The Ultimate Crispy Everything Seasoned Chicken Tenders (Oven & Air Fryer)
As a self-proclaimed picky eater, chicken tenders have long been my go-to order when dining out. There’s something inherently comforting and undeniably delicious about perfectly cooked chicken strips, guaranteeing a satisfying meal every time. While I love cooking chicken at home, replicating that ideal restaurant-style crispiness without resorting to excessive oil and deep-frying has always been a culinary quest of mine. Many attempts fell short, often resulting in soggy coatings or dry chicken. I was determined to crack the code, seeking a method that delivered both exceptional flavor and that coveted crunch, all while being a healthier option for home cooking. The result? These Everything Seasoned Chicken Tenders, which are truly AMAZING! They combine my love for that unique ‘Everything But The Bagel’ seasoning with a clever technique to achieve maximum crispiness, making them a fantastic alternative to their deep-fried counterparts. This recipe has become a staple in my kitchen, proving that healthy and incredibly tasty can indeed go hand-in-hand.
The Magic of Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
The secret weapon in these chicken tenders is undoubtedly the ‘Everything But The Bagel’ seasoning. For those unfamiliar, this delightful blend typically includes sesame seeds (both white and black), dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, sea salt flakes, and poppy seeds. It’s a flavor explosion that adds an incredible savory, slightly nutty, and aromatic depth to almost anything, and it’s particularly transformative for chicken. I’m a huge fan of the Trader Joe’s brand – I often stock up, a habit I was particularly thankful for when cross-border shopping became restricted! However, if you can’t get your hands on the Trader Joe’s version, don’t despair. Many other spice companies now offer similar blends, or you can easily create your own at home. A quick search on Pinterest will yield numerous DIY recipes, often involving just mixing the aforementioned ingredients in the right proportions. This seasoning not only imparts incredible flavor but also adds a visually appealing texture to the golden-brown panko crust, making each bite an unforgettable experience.
Achieving Ultimate Crispiness with Toasted Panko
One of the key techniques that elevates these tenders from good to absolutely fantastic is the use of panko crumbs, and more importantly, toasting them first. Traditional breadcrumbs can often absorb too much moisture and oil, leading to a softer crust. Panko, a Japanese-style breadcrumb, is renowned for its light, airy, and flaky texture, which helps create a much crispier coating. By toasting the panko crumbs before they even touch the chicken, we’re developing a deeper, nuttier flavor and ensuring that they are already partially dehydrated and perfectly golden. This pre-toasting step dramatically enhances the final texture, providing an unbeatable crunch that rivals deep-fried tenders, all without the excess grease. It’s a simple step that makes a monumental difference in achieving that desired restaurant-quality crispness, delivering a satisfying auditory and textural sensation with every bite.
Oven vs. Air Fryer: Your Choice for Perfection
This versatile recipe offers two fantastic cooking methods: oven-baking and air-frying. Both methods yield delicious, crispy chicken tenders, allowing you to choose based on your kitchen equipment and personal preference. When I tested both, the air fryer tenders were indeed slightly crispier, offering an almost fried texture with minimal oil. The air fryer’s rapid circulation of hot air cooks the tenders quickly and efficiently, creating a uniformly crunchy exterior that’s hard to beat. However, the oven-baked version was by no means inferior; they were just as good, achieving a beautiful golden crispness that is incredibly satisfying. For oven-baking, a higher temperature (like 400°F) ensures a crispy exterior, while for the air fryer, a slightly lower temperature (like 375°F) often prevents burning while still delivering excellent results. Whichever method you choose, the preparation steps are largely the same, making it easy to adapt to your preferred cooking style and ensuring a fantastic outcome for these flavorful chicken tenders.
Health-Conscious Comfort Food: Weight Watchers Friendly
For those monitoring their nutritional intake or following programs like Weight Watchers, these Everything Seasoned Chicken Tenders are a true game-changer. A 5oz serving of these tenders impressively comes in at 3-6 Personal Points (PP) depending on your 0PP foods, 3 SmartPoints (SP) on the blue & purple plans, and 6 SmartPoints (SP) on the green plan. This makes them a highly satisfying and guilt-free option for a main meal, especially when compared to the much higher point values of typical restaurant-fried chicken, which can often be loaded with unhealthy fats and calories. By opting for boneless, skinless chicken breast and utilizing the oven or air fryer with minimal cooking spray, we significantly reduce the fat content without sacrificing any of the delectable flavor or satisfying texture. This recipe truly proves that comfort food can absolutely be healthy and align with your dietary goals, offering a delicious source of lean protein that will keep you feeling full and satisfied without compromise.
Serving Suggestions and Storage Tips
Once your golden-brown Everything Seasoned Chicken Tenders are perfectly cooked and ready to enjoy, the possibilities for serving are truly endless. They are fantastic on their own, especially when accompanied by your favorite dipping sauces – think classic honey mustard, tangy BBQ sauce, creamy ranch, or a zesty spicy mayo for an extra kick. For a complete and balanced meal, consider pairing them with a fresh, vibrant side salad, a medley of steamed vegetables, crispy sweet potato fries, or a light and fluffy quinoa pilaf. These versatile tenders also make excellent additions to wraps or salads, offering a quick and protein-packed lunch option that’s both flavorful and convenient. Any leftovers can be easily stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days, maintaining their delicious taste and texture. For longer preservation, these chicken tenders freeze exceptionally well. Simply allow them to cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, reheat them in the oven or air fryer to regain some of their original crispiness, and you’ll have a convenient, tasty meal ready in minutes, making them perfect for meal prepping!
Everything Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 24 oz boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into strips (about 3 large breasts)
- 1 1/4 cup panko crumbs
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
- 5 Tbsp Everything But The Bagel Seasoning
Instructions
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Begin by achieving that signature crispiness by toasting your panko crumbs. Lightly coat the bottom of a frying pan with cooking spray and warm it over medium heat. Introduce the panko crumbs to the pan, stirring them frequently. This crucial step will take approximately 10-15 minutes, or until the crumbs transform into a beautiful, golden-brown toasted color, indicating their readiness to deliver exceptional crunch. Once toasted, transfer the crumbs to a flat plate to cool slightly.
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Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) if you plan to bake, or set your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for air frying. Both cooking methods yield fantastic results, though the air fryer tends to produce a slightly crispier finish.
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Prepare your chicken by cutting the boneless, skinless breasts into strips. The size of the strips is entirely up to your preference; remember that thicker strips will require slightly longer cooking times. My chicken breasts were quite large, so my strips were a generous size.
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In a separate flat plate, combine the all-purpose flour with 1 tablespoon of the Everything But The Bagel seasoning. Mix well to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed throughout the flour.
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In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and buttermilk until thoroughly combined. This mixture will serve as the binder for your crispy coating. Ensure the bowl is large enough to easily dip your chicken pieces.
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Now, add the remaining 4 tablespoons of the Everything But The Bagel seasoning to your toasted panko crumbs on the flat plate. Mix well to integrate the seasoning. If you prefer an even stronger flavor, feel free to add a bit more seasoning at this stage.
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If you are cooking in the oven, line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. For air frying, prepare your air fryer basket with a light spray of cooking oil.
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Begin the breading process: Take each chicken strip, first dip it into the seasoned flour, ensuring it’s fully coated. Shake off any excess. Next, dip it into the egg and buttermilk mixture. Finally, press the chicken into the seasoned panko mixture, making sure it’s generously coated on all sides. Place the coated chicken tender onto your prepared baking tray or into the air fryer basket. Repeat this process with all remaining chicken strips.
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Bake the tenders in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crispiness. If using an air fryer, cook for 15 minutes, shaking the basket or flipping the tenders halfway. The chicken should be golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F/74°C). This recipe yields approximately 5 servings, with each serving being about 5oz.
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Store any leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. These tenders also freeze exceptionally well, making them a great option for future meals. Simply reheat from frozen or thawed in the oven or air fryer until heated through and crispy.
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*Note: I specifically used Trader Joe’s “Everything But The Bagel Seasoning” (EBTBS). If you’re unable to find this particular brand, many other spice companies now offer similar blends. Alternatively, you can easily create your own EBTBS at home by combining sesame seeds (white and black), sea salt flakes, dried minced garlic, dried minced onion, and poppy seeds.
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*Note on flour measurement: When calculating points in the WW app, I typically only account for 1/4 cup of flour, not the full 1/3 cup used in the recipe. This is because a significant amount of flour will remain on the plate after coating all the chicken pieces, but the larger initial quantity is necessary to ensure enough coverage for proper breading.
Notes
SmartPoints (Legacy Plans): On the Blue & Purple plans, these tenders are 3 SmartPoints per 5oz serving when calculated using the WW recipe builder. For the Green plan, they are 6 SmartPoints per 5oz serving, also using the WW recipe builder.
Points Plus (Older Program): For those still tracking with the Points Plus system, these tenders are approximately 6 Points Plus per 5oz serving, calculated with a PP calculator.
Nutritional Information: Based on a 5oz serving, the approximate nutritional values are: Calories 261, Fat 5.7g, Saturated Fat 1.5g, Carbohydrates 15.9g, Fiber 0.6g, Sugar 1.4g, Protein 34.5g. This data was calculated using My Fitness Pal, providing a helpful overview for those monitoring their intake.
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