Description
These baked buffalo chicken tenders are spicy, crispy, and oven-baked to golden perfection. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re a healthier twist on a takeout favorite with all the flavor and none of the frying.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken tenders or sliced chicken breasts
1/2 cup buffalo sauce (store-bought or homemade)
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp paprika
Salt and pepper, to taste
Olive oil spray or cooking spray
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment and place a wire rack on top. Spray lightly with oil.
2. Set up a breading station with three bowls: flour (seasoned with salt and pepper), beaten eggs, and panko mixed with garlic powder and paprika.
3. Dredge each chicken tender in flour, dip in egg, then coat in panko breadcrumbs. Press gently to help coating stick.
4. Place breaded tenders on the rack. Spray tops with oil. Bake for 20–22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked to 165°F.
5. Warm the buffalo sauce. Toss baked tenders in the sauce just before serving.
6. Serve hot with ranch, blue cheese dressing, and celery sticks.
Notes
For extra juicy tenders, marinate the chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes before breading.
You can toast the breadcrumbs briefly in a dry skillet for even more crunch.
Tenders can be frozen raw after breading and baked from frozen (add 5–8 minutes).
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American