Description
Crispy chicken tenders dance with garlic and parmesan in this crowd-pleasing dinner that brings serious flavor to your table. Crunchy on the outside and tender inside, these tenders will make your family ask for seconds faster than you can plate them.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound chicken tenders
Main Coating Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- Cooking oil
Instructions
- Grab your chicken tenders and thoroughly pat them dry using paper towels. Sprinkle ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon black pepper across the surface of the meat.
- Arrange three shallow dishes for breading. Mix 1 cup flour with 1 teaspoon garlic powder in the first dish. Whisk 2 large eggs in the second dish. Combine 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, and 3 minced garlic cloves in the third dish.
- Carefully coat each chicken tender first in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dunk completely into beaten eggs, allowing drips to fall away. Roll thoroughly in the breadcrumb-cheese mixture, pressing gently to help crumbs adhere.
- Pour ½ inch cooking oil into a large skillet. Heat to 350°F over medium-high, watching for slight shimmer and minimal smoking.
- Gently place breaded tenders into hot oil, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until exterior turns deep golden brown. Chicken internal temperature should reach 165°F when tested with a meat thermometer.
- Transfer crispy tenders onto a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate. Let excess oil drain for 2-3 minutes before serving immediately while hot and crunchy.
Notes
- Keep chicken tenders uniformly sized to ensure even cooking and consistent crispiness.
- Pat chicken completely dry before breading to help the coating stick better and achieve a crunchier exterior.
- Use fresh Parmesan cheese for maximum flavor and grate it yourself for the best texture in the breading mixture.
- For a lighter version, bake the chicken tenders at 425°F for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, instead of frying.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 440 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 39 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg