Baked Chicken Tenders
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Last updated on Jan 14, 2025
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These baked chicken tenders are coated in almond flour or meal, shredded coconut and a blend of spices. They’re absolutely delicious and perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce.
I feel like most adults deem chicken tenders as a kids food. But I’m a big fan of chicken tenders! They’re super flavorful, crispy and can be eaten on their own or in a variety of ways.
Instead of using traditional bread crumbs for breading, I made these baked chicken tenders paleo and grain-free by using almond meal. My family is hooked on this simple dinner!
Here’s What You Need
- boneless skinless chicken breast – cut into strips. You can also buy pre-cut chicken tenders but they’re usually more expensive and it’s easy to slice a chicken breast into strips!
- egg – to bind the almond meal to the chicken.
- almond meal – the base of the breading! I typically use almond meal, but you can definitely use almond flour instead. You’ll mix spices into the almond meal or flour to make it extra flavorful.
- unsweetened shredded coconut – to add flavor and crunch to the breading! If you’re not a big coconut fan, you can just use more almond meal.
- spices – a delicious combination of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, sea salt and pepper.
tip! Bake these chicken tenders on a baking sheet with a wire rack. The wire rack will result in a crispier texture!
Dip Pairings
You can’t have chicken tenders without dipping sauce, right?! Here are some of our favorites:
What to Serve Baked Chicken Tenders With
Like I mentioned earlier, these baked chicken tenders are actually pretty versatile! Here are some ways to serve them:
- As a full meal – Eat them on their own with a delicious dip and vegetable fries – my favorites are baked zucchini fries or baked sweet potato fries!
- On a salad – Top a salad with crispy chicken tenders! The options are endless here – swap any protein out for these chicken tenders or add them to a side salad like this strawberry spinach salad for a complete meal.
- In a wrap – Make a wrap by adding greens, any extra veggies, chicken tenders and a sauce. Lunch on the go!
- As a side – Make a pot of vegan mac and cheese or healthy mac and cheese and serve chicken tenders on the side.
How to Store Baked Chicken Tenders
Leftover chicken tenders store really well! After allowing them to cool, store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To reheat, I like to pop them in the conventional oven or toaster oven for a few minutes so they crisp back up!
More Popular Chicken Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below.
Baked Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 lb organic boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips
- 1 egg
- ½ cup almond meal (or almond flour)
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (or ¼ cup more almond meal)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and coat a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Place almond meal, coconut, paprika, cayenne, garlic, sea salt and black pepper in a small bowl. Stir to combine.
- Crack egg into another shallow bowl and whisk.
- One by one, dredge each chicken tender in the egg bowl, wiping off any access and then dip each into the almond meal mixture. Roll until each tender is covered completely.
- Place the coated tenders on a baking pan lined with parchment paper or a wire rack that fits on a baking sheet. The wire rack will make for a crispier texture.
- Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the tenders once at the 10 minute mark. When done the chicken tenders will be golden brown and completely cooked through.
- Remove tenders from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving.
- Leftover chicken tenders store really well. After allowing them to cool slightly, store in an airtight container for 5 days. To reheat, I like to pop them in the conventional oven or toaster oven for a few minutes so they crisp back up!
Video
Notes
- Looking for dipping sauce ideas? Try these: homemade BBQ, honey mustard dressing, homemade ranch, or healthy Chick-Fil-A Sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Hello,
I tried this recipe today! I was out of breadcrumbs, so I googled for a recipe without them. Your recipe looked beautiful, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well it turned out! I had a big bag of almond flour from Costco, and since mine is an Indian household, I also had a big cannister of shredded coconut on hand.
I used the almond flour and shredded coconut as a substitute for the breadcrumbs, and it worked wonderfully and the chicken turned out so good!!!! I will always be making then this way!!
Thank you,
Chandu
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Chandu! Using almond flour and shredded coconut is such a smart and flavorful substitute. Love that idea. Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
I followed this recipe exactly and it was very gross. I will not go back to this one.
Oh no, I’m so sorry to hear that! I know how frustrating it is when a recipe doesn’t turn out, especially after following it exactly. This one usually gets great feedback, so I’d love to help troubleshoot if you’re up for it — sometimes small things like the type of almond flour or oven temp can make a big difference. Either way, I really appreciate you giving it a try and taking the time to leave feedback!
This recipe was so simple but so good! It’ll be in our regular rotation for sure. Even kid approved 🙂
WOO! I am so happy to hear that everyone is loving this recipe, Jessica. Thank you for your review + star rating, I really appreciate it!
Hi! Can these be frozen after cooking?
Hi Briana – I believe these will freeze well, although I haven’t tried it. Let me know if you give it a try! Enjoy!
Do you have advice for air frying these? Thanks!
Hi Sara – I actually have an air fryer chicken tender recipe HERE, enjoy!
I used almond flour and there were spots not cooking.
Hi Jaycee – Did you make sure they were all evenly coated? Sounds like some spots might have had a thicker coating than others.
Can you airfry?
Hi Alexis – I would recommend my Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe, it’s delicious! Let me know if you give that recipe a try! Enjoy!
tried this last night and we loved it.
Yum! Such an easy and delicious recipe. So glad you all loved this recipe. Thank you for coming back and sharing your review & star rating, it means so much to me.
So delicious! My new go to! Next time I’ll make enough to freeze
This recipe was TO DIE FOR!!! It turned out absolutely AMAZING and all my roommates were asking for the recipe. Love your recipes, truly genius, healthy and delicious!
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear, Taylor! Thanks for coming back to leave a review and star rating. It means the world to me.
Most Valauble Info in this Blog Blog For Baked Paleo Chicken
This is now going to be my go to recipe for chicken tenders!!! So good and so easy. I didn’t have shredded coconut so added a little more almond flour and turned out so good-toddler approved too! 😉
Yay!! Happy to hear these chicken tenders were a hit, Annelise! Thanks so much for trying them out and for the review. It means so much to me!
These are so good. I really liked the texture of the coconut. I added red pepper flakes for an kick. Maybe my tenders were thicker, I had to cook longer. This is going to be a “go to” recipe. Thanks, you did it again!
Ah yay!! So pumped these chicken tenders were a hit, Steve! I love the addition of the red pepper flakes for some spice. Thanks so much for the review and star rating. I really appreciate it!
These are amazing everyone loved them and so easy to make!
So wonderful to hear, Rachel! Thanks so much for the review and star rating. I so appreciate it!
Thank you for sharing this delightful recipe. I can hardly wait to try it.
Just made the tenders. Everyone loved how crispy and flavorful they were.
Woo!! So happy to hear this, Pamela! Thanks so much for trying them out and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
Hi Brittany,
I tried these last night and they were very good. I was wondering if you have any tips for keeping the breading on the chicken when you flip them or any ideas why it might not be sticking. I used a wire rack, egg replacer instead of eggs, and mostly almond flour (add only about a Tbsp of coconut flakes).
Also, do you think the chicken would be crispier if I baked it on the bottom rack in the oven instead of the middle? Or do you think it would bake the outside too quickly?
Thank you!
Mmm maybe the egg replacer wasn’t keeping the breading stuck to the chicken as well as a regular egg? That’s the only thing I could think of! I’m not too sure on the oven, it really just depends on your oven. You could try it to see if it results in crispier tenders!
I struggle with feeding a picky family, and these were a winner! So good! Thanks, Brittany!
Yay! So pumped these chicken tenders were a hit, Jen! Thanks so much for the review :).
I am going to try cooking them in an air fryer I will let you know how it goes.
Hey Beverly! Yes, please let me know. Enjoy!
Hello. I am really excited to try these, are these able to be frozen?
Thx Val
Hey Val – I haven’t tried freezing these before, but I bet you could freeze them just fine. Let me know if you decide to try freezing them!
We love these chicken strips! My son loves fried chicken tenders. These have been a fantastic healthy option. We make our own “Canes” sauce. Love these on salads and chicken Parmesan too.
Yay! I’m so glad these chicken tenders were a hit, Christina! Thanks for making them and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
These were so quick & easy to cook & came out great!
I served with potato wedges & homemade honey mustard.
So glad you enjoyed these tenders, Sarah! 🙂
So good!! Thank you for sharing!
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Sarah! Thanks for the review. I really appreciate it. 🙂
I didn’t want sweetness, so I replaced the coconut with nutritional yeast, and it was delicious! If you let the tenders rest on the pan after taking them out of the even, the breading gets crispier.
So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Rosalie! Thanks for the review, I so appreciate it!
This is our go to favorite! So quick and easy to make.
I’ve made these for my family several times and will keep making them!! SO good! Everyone loves them and no one notices they are much healthier than traditional chicken tenders. Thanks so much!!
Woo!! That makes me so happy to hear. I’m glad these chicken tenders are a hit with your family. Thanks for the review, I so appreciate it!
Can I use just egg whites instead of the 1 egg?
Hey Jaimee – that should be just fine. Let me know if you try it and how they turn out for you!
Sooo, sooo good! This will definitely make it into my regular rotation. I look forward to playing around with different spice combos too!
I’m so glad you loved this recipe, Serina! Thanks for coming back to leave a review. I appreciate it!
If I use 2 lbs of chicken should I cook it for 40 minutes? I plan on doubling the recipe.
Hey Ginger – 20 minutes should still be fine if you use 2 lbs, you might just need a second pan for cooking.
My 5 1/2 year year old son has NEVER liked chicken fingers. Literally refuses to eat them. I have tried several times making
my own and he still refuses. He ate ALL of these (I gave him three fairly large ones). He told me they were “delicious” and he can’t wait to eat more. Thank you 😊!!!
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Kate. I’m so glad these chicken tenders were a hit!! Thanks for making my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. 🙂
These are delicious and satisfying! Even my husband loves them. After one time making these yummy chicken tenders, we printed an official copy to add to our cookbook. Thank you for making this healthy alternative recipe! It’s genius!
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Jessica! I’m so glad these tenders were a hit. Thanks for trying my recipe and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. It means the world to me. <3
Can you use almond flour instead of the almond meal?
Hey Kayla – That should work just fine. 🙂 Let me know if you try it and how they turn out!
Great recipe! Very easy!! I can’t seem to get the crispness that I was hoping for. I even cooked for an extra 7 minutes. Any input would be appreciated.I’ll definitely be making them again!’
You could try broiling them for a few minutes to get the crispy outside, but just keep an eye on them because you don’t want to overcook them.
I have made these twice. Each time they came out delicious! Thank you for the yummy 😋recipe!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Anne-Marie! Thanks for taking the time to come back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
Hello! Could you cook these in the air fryer instead? If so, for how long and what temp? Thanks!
Hey Kara! I haven’t tried these in the air fryer, but I’m sure you could! Let me know if you try it and how they turn out. 🙂
Hi Brittany! Loved your recipe, but alas, I had to make a few changes, lol, i.e. fix my mistakes…😏 So I made a Mexican herbed marinade, used lemon juice n olive oil, then the pain hit, n it ended up sitting in the frig overnight uncovered…It was really thick but fine, cut it up, breaded it, it’s baking now…I used your coconut flakes n almond flour, but also added some ground up walnuts, so fingers crossed! Thank you for your recipes, much peace n love…😏❤🕊💚✌
Ahh let me know how they end up turning out for you!!
Thanks for sharing this great recipe
Really good! Very easy to put together also!
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Leah. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it. <3
This was delicious!
A great healthy alternative for chicken tenders!
The recipe was super easy and quick to make.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe!! Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it!
Love this recipe. Easy, delicious, and healthy. A weekly staple in my house!
I’m so glad you’re a fan of this recipe, Rachel!! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating. It means the world to me. <3
I love this recipe!! So easy and delicious, I come back to it time and time again. I need to invest in a baking rack so I can get these extra crispy! Great recipe.
Great recipe!! will definitely make again.
Yay!! So glad you enjoyed this recipe, Kim!! Thanks for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I so appreciate it!
Think this would work with almond milk in place of egg?
Hey Brandy – I haven’t tried it so I’m not sure how the tenders would turn out. I have seen people use full-fat canned coconut milk as a sub for eggs when breading chicken. Let me know if you try it.
Love this recipe!
Question, 1/4 serving size, what’s the conversion? I’m trying to log my calories but recipe isn’t an option.
Hey Jolee – I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy this recipe! If you use 1 lb of chicken breast one serving would be 1/4 pound. Hopefully that helps. 🙂
Love this so much. My husband ask for it all the time and I like that it’s Paleo . Thank you so much!!!
I’m so happy to hear that you and your husband enjoy this recipe!! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating. The ratings are super helpful to other readers, so I really appreciate it. <3
This recipe was super easy. So delicious and yummy. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I can’t wait to try more recipes.
Yayy!! Thanks for trying this recipe, Rebecca. I’m so glad you enjoyed the tenders! And thank you so much for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. It means the world to me! <3
These were easy to make and delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
I’m so glad you liked the tenders, Cristin. And I so appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave a star rating on the recipe. The ratings are super helpful!
I would love to make these, but my daughter has a tree nut allergy. I saw someone made them with sunflowerseed meal. Any other ideas for a substitute?
Hi Garnett. I’m not sure if you’re trying to keep these paleo, but if not you could use bread crumbs. Another option is to try my chicken tenders that use brown rice crisp cereal for the coating. I shared this recipe over on myfitnesspal: https://blog.myfitnesspal.com/crispy-baked-chicken-tenders/ You might just want to leave out the hot sauce since you’re making them for your daughter. Hope this helps.
So tasty!! I don’t like too much spice so I halved the cayenne and it still had a good kick! I also double breaded them! Turned out UH-MAZING!
Can’t wait to try paleo chicken nuggets.
Just a suggestion. I plan to read most of plan quickly and then organize a week of meal plans and shopping list. Then start program.
Hi, sounds great I’m going to try it, is it freezeable though? I guess it is however let me know your thoughts please please ?
Thank you
I’ve never had a change to freeze them (we usually eat them all up), but I would assume that they freeze well. Let me know if you try it.
This was sooo good! I literally ate 3 pieces before I even sat down for dinner. Thank you so much for another delicious, healthy recipe 🙂
“The chicken is not dry!” My husband blurted out after his first bite. We were out of paprika so I used some chipotle powder and I made extra for a salad to take to work tomorrow. Great recipe, thanks!
Hooray!! So glad you both enjoyed these. They’re a favorite over here too! 🙂
Great recipe – these turned out perfectly! Very yummy!
I loved this recipe! I’m usually not a huge chicken fan but am trying to incorporate more of it into my diet for a boost of lean protein, which means I’m on the hunt for flavor filled, versatile recipes. I can’t wait to work these into my meal prep regularly and use them for salads, grain bowls, and more. Thanks so much for sharing this one.
We make these regularly for our girls. I like to double the recipe so hubby has leftovers for lunch. Another neat trick is to make an extra batch of the breading and cut up an extra batch of chicken for an easy throw together meal on a night you don’t have a lot of time. Thank you so much for this wonderful, kid friendly, leftover friendly and freezer friendly meal!!
Yay!! So glad that you and your family like these chicken tenders and I love the make-ahead trick you shared too! I’m actually working on a new chicken parm recipe with these.
Hello, My husband and I just started the Paleo diet. We are having great success with all the meals we’ve been making. I was so excited to find the Baked Paleo Chicken Tenders recipe. I am making this recipe for my husband tonight for dinner along with a Paleo friendly mustard dipping sauce and a Paleo Salad. Thank you for posting this…
These are so so delicious!!! We’re doing Whole30 and they were such a nice change from roasted chicken. Thank you for an awesome recipe!
Also, I tried to give 5 stars but my phone wasn’t having it. Definitely a 5 star recipe!!
Thank you so much, Anne!!
Going to try these tonight, but one of my kids doesn’t like spicy food, so i was wondering about the spice level? maybe i will omit the cayenne even though i LOVE spicy…
Yeah! I would just omit the cayenne. Let me know how they turn out. 🙂
I love these chicken tenders. I’ve done the recipe straight up, and then done different variations, using smoked paprika, etc. Also, once I realized I didn’t have almond meal when it was too late to run out and get it, so I used panko. I know they weren’t then paleo, but they still tasted good.
These are amazing & have become a regular in my house! Any idea if they would freeze well after baking? Thanks!
Made these tonight and the family loved them!! I made a double recipe so the kids could take them to school for lunch. Great recipe as I’m really trying to eat clean and feed the family delicious nutritious meals.
Loved these! I have a nut allergy, so I made Sunflower Seed meal to substitute and it turned out great!
Woo-hoo! So glad that they turned out with sunflower seed meal. I didn’t even know sunflower seed meal was a thing.
How easy! Can’t wait to try
Yay! Let me know how they turn out if you try them.
When I was preggers, I craved chicken strips all the time — and apparently that hasn’t changed! These look SO good. Is it kinda bad I want to dunk one in a milkshake or slather it with honey? Yum!
Umm, yes!! Sounds like my childhood in a nutshell. I never ate chicken nuggets without honey!
I definitely want to try these! I was diagnosed with celiac disease in March, and I’ve been missing chicken tenders as my go-to restaurant meal! I’m just a kid at heart ; )
Love these! I have not had a chicken tender in FOREVER. Almond meal is always awesome to cook with for sure.
I make a recipe similar to this for the little girl I nanny and she loves them!! Always gobbles them up and they are WAY better for her than those frozen things 🙂 She also loves helping to bread them…even though she doesn’t want to get her hands dirty 😉
On my list to make this weekend. Love this is low carb! Going to try with a tahini honey mustard dressing. Sound good?
Mmmm these look delicious!
These look so good and definitely a recipe I need to try. I tend to get stuck in such a rut with how I make chicken, meat, etc. but this looks like a twist that is both tasty and easy!!
Ohh these look yummy! I love chicken tenders!
Wow, these look like naughty fried chicken tenders. I want to try this recipe!