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Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo

January 23, 2018 by Olya 27 Comments

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These crispy baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo are coated in golden Panko crumbs. And there you have an easy and healthy version of a typically unhealthy meal. After all, crunchy chicken tender recipe can be really-really good, and without all the frying and oil. Perfect family friendly meal in under 30 minutes!Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo

I am a huge fan of chicken tenders and breaded chicken! I’m very excited to be sharing one of my family’s favorite recipes here. These oven baked chicken tenders are packed with flavor and so crispy! If you have a chicken nugget loving family member – they will go crazy for them. My seven year old son eats these mayo chicken nuggets like candy. These succulent and juicy oven fried chicken tenders take 10 minutes of prep work and only 30 minutes of oven time. No deep frying required!

The secret ingredient for crispy baked chicken tenders

The “special ingredient” in these baked breaded tenders is the Panko. Instead of breadcrumbs or just flour I use panko. Panko is generally used in Japanese cooking and it can be found in the grocery store in the Asian foods aisle. I definitely prefer panko to regular breadcrumbs because of its lighter and more delicate texture. It results in a more crispy and crunchy end product than breadcrumbs. Especially when you are baking chicken instead of frying; the panko makes a huge difference!

When I made them, I wasn’t sure if they should be called oven baked chicken nuggets or baked chicken tenders. My son loves calling them golden nuggets, however the adults in my family prefer to call these crumbed chicken. And I feel so much better feeding him this healthier oven baked version vs. fast food deep fried chicken.Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo

Preparing chicken tenders

Prep work is really easy! First dip the chicken strips into mayonnaise. Then dredge them in the seasoned bread crumbs mixture. It includes Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Pepper. Mayo is the glue that will hold the crumbs together. And I think it’s the mayo that makes them so addictive! By the way, I use regular mayo in the mixture, but like to eat them dipped into Sriracha mayo.

To start making them, place crumbled chicken nuggets in a single layer on the baking sheet. That’s it! They are ready for the oven.Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo

The resulting crumbed chicken tenders with lovely golden crumb are just fabulous. These can be served fresh, or kept refrigerated for up to 5 days.

How to reheat chicken nuggets

  • You can certainly reheat crunchy chicken tenders on the stove top. Add a little oil or butter and cook them on medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes.
  • But my recommendation is to bake the tenders either on the parchment paper lined baking sheet or a wire rack, if you have one. Preheat the oven to 325 and bake for 7 yo 10 minutes. Usually 10 minutes in the oven will deliver great taste and crispiness once again!

How to serve chicken nuggets

  • Sriracha mayo as a dipping option is a great option for adults that enjoy baked chicken tenders.
  • Mix equal parts of ketchup and mayo and use it a dip! This is my personal favorite.
  • Honey mustard dressing tastes great with chicken nuggets!
  • And of course they are perfectly delicious dipped in traditional ketchup. I also like to sprinkle mine with fresh herbs, like thyme.

What goes well with chicken nuggets

Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potatoes

Baked French Fries

Cucumber Tomato Salad with Avocado

So if you are like me and were looking for a healthier alternative to fried chicken nuggets for your child, these oven baked chicken tenders are the answer. I find that this baked version of chicken nuggets tastes a lot better.

So next time you find yourself craving some chicken tenders in the convenience of your own home, you know what to do.

If you like other easy chicken recipes, try Easy Pan Seared Chicken and Parmesan Crusted Chicken.

Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo
Print Recipe
4.77 from 13 votes

Oven Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo

Baked chicken tenders (or you may call them baked chicken nuggets) can be really-really good, and without all the frying and oil.
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time40 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken nuggets, chicken tenders
Servings: 4
Author: Olya

Ingredients

  • 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • ¾ cup Mayonnaise
  • 1 ½ cups Panko Bread Crumbs
  • ½ tbsp Garlic Powder
  • ½ tbsp Onion Powder
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Thyme (optional)
  • Sriracha Mayo (for dipping, optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 F. Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
  • Cut chicken into 1” strips going with the grain of the meat. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Prepare two bowls. In a first bowl, mix Bread Crumbs, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Salt and Pepper. Place mayonnaise in a 2nd mixing bowl.
  • Dredge the cut chicken into mayonnaise, then dredge in seasoned Panko mixture.
  • Place coated chicken in a single layer on the parchment paper lined baking sheet, leaving room between each tender.
  • Bake in preheated oven for 15 minutes, turn each piece, bake for 15 more minutes.
  • Tenders will be lightly browned and delicious. Sprinkle with thyme (optional) and serve with Sriracha mayo or sauce of your choice!
Nutrition Facts
Oven Baked Chicken Tenders with Mayo
Amount Per Serving
Calories 356 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 5g31%
Cholesterol 53mg18%
Sodium 333mg14%
Potassium 223mg6%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Protein 12g24%
Vitamin A 45IU1%
Vitamin C 0.7mg1%
Calcium 9mg1%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: Appetizers, Chicken Recipes, Main Dishes Tagged With: chicken nuggets, Kids meal

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If you liked or disliked the recipe - please leave your comment and STAR RATING in the comments section below! I look forward to new ideas and comments!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jodi R Houk

    December 31, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    Can you bake these on a rack & skip the flip?

    Reply
    • Olya

      January 1, 2021 at 2:10 pm

      Yes, absolutely!

      Reply
  2. Bitbytr

    October 18, 2020 at 2:13 pm

    Only four stars because you missed something, I think. When cooking them (not re-heating) should the baking tray be greased to avoid them sticking or should they be on parchment paper like when reheating?

    Reply
    • Olya

      October 21, 2020 at 11:25 pm

      You are right! I updated the info (added parchment paper step). Thank you!

      Reply
  3. Kara

    October 7, 2020 at 11:26 pm

    I added some Italian seasoning to the panko. This turned out very good.

    Reply
  4. Michelle Shaffer

    May 21, 2020 at 12:53 am

    Super delicious! My previous comment was supposed to have 5 stars

    Reply
    • Olga

      May 22, 2020 at 4:07 pm

      Thank you Michelle!

      Reply
  5. Michelle

    May 21, 2020 at 12:51 am

    These are so veryl tasty and my daughter loves them. So much better than the ones dredged in egg. Thank you for your recipe!

    Reply
  6. Anne

    May 13, 2020 at 9:04 am

    Can these be frozen?

    Reply
    • Olga

      May 14, 2020 at 2:57 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
  7. Dana

    May 9, 2020 at 6:13 am

    For an other good dipping idea, mix some hot sauce (I’m a fan of Chilula) into some 1000 Island dressing.

    Reply
    • Olga

      May 9, 2020 at 3:19 pm

      That’s a wonderful idea – thank you Dana!

      Reply
  8. Jenny

    March 30, 2020 at 1:17 pm

    These chicken tenders are so easy to make and are very tasty! I was just wondering as to what temperature I should use for reheating these in the oven.

    Reply
    • Olga

      March 30, 2020 at 5:43 pm

      Thank you Jenny! Preheat the oven to 325. Place them on a wire rack if you have one to prevent the bottom from getting soggy and reheat for 10 minutes.

      Reply
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