Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

These Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders seasoned with garlic, paprika and chili powder are made without any excess oil, making them a healthy meal option!

Love chicken tenders but don’t want to go through the hassle of frying them at home? Me too.

I looove a good basket of chicken tenders. They’re usually my go-to order at a bar if I don’t see anything else on the menu. That and nachos, of course. But as much as I love them, I don’t want any part of trying to fry them at home.

1. Everyone knows fried foods aren’t the healthiest so I try to limit them to only when I’m eating out, which is usually on the weekends.
2. I don’t have a deep fryer, which would make the process a whole lot easier.
3. What am I supposed to do with all the oil that’s left over? Just throw it away? That seems kind of wasteful.
4. Knowing me and my clumsy self, I’d burn myself so bad

So instead of complaining about all of those things, I’ve decided to eliminate the frying all together and bake them instead. The secret to getting them crispy and crunchy without all the oil?

Panko breadcrumbs.

If you’ve never used panko breadcrumbs before, you’re missing out! Unlike regular breadcrumbs which are finely ground and dense, panko breadcrumbs are flaky, light and airy, which makes them crisp up in the oven faster and without as much oil as regular breadcrumbs.

They’re usually sold plain or unseasoned and can be found near the regular breadcrumbs or in the Japanese section of the ethnic aisle at your local grocery store. If your local grocery store doesn’t carry it, you can always find it here on Amazon.

To give the breadcrumbs a punch of flavor, I mixed in a combination of spices including chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and oregano.

To help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken tenders, I whisked together two eggs with some salt and pepper and dunked the chicken tenders into the mixture. Then remove the chicken, shake off any excess egg and toss in the breadcrumb mixture. Place on a greased baking sheet rack, spray with olive oil or other cooking spray and bake for 25 to 35 minutes until chicken is cooked through.

For some added color (because we eat with our eyes first!), I garnished the tenders with some chopped cilantro and went to town.

Healthy and crispy oven baked chicken tenders made right at home. Love it!

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