In fact I tried your Mexican beef rice recipe tonite and it turned out amazing (comment to follow on relevant recipe page). Anyway, this looks too good not to try out…I live in Cyprus and not sure how easy it will be to find panko breadcrumbs…I’m sure a specialist Asian food store should have them..however, can you use regular breadcrumbs? Also what do you need to do to freeze these bad boys? Thanks Nagi!!
!!! I had given up on breaded chicken until I came across your method! My hands would be covered in goop and nothing would stick to the meat. Thank you thank you! My super pickey toddler had 6 strips. I let the chicken marinate in the batter overnight and it was so juicy and the outside was nice and crispy. Loved!
Winner winner chicken dinner! I’m so glad they were a hit!!
Made this last night. We like that there were s a lot less flour and batter than the usual process, which also helps the messiness factor in prep, It didn’t seem to make very much batter but was plenty for almost 1.5# of tenders when tossed. Good to know the battered chicken can be done ahead.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it – and yes, less mess = winning!!! N x
I just found and tried these tonight, I unexpectedly had 2 extra 13 year olds over with my own 13 year old, along with my 18 year old and my 49 year old (😂) I 1.5 timed the recipe because I had 1.5 lbs of chicken strips and let me tell you – it is all gone and I didn’t get one piece! 😂 They ALL LOVED IT! And said over and over how good it was! Definitely a keeper! Thank you!!
Nailed is Jessica! I’m so glad it was a hit!
Delicious. I just made it for dinner. We all loved it.
Excellent Lourdes!
You know you’re on to a winner when even a fussy 10 year old will eat them (even when you forget to add the egg to the mix)
I’m so glad it still worked out for you Hazel, that’s great to hear!
Simple and absolutely deee-licious! A winner with the hubby and I’m sure my toddler would smash it too (shame he missed out tonight, but more for us!) Thank you.
Thanks so much for letting me know Vanessa, I don’t know what toddler wouldn’t love these! N x
Have you done this with fish too?
Yep, another great recipe. So much better than standing in front of the frying pan for an hour and a whole lot less oil! Tasted great, really enjoyed the crispy coating and good to know i can prep ahead for week night dinners.
SO much better! You wont look back now Leisa!
‘Nagi does it again’! That’s our phrase at home when we try one of Nagi’s recipes 😊 This one was a huge hit especially with a fussy teenager and an even fussier 9yr old! On to the next one! X
SO… good !
I found this recipe at the last minute before making dinner tonight. This turned out great. The chicken was moist and crispy. My husband and sons loved it. I did add a touch more seasoning including garlic power and a dash of red pepper. Plus, I added a bit of honey to the liquid batter. OMG… I will definitely make it again!
I tried the crispy chicken with panko crumbs, but it didn’t come out crispy, any tips or ideas on what I did wrong?
Hi Ana, Sorry you are having issues here! Are you using Panko and toasting them in the oven first? – N x
Do you have to flip the chicken half-way if you are cooking on a rack or no?
These are so good. I have now made them several times in the last month and a half. Excellent and very worthy of 5 stars! Thank you!
Wahoo! Winner winner chicken dinner Leti!
Hi!
I’m planning to make these for dinner tonight and if they’re a hit, I would like to make a batch, cook them, and then freeze them to reheat later for a quick meal. Are they still good after being reheated? Have you tried freezing this recipe once cooked?
I’d like to know how they hold up cooked then frozen for later aswell??
Best chicken tenders ever. So yummy I’m going to make it again tomorrow for friends I’m having over for dinner. So juicy and tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Do the panko crumbs stay dry and crispy if I would coat thw chicken about 3 hours before baking, or might it go soggy?
Hi Madre, I’ve done it this way before and they were slightly less crunchy – but still great!
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Ok I made this on Tuesday for the first time,it was sooooo good! I love your two bowl breading process. Both my husband and I loved them.
Yesterday afternoon my husband was still talking about how much he liked “that chicken “. I said it was so easy to make and he sheepishly said,”can we have it again “.
So we had it again last night.
You the best, keep the recipes coming 💕💕💕
That’s awesome Colleen! The crumbing method is a game changer!
5 Stars all the way!!! I served the chicken tenders on top of a chopped salad, sprinkled the leftover Panko crumbs from the bottom of the baking pan on top and used the honey mustard as salad dressing- sooo good!! Thank you for this delicious and easy recipe, I will definitely make this again!
YESSS!!! That’s great Marielle!
I made these tonight and they were SO quick! My girls said they tasted “like real nuggets!” —- that’s a compliment 😀
These were a HUGE hit with my family. The kids requested them (and the honey mustard sauce) for lunch! It’s too bad they ate them all! Thank you.
Winner winner chicken dinner Kimberly!!!