Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders (No Frying, Extra Crunch!)
Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders are perfectly juicy on the inside, with a golden, crunchy coating on the outside. Made with panko breadcrumbs and a layer of French Fried Onions for that extra boost of flavor and texture. These tenders bake up golden, crispy, and perfectly juicy without ever being fried.
These baked chicken tenders deliver the ultimate crunch in every bite, and this version might be the easiest (and crunchiest) one you’ll ever make. Whether you’re serving them up for an easy weeknight dinner or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer, they’re always a hit, kid-approved and family-tested.
If you love easy, family-friendly meals like these crispy chicken tenders, be sure to check out my Casserole with Chicken and my Classic Chicken Pot Pie for more comforting dinners everyone will enjoy.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ultra-Crispy without Frying: You get extra-crispy thanks to French Fried Onions. No mess and no extra oil.
- Simple Pantry Ingredients: Everything in this recipe is easy to find and budget-friendly.
- No Flipping Required: Baking on a wire rack keeps the chicken crispy on all sides.
- Perfect for Busy Weeknights: Quick prep and hands-off baking make this ideal for weeknights.
If you’re planning your weekly meals, don’t miss my quick sloppy joe recipe for another easy, kid-friendly dinner idea that comes together fast.
Ingredients Needed for Crispy Breaded Chicken Tenders
For a complete list of ingredients, please see the recipe card below.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: Creates a light crunch that makes these chicken tenders extra crispy. I use the plain breadcrumbs. I’ve also used the seasoned ones, and they were good.
- French Fried Onions: The secret ingredient for crunch. Crush these up to use in the breading.
- Buttermilk: Thick, rich buttermilk is perfect for dipping chicken in and helps the coating stick. If you don’t have buttermilk, whole milk will work.
- Sriracha Hot Sauce: Adds a subtle kick without making it too spicy. Omit if desired.
- Chicken Tenders: Easy to find and budget friendly. I’ve also sliced chicken breast into tenders.
If your family loves chicken as much as mine does, you should check out my list of simple chicken recipes for busy nights.
How to Make Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
The coating gets crispy in the oven, and the chicken is perfectly cooked and juicy. The crispy coating makes you believe you are eating fried- just without all of the oil or fat.
Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place a wire rack on the prepared pan, then spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Step 2: Combine bread crumbs, crushed fried onions, and seasoning in a large zip-top bag. Shake to mix.
Step 3: In a shallow bowl, add buttermilk and hot sauce.
Step 4: Dip 1 piece of chicken at a time into the buttermilk mixture, then place it in a zip-top bag, seal it, and shake. Place each piece of chicken on the prepared wire rack. Depending on how many tenders you have, you may need to add more breadcrumbs and onions.
Step 5: Bake for 35-45 minutes until done. The time depends on the thickness of the chicken tenders. Do not turn the chicken during baking. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should be 165 degrees.
Pro Tips
Follow these tips for crispy baked chicken without frying.
- Use a wire rack so heat circulates and crisps all sides.
- Don’t skip the resting time. It keeps the juices inside and allows the chicken to slide off the rack.
- Crush onions finely so they stick better.
- For extra crispiness, lightly spray tops before baking.
- Use foil or parchment paper under the baking rack. This makes cleaning up a little easier.
- The time listed is a guide. Some chicken tenders are thicker than others, and the times may need to be adjusted accordingly. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should be 165 degrees.
How to Store and Reheat Chicken Without Losing Crispiness
Store all leftover chicken in an airtight container or zip-top bag. Reheat in a 350-degree oven until hot.
How to Serve Crispy Baked Chicken
Hot, crunchy, and seasoned chicken from the oven can be served immediately for dinner or even packed up for a summertime picnic. My family loves to chop up the chicken and serve it over a salad, especially during the summer months. My favorite side dishes to serve with chicken are potato salad with dill, coleslaw with pickles, potato wedges recipe, and slow cooker corn on the cob.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. Use boneless chicken breast and slice into tenders.
Panko bread crumbs and French Fried Onions make these chicken tenders extra crispy and delicious.
Bake for 35-45 minutes until done. The time will depend on the size and thickness of your tenders. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should be 165 degrees.
You can use whole milk instead of buttermilk. You are basically wetting the chicken before dipping.
Use 1 cup of milk and add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to the milk. Give it a good stir and allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes.
More Chicken Recipes for Dinner
If you tried these Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders or any other recipe on my blog, please consider leaving a 🌟 star rating and letting me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs may need more
- 1 cup French Fried Onions may need more
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon Sriracha Hot Sauce optional
- 1-1½ pounds chicken tenders
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Place a wire rack on the prepared pan and spray the rack with cooking spray.
- Combine bread crumbs, fried onions, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a large zip-top bag. Crush the onions and shake to mix.
- In a shallow bowl, add buttermilk and hot sauce.
- Dip 1 piece of chicken at a time in the buttermilk mixture and place in a zip-top bag; seal, and shake. Place each piece of chicken on the prepared wire rack.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until done. The time depends on the thickness of the chicken tenders. Do not turn the chicken during baking. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should be 165 degrees.
Notes
- Use a wire rack so heat circulates and crisps all sides.
- Don’t skip the resting time. It keeps the juices inside and allows the chicken to slide off the rack.
- Crush onions finely so they stick better.
- For extra crispiness, lightly spray tops before baking.
- Use foil or parchment paper under the baking rack. This makes cleaning up a little easier.
- The time listed is a guide. Some chicken tenders are thicker than others, and the times may need to be adjusted accordingly. Use a thermometer to check the internal temperature; it should be 165 degrees.
- If you don’t have buttermilk, you can easily make it. Use 1 cup of milk and add 1 teaspoon of vinegar to the milk. Give it a good stir and allow it to sit for about 5-10 minutes.
Made these for dinner last night and they were perfect to top our salad. Crispy on the outside. So tasty!
These are exponentially better than the frozen store bought tenders. The crispy onions add so much flavor!
This is something my kids would enjoy any time of the day! Lunch, dinner, appetizer!! Thanks for the recipe!
Fantastic!!! Easy and Juicy recipe!!
I love fried onions and every time I go to Ikea I buy them and then I don’t know what to do with them besides eating them with a spoon (guilty!). I’ll try this recipe, never thought I could use them for breading ^^
These chicken tenders are delicious! We loved the flavour that the fried onions added.
These oven roasted chicken tenders look delicious. I can definitely use another good chicken recipe. Thank you for sharing!
What a delicious and easy way to prepare chicken! My entire family will devour them for sure!
Thanks for this recipe for oven-baked chicken tenders! It looks delicious and easy to make. I am eager to try it.
Oh wow, do these look fantastic! I have made oven baked chicken tenders in the past but the recipe I have tried was quite different but very tasty. I will definitely give this recipe a try, looks easy and delicious. I’m sure my family will love them.
now i don’t have to buy store bought. I didn’t realize how easy it was to make at home! I love the seasoning you used toO!
This looks amazing and is so easy to make. Nothing tastes better than homemade oven-baked chicken.
I love chicken tenders but have never tried using fried onions. It is genius! Just so delicious
Gina, this looks amazing. I am sure my kids will approve, thanks!