Oven-Baked Parmesan Garlic Chicken Tenders

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Get ready to delight the whole family with these kid-approved Parmesan Garlic Chicken Tenders!

Lightly coated in mayonnaise and dipped in seasoned panko breadcrumbs, they bake to golden perfection in just 15 minutes, staying moist and crunchy thanks to a clever mayo seal!

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The mayonnaise is the trick to keeping the chicken tenders from drying out. I tested the recipe with both eggs and once with butter instead of the mayonnaise, and the mayonnaise-coated chicken was hands down the best.

And don’t worry about the calorie count. There is not a huge difference because the mayonnaise is a very light coating.

All the reasons why you will love these parmesan garlic chicken tenders

Delicious Flavor: The combination of parmesan cheese, mayo, and breadcrumbs creates a rich, savory flavor profile.

Moisture and Tender: Using mayonnaise in the coating helps seal moisture, keeping the chicken tenders juicy and tender, even after baking or frying.

Crispy Texture: The breadcrumbs mixed with parmesan cheese and mayo form a crispy outer coating when baked, adding a satisfying crunch to every bite.

Easy Preparation: Making the breadcrumb mixture with mayo is quick and simple, requiring minimal ingredients and effort. It’s a hassle-free way to upgrade plain chicken tenders into something special.

Versatility: Parmesan chicken tenders are versatile and can be served as a main dish, appetizer, or even as a topping for salads or pasta dishes. They’re perfect for family dinners, parties, or game-day snacks.

Kid-Friendly: Children often enjoy the mild flavor of chicken tenders, and adding parmesan cheese can make them even more appealing to picky eaters.

Customizable: You can customize the seasoning of the breadcrumb mixture to suit your taste preferences. Add herbs like basil or oregano for an Italian twist, or spice it up with paprika or cayenne pepper for a kick of heat.

Crowd-Pleaser: Whether you’re hosting a gathering or simply feeding your family, parmesan chicken tenders with a mayo parmesan breadcrumb mixture will surely be a hit with everyone. They’re a classic comfort food that appeals to various tastes.

Chicken tender ingredients

Chicken Tenderloins – Pick up chicken tenders at the grocery or cut a skinless chicken breast into chicken strips with a sharp knife.

Mayonnaise – Any mayonnaise will work, but I have not tried the recipe with Miracle Whip. You can substitute melted butter, but I encourage you to try mayonnaise. It keeps the chicken perfectly juicy.

Panko Bread Crumbs – This juicy chicken recipe uses a special ingredient, panko breadcrumbs, instead of regular breadcrumbs, so they come out super crispy with a nice crunch, just like fried chicken without deep frying. Panko breadcrumbs can usually be found in the same aisle as regular breadcrumbs.

Parmesan cheese – Freshly grated parmesan cheese adds a salty cheese flavor. It’s ok to use grated parmesan cheese from the green can if that’s what you have on hand.

Spices – Paprika, garlic powder, basil, black pepper, and salt add more flavor to these tenders.

Kitchen tools to make Parmesan Chicken Tenders

Sheet Pan

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Glass Mixing Bowls

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Tongs

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How to make garlic parmesan chicken tender recipe

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400 degrees f. Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper and spray with cooking spray or coat with olive oil.

Step 2: Pat the chicken tender dry with a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. Add the mayonnaise to the tenders and mix until they are well-coated.

Step 3: To make the crunchy coating, add panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, basil, black pepper, and salt to a shallow bowl and mix well.

Step 4: Coat each tender with the breadcrumb mixture and place them onto the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

Step 5: Bake for 15 minutes, turning once at the halfway mark. The chicken is done when it is golden brown with an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce like this Honey Bourbon BBQ Sauce or this 15-Minute Apricot BBQ Sauce.

FAQs

Tips and Variations

• Breadcrumbs: Use pre-seasoned breadcrumbs and save yourself one step.
• Chicken: Try boneless chicken thighs instead of chicken breast tenders.
• Air Fryer cooking: Cook for 5 – 6 minutes on each side. Cooking time may vary depending on the model of the air fryer. Want something a little more spicy? Try these hot buffalo-style Chicken Tenders.
• Seasoning: Use Italian seasoning to add flavor to the panko breadcrumbs. 
• Dipping Sauce: There are so many choices, including this honey mustard sauce, BBQ sauce, and ranch dressing for dipping the tenders.

Storage

Fridge: Cool the garlic parmesan chicken tenders to room temperature and then store them in the fridge in an airtight container or Ziploc bag for up to 3 days.

Freezer: Leftover chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and then reheat in the oven.

Reheat: Rewarm in the oven at 300 degrees for 10 minutes or until warmed through. They can also be rewarmed in the air fryer at 300 degrees for 3 – 4 minutes.

What To Serve With Parmesan Garlic Chicken Tenders

Check out some of my favorite recipes to serve with chicken tenders:

• Pecan and Pear Salad With Feta
• Broccoli Cauliflower Salad With Bacon
• Maple Glazed Carrots
• Roasted Cabbage With Bacon
• Rosemary Fingerling Potatoes

And Chocolate Walnut Brownies for dessert!

Looking for more chicken recipes?

Chicken Spaghetti Bolognese

Teriyaki Chicken

Chicken Parmesan

Mexican Chicken Breast

Orange Chicken

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