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    Home » Recipes » Meat Recipes

    Crispy Oven Fried Chicken Tenders

    Published: Apr 20, 2018 · Modified: Aug 21, 2022 by Andrea

    Jump to Recipe

    All you need is 5 ingredients and 30 minutes to make easy and crispy oven fried chicken for the whole family! Crunchy outside and tender within, this healthier fried chicken is a winner!

    Do you love fried chicken, but you're looking for a healthier alternative? You should try the BEST tried and tested homemade oven fried chicken.
     
    You would never guess the chicken is baked and not fried.
     
    It's just so crunchy and juicy and full of flavour, once you try it, you won't be going back to the fried version again.
     
    I’ve made and perfected these crispy oven fried chicken tenders endless times over the years, and my family goes crazy over them!
     
    oven fried chicken tenders with yogurt dip
    My favourite thing about these oven fried chicken tenders is that they're effortlessly simple, quick and mess-free to make.
     
    Ready in just 30 minutes (plus a bit of extra time for marinating the chicken), and all you need is only five really simple everyday ingredients.
     
    oven fried chicken preparation, chicken with coatingPlus, no flour or eggs required, only a buttermilk marinade and a very special coating made with super simple ingredients.

    This recipe is crazy easy, totally foolproof and SO delicious. I'm pretty sure your family will go crazy over this oven fried chicken as much as mine does!

    WHAT'S THE SECRET FOR CRISPY OVEN FRIED CHICKEN?

    To give my chicken the same crunchiness as the fried version, I've come up with a special coating mix that makes this baked chicken just as crisp as deep fried.

    Plus it can be easily made gluten-free by using GF cornflakes & breadcrumbs.

    The coating is made with just 5 simple ingredients: finely crumbled cornflakes, mixed with super crunchy panko breadcrumbs, a little bit of oil and a few favorite seasonings.

    The result is a sticky coating that makes this crispy oven fried chicken amazingly crunchy on the outside, whilst preserving the chicken meat tender and moist within.

    EXTRA TIPS FOR PERFECTLY CRISPY OVEN FRIED CHICKEN:

    Even though the coating is critical for a super crunchy result, there are few extra tips that will ensure your oven fried chicken turns out perfectly every time!oven fried chicken tenders and yogurt dip

    Chicken: This recipe calls for mini chicken breast fillets, but it works well with whole/halved chicken breast, drumsticks and wings, but you'll need to adjust cooking time accordingly.

    To ensure the chicken is moist and juicy, use evenly sized pieces, and cook the chicken until it reaches an internal temperature of is 165° Fahrenheit (75° Celsius).

    Buttermilk marinade: Make sure to marinate the chicken in the buttermilk for at least 2 hours, but ideally overnight. This will make your chicken super tender and the coat will stick easily without falling off.

    Hot baking tray: Preheating your oven, as well as your baking tray, helps give an even browning and caramelization as soon as you pop the chicken in the oven.

    This fool-proof trick will give you nice and crispy chicken without the need to turn it during the cooking time.

    FAVOURITE WAYS TO SERVE OVEN FRIED CHICKEN:chicken tender with yogurt dip

    Garlicky Yogurt dip: One of my favourite ways to enjoy my oven fried chicken is with a LARGE serving of sweet potato fries and this delicious garlicky yogurt dip.

    Homemade Ketchup: The evergreen combo fried chicken + ketchup is loved by both kids and grown-ups, plus homemade ketchup tastes A-M-A-Z-I-N-G.

    Peri Peri Sauce Dip: Fiercely spicy and rich, this dip is just the perfect match for crispy oven fried chicken!

    oven fried chicken tenders and yogurt dipThis oven fried chicken is overly crispy on the outside, and deliciously juicy and tender inside with just enough spices to make your taste-buds rejoice.

    It really has it all it takes to become your new favourite lighter fakeaway fried chicken recipe!

    DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

    Please let me know how you liked it! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #thepetitecook! Looking at your pictures always makes me smile *and super hungry*!

    oven fried chicken tenders with yogurt dip on the side
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    5 from 5 votes

    Crispy Oven Fried Chicken Tenders

    Prevent your screen from going dark
    All you need is 5 ingredients and 30 minutes to make crispy oven fried chicken for the whole family -No eggs and flour required!
    Prep Time10 mins
    Cook Time20 mins
    Marinating time:1 hr
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Main
    Cuisine: Modern
    Serving: 4
    Author: Andrea Soranidis

    Ingredients

    • 400 g boneless skinless mini chicken breast fillets, or large chicken breast evenly sliced
    • 250 ml buttermilk, see notes for homemade buttermilk
    • sea salt and black pepper, to taste
    • 120 g cornflakes
    • 2 tablespoon panko breadcrumbs
    • 60 ml extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, optional
    • ½ teaspoon ground garlic, optional
    • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
    • sea salt and black pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    • In a large casserole dish, pour the buttermilk and season with salt and pepper.
    • Place the chicken in the buttermilk and mix until evenly coated. Cover and place in the fridge for 1-2 hours or overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 180 C /365 F and arrange a baking tray in the middle shelf.
    • Place cornflakes, panko, olive oil, spices (if using) in a food processor, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix until finely crumbled and place in a large bowl.
    • Shake off the excess buttermilk from the chicken, then dip each piece in the cornflakes mixture and coat evenly, patting with fingers to make the crumbs stick.
    • Cover the hot baking tray with parchment paper, spray with a little olive oil and arrange the chicken tenders over it.
    • Bake for 20 minutes, or until the chicken internal temperature reaches 73°C / 165°F.
    • Take the chicken out of the oven and serve immediately with your favorite dips.

    Notes

    * To make homemade buttermilk: In a large bowl place 250 ml of milk and mix in 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Allow to sit for 5 minutes and use as needed.
    Did you try this recipe? Tag @thepetitecook or use the hashtag #thepetitecook - Looking at your pictures makes my day!

    The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

     

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. D. Larsen says

      April 05, 2020 at 4:23 pm

      My family doesn't like chicken breast. Can this be done with skinless/boneless thighs? If so, any modifications?

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        April 06, 2020 at 10:06 am

        Absolutely! The only thing I suggest it to take each chicken thigh and place it between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using a meat tenderizer, pound the chicken thigh flat (be careful not to tear the chicken), then follow the recipe.

        Reply
    2. Fifi P says

      February 09, 2020 at 3:53 pm

      5 stars
      Love these - thank you!

      Reply
    3. Femi. O says

      April 30, 2018 at 3:31 am

      Corn flakes used in chicken tenders are two things that never cross your mind until you read about and you wonder why this isn't a thing? It absolutely works from how good your tenders look! I'll be tossing this in my need to recreate pile.

      Reply
    4. lauren says

      April 30, 2018 at 2:43 am

      Okay, the fact that these are oven fried AND ready in under 30 minutes is a game changer. Shocking, but my 3 yo positively loves chicken tenders. We make them from scratch a lot but I usually pan fry them. We will definitely be trying this!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        April 30, 2018 at 7:46 pm

        Totally a game changer! My family loves crispy chicken tenders, and I've been experimenting with the recipe a lot over the years. I used to pan fry them, but once I tried this oven version there was no coming back!

        Reply
    5. Sara Lehman says

      April 30, 2018 at 2:17 am

      These look really good! The chili sounds like a terrific compliment to the chicken!

      Reply
    6. alifeofhappenstance says

      April 30, 2018 at 1:58 am

      I appreciate that these are egg and flour free! They look so deliciously crisp! Dipping them in a piri piri sauce sounds amazing!

      Reply
    7. [email protected] Made. Interest. says

      April 30, 2018 at 1:56 am

      These look so perfectly golden and crispy. I don't think I've ever seen such a simple recipe for baked chicken!

      Reply
    8. Kitty says

      April 29, 2018 at 9:58 pm

      I'm drooling now! I've always had trouble getting my oven fried chicken crispy on the underside. I think your trick of preheating the pan might be the solution!

      Reply
    9. Anne Murphy says

      April 29, 2018 at 8:23 pm

      They look so crunchy and crisp! Love it!

      Reply
    10. mildlymeandering says

      April 29, 2018 at 7:19 pm

      This recipe looks so up my alley! I can't wait to try making it for dinner!

      Reply
    11. Kim @ Berly's Kitchen says

      April 29, 2018 at 3:20 am

      Cornflakes are a great way to make chicken crispy! This looks like perfection. There are a couple boys in my house that would go nuts for this!

      Reply
    12. Eileen Kelly says

      April 28, 2018 at 4:04 am

      I love how easy these chicken tenders are to prepare. Easy and super crispy. These are way better than any frozen chicken from the grocer. I love the sauces that you have paired with the chicken too!

      Reply
    13. Megan @ MegUnprocessed says

      April 27, 2018 at 8:48 pm

      I love oven frying things. It's so much easier!!

      Reply
    14. Jenni says

      April 26, 2018 at 8:22 pm

      Using cornflakes is a brilliant way to keep that tasty crunch right out of the oven. What a fantastic and healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken.

      Reply
    15. Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) says

      April 26, 2018 at 6:26 pm

      This chicken looks so good and delicious!! Thanks for sharing!!!

      Reply
    16. Emily says

      April 26, 2018 at 1:03 pm

      Using cornflakes is an awesome idea, can't wait to try this!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        April 26, 2018 at 1:53 pm

        Thank you Emily! Let me know how it turns out 🙂

        Reply
    17. Natalie says

      April 23, 2018 at 7:41 am

      They look amazing! I bet these with chili sauce is a perfect combination ?
      No flour and no eggs are truly a plus!

      Reply
      • Andrea says

        April 23, 2018 at 5:02 pm

        Thank you so much Natalie! Yes, no flour and eggs make these super easy and mess-free to prepare!

        Reply

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