Description
Crack chicken tenders bring crispy, juicy excitement to your dinner table with zero fuss. Seasoned perfectly and baked to golden perfection, these tender morsels will become your family’s new favorite weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 oz cream cheese
Supporting Dry Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp paprika
Wet Ingredients and Additions:
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- ¼ cup ranch dressing
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F and arrange parchment paper on a baking sheet. This prepares your cooking surface for crispy chicken tenders.
- Create seasoned flour by combining 1 cup flour, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp paprika in a shallow dish.
- Whisk 2 eggs thoroughly in a separate bowl, ensuring smooth consistency for coating.
- Mix 1 cup panko breadcrumbs with ½ cup parmesan cheese in another shallow dish for the outer crispy layer.
- Pat 2 lbs chicken tenders completely dry using paper towels to help breading stick better.
- Dredge each tender in seasoned flour, shaking off excess to create a thin, even coating.
- Dip floured tender into whisked eggs, ensuring complete and thorough coverage.
- Roll egg-coated tender in panko-parmesan mixture, pressing crumbs firmly to create a solid crust.
- Arrange breaded tenders on prepared baking sheet with space between each piece.
- Drizzle ¼ cup vegetable oil evenly over chicken tenders to enhance crispiness.
- Bake at 425°F for 18-20 minutes, flipping midway to ensure even browning and reaching 165°F internal temperature.
- Combine 8 oz cream cheese, ¼ cup ranch dressing, and ½ cup cheddar cheese in a mixing bowl.
- Remove tenders from oven and rest for 3-4 minutes to allow juices to redistribute.
- Spread cream cheese mixture generously over warm tenders.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp chopped chives on top for fresh flavor and visual appeal.
Notes
- Use fresh chicken tenders for the best texture and even cooking, ensuring they’re patted completely dry before breading.
- Press panko breadcrumbs firmly onto chicken to create an extra crispy coating that won’t fall off during baking.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend and use gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.
- When checking internal temperature, insert meat thermometer into thickest part of tender to guarantee chicken reaches safe 165°F throughout.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18-20 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 469 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg