Description
Deliciously crispy baked chicken tenders coated in a savory breadcrumb and Parmesan crust, then tossed in a luscious honey butter garlic sauce. This easy-to-make dish combines the perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner or appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Honey Butter Garlic Sauce
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/3 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a shallow dish, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika to create a seasoned flour mixture.
- Prepare Wet and Breadcrumb Mixtures: Place the beaten eggs in a second shallow dish. In a third dish, mix together the panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Coat Chicken Tenders: Dredge each chicken tender first in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Next, dip it into the beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly with the panko and Parmesan mixture.
- Bake the Chicken: Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare Honey Butter Garlic Sauce: While the chicken bakes, melt the unsalted butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the honey, soy sauce, and hot sauce if using. Allow the sauce to simmer for approximately 2 minutes until it slightly thickens.
- Toss Chicken in Sauce: Once baked, toss the crispy chicken tenders in the warm honey butter garlic sauce until evenly coated.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish the sauced chicken tenders with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while warm.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, consider air frying the tenders at 375°F (190°C) for 12 to 14 minutes instead of baking.
- These chicken tenders pair beautifully with steamed rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
- The honey butter garlic sauce also works great as a dipping sauce served on the side.
- Adjust the hot sauce quantity or omit it based on your preference for spice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer
- Method: Baking, Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 tenders
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
