How to make chicken tenders step by step with breadcrumbs is here! How to get breading to stick with or without eggs so you can make tender, moist and homemade deep fried strips or air fryer. If you love Frozen Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer but want to make them from scratch this is the recipe for you.
This is an easy homemade chicken strips recipe that will change your world. 3 ingredients allow you to make your favorite quick meal or snack. Season as you wish and you’ll never buy bagged again! (affiliate links present)
How to Make Chicken Tenders Step by Step
I will share pictures and instructions with you here as well as variations you can make because sometimes you need an alternative to the norm. You do not have to buy the meat already sliced into thinner pieces either friends, that is way more expensive. Can you make tenders out of boneless skinless breasts? Yes. You. Can! We will show you how to save $.
Why we love chicken strips
I mean if you have kids do I really need to answer this question? It’s kinda’ a staple right? When you are totally overwhelmed you go for frozen but when they get older your head stops spinning and you can make healthier versions like this and you can use the same steps to make Homemade Chicken Nuggets with Ground Chicken too.
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How to Make Batter
There are two ways you can coat the outside of the meat to make it crisp. Listed below are the items we used and show you here because it is simple; can be baked, fried or air fried. You could instead use our 3 Ingredient Tempura Batter as well but that must be fried in oil because it is so wet.
Ingredients
- All purpose flour
- Paprika
- Salt and pepper
- Egg
- Italian breadcrumbs
- Optional: 1/4 cup grated parmesan
What can you use instead of eggs?
We explain all the ways of How to Bread Chicken Without Eggs here. If I had to say which was my favorite in the event that I didn’t have eggs on hand I would say that mayonnaise would be it. That is right, if you haven’t tried that yet it makes it super moist and works amazingly well.
What can be used instead of bread crumbs to bread chicken?
Well you could make more of a batter like our Tempura Chicken Nuggets which has a light and fluffy “breading alternative”. If you wanted something similar to crushed bread crumbs you can smash any crackers into a sand-like texture instead.
Flavored versions are amazing to add more flavor, like our Air Fryer Cheese It Chicken Tenders, and coated the same way as directed here. A great option if you need these to be gluten-free, just use your favorite GF variety or with crushed rice cakes.
How to Slice Chicken Breasts into Tenders
Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts on a clean cutting board. If thick, you may want to freeze them for about 15-20 minutes, this firms them up and makes slicing easier. Place your knife at a slight angle and cut into strips, about 1/2 to 1 inch wide. Make sure to slice perpendicular to the lines of the grain. This makes easier to chew pieces.
Tips:
- Use a very sharp knife to make clean cuts.
- If they are particularly large, you might want to cut them in half lengthwise before slicing them into tenders sizes.
- You can marinate them after cuts for extra flavor before breading.
Air Fryer Directions
Preheat at 400F or 200 degrees C for 5 minutes, then set inside in a single layer for 8-12 minutes (depending on size) flipping them halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and crispy.
Baked in the Oven
We have shared Chicken Tenders No Breading in Oven here, it would really follow the same temperature and timing as these. The only difference would be if yours were thicker than ours (as with the other cooking methods too).
Fried in a Skillet
Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat before breading these so it can heat. How Hot Should Oil be for Fried Chicken? 350 – 370F y’all. Carefully place into the hot oil. Fry for 4-5 minutes per side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
How do you make leftovers crispy again?
Ok so I hate wasting food, I bet you are the same right? Reheating Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer is literally the only way to go. If you don’t the outsides will be this weird gummy slimy texture when you take them out of the fridge and stay that way if heated in the microwave, just don’t.
Now you could heat up some oil and do a quick deep fry of chicken tenders and fries together to reheat both but you would only want about 1 minute and don’t add until oil reaches 360F.
That depends. Fried will give you a really crispy coating which most expect but you are adding fat and calories to your dish. Baked can get crispy, to an extent. If you are using a wet batter like tempura though you will have to deep fry it and won’t have a baked option.
You can turn the oven to broil, spray with more olive oil during the final flip, or fry for the last minute of cooking. If you want a thicker crispier coating when breading, do a double dip into the egg and flour mixtures.
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How to Make Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- 1 pan
Ingredients
- 1 lbs. chicken tenders
- 1/2 c all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 2 eggs whisked, or brush on mayonnaise/Greek yogurt
- 1 c Italian breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Mix together flour, paprika, salt and pepper in a shallow dish and set aside. In a separate shallow bowl, beat together egg and water and set aside. In a third bowl, add bread crumbs to a shallow dish and set aside.
- Dredge each chicken tender in flour mixture, coating both sides. Dredge in egg, coating both sides and finally dredge in bread crumbs and coat both sides. Set aside on a plate until all chicken tenders are coated. Then cook as you'd like.
- How to Fry Chicken Tenders – Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat before breading these so it can heat to 350 – 370F. Carefully place into the hot oil. Fry for 4-5 minutes per side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.
- How long to cook tenders in air fryer – Preheat at 400F or 200C for 5 minutes, then set inside in a single layer for 8-12 minutes (depending on size) flipping them halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and crispy.
