Baked Chicken Tenders
120
Published Aug 27, 2021, Updated Sep 12, 2023
This post may include affiliate links. Thank you for your support.
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 protein packed 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.
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!