You’ll never need another baked chicken tenders recipe after you try these crispy and juicy ones! I use a special cooking method that involves a wire rack to guarantee crispy results… no flipping necessary!
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You Will Love This Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe
My oven baked chicken tenders are crispy, crunchy, and ready in 30 minutes. They come out perfectly crispy every time because I bake them on a wire cooling rack. It lets the hot air circulate freely so the bottoms never go soggy.
I used to bake my tenders on a simple baking sheet like everyone else before I discovered this trick. Now, I’ll never go back. Line a baking sheet with foil, then place the wire rack on top. It’s that easy.
Serve these as is, with a side of veggies or with a dipping sauce like honey buffalo, BBQ, or ranch!
What You’ll Need for Baked Chicken Tenders
- Chicken Tenderloins
- All-Purpose Flour
- Breadcrumbs
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
- Italian Seasoning – dried
- Salt
- Eggs
How to Cook Chicken Tenders in Oven
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place a cooling rack on top of the baking sheet and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
STEP TWO: Create your dredging stations. Place the flour in a shallow dish, then whisk the eggs and add them in a separate dish. Combine the breadcrumbs and seasonings into a third, separate dish. Line them up in that order to make things easier.
STEP THREE: Lightly coat the chicken tenders in the flour. Next, dip the chicken in the egg, making sure to coat both sides. Finally, coat the tenders in the breadcrumbs and seasonings — press the mixture into the chicken to make sure it sticks.
STEP FOUR: Place the breaded chicken on the cooling rack and spray with a bit more cooking spray so that the exterior turns golden brown as they bake.
STEP FIVE: Bake the chicken tenders in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until they reach an interior temperature of 165 degrees F. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces and sides, and enjoy!
How Long to Cook Chicken Tenders in Oven
Cook your chicken tenders in the oven at 425 degrees F for 10-15 minutes. The exterior should be golden brown, and an inserted meat thermometer should read 165 degrees F to avoid any foodborne illnesses.
Oven Chicken Tenders Tips
- The cooling rack is optional, but I wouldn’t skip it! I like to use a wire cooling rack placed over an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet as it helps the tenders crisp up on both sides. If you don’t, the bottoms may become soggy, as tenderloins don’t take very long to cook.
- Don’t skip the flour, either. Like most breaded recipes, the addition of flour to the dredging station is essential. It helps the egg stick to the chicken, which also helps the breadcrumbs adhere evenly. If you’re gluten-free, use your preferred GF flour (and breadcrumbs) instead.
- Use your broiler if you want extra crispy results. I personally love a super crunchy exterior, so I often throw my baked chicken tenders under the broiler for a few minutes. Make sure to keep an eye on them so they don’t burn! Or, you can toast the breadcrumbs a bit before combining them with the seasonings.
- Add a bit of Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs mixture. You only need about ¼ cup of cheese to add flavor and texture. It pairs perfectly with the garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning.
How to Serve Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
Serve your oven chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauces — BBQ sauce, buffalo, ketchup, mayonnaise, or honey mustard are some great options.
Or, pair them with some vegetables and a carb to create a full meal! I often serve them with air fryer asparagus, green beans, and roasted carrots. A side of Ninja Foodi rice or spaghetti works well, too.
You could even use your tenders to top a fresh garden salad for a wholesome and filling lunch!
How to Store Baked Chicken Tenders
Store baked chicken tenders in an airtight container in the fridge, where they will keep for up to 3-4 days. Use your microwave, oven, or air fryer to reheat them.
The microwave is best for single servings — simply heat in 30-second increments until warmed through. To use your air fryer, preheat it to 350 degrees F and heat for 3-5 minutes.
How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in Oven
To reheat chicken tenders in the oven, preheat it to 350 degrees F and place a cooling rack over a foil-lined baking sheet. Line the tenders on the rack in a single layer and reheat for 10-15 minutes or until warmed through and crispy.
Baked Chicken Tenders in Oven FAQs
Do you bake chicken covered or uncovered?
When baking chicken, it’s best to leave it uncovered. It allows for proper air circulation, which helps the chicken cook evenly — and the exterior to become crispy!
As baked chicken tenders in the oven cook up quickly, you don’t have to worry about them drying out, so there is no need to cover them.
What is the difference between chicken tenders and chicken tenderloins?
There is a difference between chicken tenders and chicken tenderloins. Chicken tenders (sometimes called chicken fingers) are a dish that is made out of a cut of meat called chicken tenderloins.
Some people make chicken tenders with sliced chicken breast instead — which can be sold with or without the tenderloin attached — though that’s not as typical as simply buying the tenderloins separately!
How do you keep chicken tenders from getting tough?
To keep chicken tenders from getting tough, it’s important not to overcook them. 10-15 minutes at 425 degrees F is the perfect bake time — feel free to check on them after 10 minutes to see if they have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
If they have, remove them from the oven to avoid dry and tough results.
Should I flip chicken tenderloins when baking?
You don’t have to flip chicken tenderloins when baking if you use my method of baking them on a cooling rack. That said, if you choose to cook them on a baking sheet, it’s best to flip the tenderloins halfway through the cooking time.
More Chicken Recipes:
- Frozen Chicken Tenders In The Air Fryer
- Parmesan Crusted Chicken In The Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings With Dry Rub
- Buffalo Chicken Sandwich
- Baked Chicken Cordon Bleu
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders With Flour
Baked Chicken Tenders in Oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Place a cooling rack onto a baking sheet. Spray the cooling rack with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a shallow dish, place the flour.
- In a second dish, whisk the two eggs.
- In a third dish, combine the bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and salt.
- Lightly coat the chicken tenders in the flour. Shake the excess flour off.
- Dip the chicken into the egg, coating both sides. Shake the excess egg off.
- Coat the chicken in the bread crumbs, pressing the bread crumbs onto the chicken.
- Line the chicken tenders onto the cooling rack. Lightly spray with cooking spray to help the bread crumbs become golden.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes, until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
- Serve with a favorite dipping sauce!
