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Crispy Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken Tenders

crispy baked parmesan garlic chicken tenders - featured image

These crispy baked parmesan garlic chicken tenders deliver real crunch without deep frying, with a juicy interior and a salty, nutty parmesan crust. A quick and easy weeknight dinner that everyone loves.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs (680g) chicken tenders
  • 1 cup (90g) panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup (60g) all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Place a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and spray lightly with cooking spray.
  2. Set up dredging station: In first bowl, combine 1/2 cup flour, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. In second bowl, beat 2 eggs with 1 tablespoon water. In third bowl, combine 1 cup panko, 1/2 cup Parmesan, 2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper.
  3. Pre-bake panko mixture: Spread on a separate baking sheet and bake for 3-4 minutes, stirring once, until lightly golden. Let cool 2 minutes.
  4. Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
  5. Dredge each tender: coat in flour (shake off excess), dip in egg wash (let drip off), then press firmly into panko mixture. Place on prepared wire rack.
  6. Bake for 12 minutes. Flip carefully, then bake another 8-10 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and coating is deep golden brown.
  7. While tenders bake, melt 3 tablespoons butter in a small bowl. Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves.
  8. Brush garlic butter over hot tenders. Sprinkle with parsley and flaky sea salt if desired. Let rest 2-3 minutes before serving.

Notes

Do not skip the pre-bake step for the panko mixture—it ensures a crispy coating. Pat chicken dry to help coating stick. Let tenders rest after baking to set the coating. For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan and room temperature eggs.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken tenders, baked chicken tenders, parmesan garlic chicken, crispy chicken, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner