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    Home » Chicken

    Oven Baked Chicken Tenders [Oil & Dairy Free!]

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on August 11, 2021, updated June 28, 2024 - 11 Comments

    Total time: 25 minutes minutes
    Prep time: 10 minutes minutes
    5 from 8 votes
    Jump to Recipe

    Make the best Oven Baked Chicken Tenders in just 25 minutes. Made with pantry staple ingredients they're healthier than fried, and done without oil & dairy products. Ready to dip in your favorite sauce - or just finish them all straight from the oven, they're THAT good!

    closeup of chicken tenders and a small blue bowl with barbecue sauce
    Jump to:
    • Why you will love this recipe
    • What you need to make them
    • How to make them
    • Tips & tricks
    • Recipe FAQ
    • How to serve them
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Give me any type of fried-style chicken, and I will love you forever. Be it chicken wings, drumsticks or KFC - fried chicken is where my heart is at. So, of course, I had to come up with a great way to make chicken tenders in the oven...

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    And these oven baked chicken tenders - they are truly the best! I haven't had any like them. So simple, so subtly seasoned, and so, so, good.

    Why you will love this recipe

    • They're the best ones I've ever had. Better than McDonald's, better than Burger King, better than any sports bar I've ever been at. They're just the best.
    • Healthier since you bake the chicken tenders in the oven (without oil!) instead of frying them
    • Quick - on the table in 25 minutes!
    • Full of flavor despite the simple seasoning
    • Common ingredients that you probably already have at home

    What you need to make them

    ingredients for chicken tenders in oven

    Ingredient notes & substitutions

    • Chicken: chicken tenders are really a specific cut of the chicken, but I slice up chicken thigh filets instead for a similar look & feel. You can also use slices of chicken breasts, but chicken thigh filets have more taste.
    • Breadcrumbs: I prefer the regular, smaller, kind of breadcrumbs for this recipe, but you can use Panko breadcrumbs as well
    • You can add Parmesan cheese as well - just follow this recipe for parmesan crusted chicken instead

    How to make them

    process shots showing how to prepare for breading chicken tenders
    1. Preheat your oven to 440°F (225°C) and slice each thigh filet into 3-4 slices
    2. Place the flour on a plate and season with salt and pepper
    3. Mix well to combine
    4. In a shallow bowl, crack the eggs and beat them with a fork
    process shots showing how to bread chicken tenders
    1. On a third plate, pour out the breadcrumbs
    2. Bread the chicken by first dipping it in the flour, making sure it's well covered on all sides
    3. Then dip it in the egg, again making sure it's well covered
    4. Finally, roll it in the breadcrumbs and make sure they cover the whole surface of the chicken
    top down shot of breaded chicken tenders on an oven tray, before baking
    1. Place the breaded chicken on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper
    top down shot of breaded chicken tenders on an oven tray, after baking
    1. Bake in the middle of the oven for 15 minutes, turning them once halfway. Check to make sure they're cooked all the way through - and serve!

    Tips & tricks

    • Switch up the seasoning by adding other spices and/or herbs to the flour
    • Use plastic gloves* when breading your chicken to avoid getting messy
    • Use a kitchen thermometer* for best results- the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F (72°C)
    • Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days
    • Freeze leftovers to keep them for up to 3 months
    closeup of chicken tenders in front of a small blue bowl with barbecue sauce

    Recipe FAQ

    What are chicken tenders?

    Chicken tenders (or chicken tenderloins) are a narrow strip of meat that's loosely attached to the underside of the chicken breasts. They're juicy and tender, and taste like the chicken breast.

    For this recipe, we use sliced chicken thigh filets instead.

    Can I make this with Panko bread crumbs?

    Yes, you can make it with Panko breadcrumbs as well - but I like them better with regular breadcrumbs.

    How do I reheat leftovers?

    Oven: 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes, turning them once halfway
    Microwave: in 30 second increments
    Air fryer: 350°F (180°C) for 4 minutes, turning them once halfway

    side view of a chicken tender being dipped into barbecue sauce

    How to serve them

    These Oven Baked Chicken Tenders are so versatile! Here are just a few of my favorite ways to serve them:

    • In tacos
    • In wraps
    • With my favorite dipping sauces: barbecue sauce, blue cheese sauce and guacamole are all great choices
    • In salads
    • As en easy dinner with the side of your choice (caulislaw, potato wedges and mac and cheese are all great options)
    • Headlining as the chicken in Chicken and Waffles
    • With French Fries for pure indulgence
    • Just as they are, straight from the oven. They're THAT good!
    side view of a chicken tender that has been dipped into barbecue sauce

    Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
    ...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.

    Recipe

    sideview of a chicken tender being dipped in barbecue sauce

    Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

    5 from 8 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine: North American
    Diet: Low Lactose
    Servings: 25 chicken tenders
    Calories: 47kcal
    Prep time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook time: 15 minutes mins
    Total time: 25 minutes minutes
    Author: Emmeline Kemperyd
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb chicken thigh filets
    • 3 tablespoon flour
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • 2 eggs
    • 1 cup breadcrumbs
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Start by preheating your oven for 440°F (225°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Cut each chicken thigh filet into 3-4 pieces.
      1 lb chicken thigh filets
    • Pour the flour onto a small plate and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
      3 tablespoon flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
    • Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat with a fork.
      2 eggs
    • Pour the breadcrumbs onto a small plate.
      1 cup breadcrumbs
    • Bread the chicken by turning the pieces first in the seasoned flour, then the egg and finally the breadcrumbs. At each step, make sure the chicken gets completely covered. Then place the pieces on the lined baking sheet.
    • When all chicken tenders are breaded, place the oven tray in the middle of the oven and bake for 15 minutes at 440°F (225°C). Turn them once halfway.
    • After 15 minutes, take them out and check to make sure they are done. Serve immediately!

    Equipment (may contain affiliate links)

    • Baking sheet*
    • Parchment paper*
    • Kitchen knife*
    • Measuring cups (metric or US)*
    • Measuring spoons*
    • Chopping board*
    • 2 plates
    • 1 shallow bowl

    Video

    Notes

     

    Ingredient notes & substitutions

    • Chicken: chicken tenders are really a specific cut of the chicken, but I slice up chicken thigh filets instead for a similar look & feel. You can also use slices of chicken breasts, but chicken thigh filets have more taste.
    • Breadcrumbs: I prefer the regular, smaller, kind of breadcrumbs for this recipe, but you can use Panko breadcrumbs as well
     

    Tips & tricks

    • Switch up the seasoning by adding other spices and/or herbs to the flour
    • Use plastic gloves* when breading your chicken to avoid getting messy
    • Use a kitchen thermometer* for best results- the internal temperature of the chicken should be 165°F (72°C)
    • Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 4 days
    • Freeze leftovers to keep them for up to 3 months
    • Reheat leftovers:
      • Oven: 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes, turning them once halfway
      • Microwave: in 30 second increments
      • Air fryer: 350°F (180°C) for 4 minutes, turning them once halfway

    Nutrition

    Calories: 47kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 30mg | Sodium: 146mg | Potassium: 60mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 24IU | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

    Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.

    Did you make this? Tag me today!Tag @alwaysusebutter and use the hashtag #alwaysusebutter!

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Toni

      July 10, 2019 at 6:16 pm

      5 stars
      This is perfect! My kids really loved enjoyed them!

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        July 12, 2019 at 11:37 am

        So happy to hear that Toni!

        Reply
    2. Beth Pierce

      July 10, 2019 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      Love how quick and easy this recipe was! It has quickly become a favorite recipe in our home!

      Reply
      • Emmeline Kemperyd

        July 12, 2019 at 11:37 am

        So happy you liked it! Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    3. debi at Life Currents

      July 10, 2019 at 5:39 pm

      5 stars
      These will be great for weeknight dinners. Thanks for the recipe. And I love that they aren't fried!

      Reply
    4. Jacqueline Debono

      July 10, 2019 at 4:38 pm

      5 stars
      These chicken tenders look delicious. Love that they are oven baked and pretty easy to make too! Good for party finger food!

      Reply
    5. Courtney | Love & Good Stuff

      July 10, 2019 at 4:35 pm

      5 stars
      I love how easy these are to make at home - and so much healthier than any frozen version.

      Reply
    6. Cheese Curd In Paradise

      July 09, 2019 at 6:04 pm

      5 stars
      My kiddos love chicken tenders and I am forever looking for good options that do not involve the drive thru! I can't wait to give this recipe a try!

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        July 10, 2019 at 8:10 am

        Happy you liked it! 😀

        Reply
    7. Jo

      July 09, 2019 at 3:37 pm

      5 stars
      I love baked chicken tenders. I have a recipe for baked tenders on my blog, and I can't wait to try your version. Looks perfect.

      Reply
      • Emmeline

        July 10, 2019 at 8:10 am

        Oh will check it out!

        Reply
    5 from 8 votes (1 rating without comment)

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