Italian Baked Chicken Tenders

These Italian Baked Chicken Tenders are deliciously healthy and simple to make. Perfect for a busy weeknight meal!

When the weekend arrives and my husband doesn’t need to work, we pack our days full of errands, fun activities and exercise. 

So when we get home around 5 pm and everyone is starving, my easy, go-to meal is usually . . . order pizza. 

No, not the best choice. But I have to admit it’s the easiest option when everyone is starving and I don’t feel like cooking. 

It’s also relatively cheap! 

Well, this past weekend was no exception, as we tried to cram in as many activities as possible.

But this time I wanted to serve a healthier meal. I had about a half-hour before the kiddos started falling apart and their internal dinner bells were ringing like crazy.

So I decided to make one of our favorite baked chicken tenders. 

How to Make These Baked Chicken Tenders

They take about 10 minutes to prepare and only about 15 minutes in the oven.

I almost exclusively buy my chicken (Tyson) from Sam’s Club, since it comes frozen in small (approx. 2 oz) strips of chicken breast. 

And for many recipes you don’t even need to thaw the chicken beforehand, which saves lots of time.

To begin, cover a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan (pan with about a 1-inch side) with aluminum foil. 

Then place a cooling rack over the top of the aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil sprayer. My favorite sprayer is the Misto® Olive Oil Sprayer.

Normally I would completely thaw the chicken ahead of time since the bread crumbs stick to the chicken better.

However, frozen chicken will also work. 

Since I didn’t plan ahead for this meal I prepped the chicken by rinsing the strips in cold water to slightly thaw them. 

Next, I combined whole wheat Panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. 

I then added fat-free Italian dressing in another shallow bowl. 

To coat the chicken, cover each piece in the Italian dressing, then roll it in the Panko crumb mixture and place them on the baking pan.

Lastly, cook for about 15-18 minutes, turning them about halfway through.

I have found and cooked many variations of this recipe as it is so versatile depending on your taste buds. 

This is also an entire family favorite, and it’s as close as my kids ever get to eating chicken nuggets.

Additional Chocolate Slopes Chicken Dinner Favorites

Simple Baked Panko Crusted Chicken Legs

Baked Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders

If you are looking for additional baked chicken tenders, check these out (I’ve tried both and love them!):

1. Baked Chicken Fingers with Panko and Dijon from The Lemon Bowl
2. Skinny Ranch Chicken Tenders from bell’alimento

Italian Baked Chicken Tenders

Healthy and delicious baked chicken tenders, perfect for the entire family!

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb chicken breast I used eight 2 oz chicken tenders
• 1 cup whole wheat Panko crumbs
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup Italian dressing fat-free
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Cover a shallow cookie sheet or jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Place a metal cooling rack on top of the foil. Spray the cooling rack with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil sprayer.
• Add Italian dressing to a shallow bowl.
• In another shallow bowl combine Panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder.
• Dip each piece of chicken into the Italian dressing, then into the Panko crumb mixture, coating the chicken thoroughly.
• Place chicken on the baking pan.
• Cook for 15-18 minutes or until chicken is cooked completely (turning chicken halfway through).
• Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

This Italian Baked Chicken Tenders post first appeared on Chocolate Slopes.

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