Breaded Chicken Tenders

The flavor of homemade breaded chicken tenders is out of this world. The breading is really delicious, golden and crisp and the chicken is really juicy and tender on the inside.

For me, Breaded Chicken Tenders are the ultimate example of how amazing something can be when made at home. Seriously, the flavor of the breading is phenomenal. Making your own homemade breadcrumbs really pays off in this recipe and it only takes a minute to mix it together. The fresh breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and parsley really give the chicken so much flavor.

This recipe doesn’t include any extraordinary ingredients, they are all pantry staples. The best part is that it’s a favorite of both children and adults. You’ll have the whole family satisfied and smiling, munching away and cleaning their plates with no prodding.

These chicken tenders can be served on their own but you can also add some vegetables and make a Chicken Scampi Pasta that is so amazing too. Make a big batch of the chicken tenders because they reheat beautifully and you’ll get a night off cooking too.

Ingredients

• chicken
  • chicken tenders are the easiest but you can also use chicken breast, just cut the chicken breast into strips
• homemade seasoned bread crumbs (recipe below)
• salt, pepper
• eggs – they will help the breading to adhere to the chicken
• all purpose flour, to dredge the chicken in
• oil, for pan frying the chicken (grape seed, vegetable, avocado, light olive oil, sunflower, etc.)

Homemade Seasoned Breadcrumbs:

• 4 slices of good quality bread OR about 3 cups panko bread crumbs
  • homemade or store bought bread. It shouldn’t be too soft and fluffy. Toast or dry the bread if it’s too soft.
• Parmesan cheese
• salt, pepper
• garlic powder and onion powder
• dry herbs and spices, optional
• fresh herbs, such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, etc.

How To Make Homemade Breaded Chicken Tenders

1. Make the seasoned bread crumbs. It is TOTALLY worth it.
   • First, cut the bread into cubes and then place in your food processor and pulse to combine until you have fine crumbs. However, you can also use panko bread crumbs, so you won’t need to use a food processor in that case.
   • Add the Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and parsley. Mix to combine.
2. Prep the chicken.
   • Place the chicken tenders on a cutting board, cover with plastic wrap and pound lightly with the flat side of a meat mallet until they are the same thickness.
   • Season on both sides with salt and pepper.
3. Set up the breading station. Shallow bowls or pie plates work great for this.
   • Place the seasoned bread crumbs in one pie plate or shallow dish. Then, place the flour in another and beaten eggs in another.
4. Dredge the chicken in flour, dip in the egg and then in the breadcrumbs, packing the breading on with your hands so it would adhere better. I even dredge both sides of the chicken in the breadcrumbs a few times for extra insurance.
5. Cook the chicken. Heat about 1 1/2 Tablespoons of oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken tenders to the skillet and cook for about 2 minutes per side, just until they are golden brown on both sides.

Helpful Tips

What type of bread to use for bread crumbs?

I like using good quality bread, like farmhouse style, Italian bread, etc. It will taste better and will give you better crumbs too. If you use cheap, fluffy bread, it will help to toast it first or dry it out, otherwise it will be really gummy and won’t give you even crumbs. Homemade bread is awesome for this, such as this simple recipe for homemade bread , American Sandwich Bread or Crusty No Knead Bread.
Use leftover bread to make breadcrumbs. If you have a few slices leftover, put them in a airtight container or heavy duty freezer bag until you have a good amount saved. Thaw the bread before making bread crumbs.

Can you use store bought bread crumbs?

Yes, absolutely! Panko bread crumbs are my favorite to use when I’m not using fresh bread. In that case, you don’t have to use a food processor, just combine all the breadcrumb ingredients in a shallow bowl. I highly recommend that you don’t use the seasoned bread crumbs from the store. Adding fresh ingredients to breadcrumbs will make a huge difference in the flavor of the chicken and is so easy to do.

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