Parmesan cheese loses 40% of its umami when pre-grated—freshly grated creates twice the flavor coating.
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Dive into a mouthwatering adventure with these Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders! Tender strips of chicken are perfectly crisped and generously coated in a rich, buttery garlic-parmesan sauce that will have you coming back for seconds. This easy-to-make dish is a crowd-pleaser that brings the flavors of Italian cuisine right to your dinner table!
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
The Story
This American diner staple actually traces back to 1950s Italian-American kitchens in New Jersey, where immigrant nonnas discovered that coating chicken in their leftover Sunday gravy breadcrumbs and Parmigiano created the perfect after-school snack—what started as resourceful Depression-era cooking became the golden standard that launched a thousand sports bar menus across the Midwest.
Regional Twist
In Louisiana's Baton Rouge parishes, they muddy up those breadcrumbs with cayenne and paprika, then finish the parmesan coating with a proper roux-thickened garlic butter that'll make your tongue sing Creole hymns.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 cup (237 ml) breadcrumbs
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken breast
- 2 whole eggs
- ½ cup (118 ml) parmesan cheese
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- garlic (to taste)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Roast the garlic until golden and fragrant.
- 2
In a bowl, mix the roasted garlic, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, and pepper.
- 3
Coat the chicken breast pieces in the mixture.
- 4
Pan fry the coated chicken tenders for about 3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy.
- 5
Coat the cooked chicken tenders in the garlic parmesan sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Roast garlic at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until cloves are golden and caramelized - this converts harsh allicin compounds into sweet, nutty maltol and creates deeper umami flavor than raw garlic.technique400°F for 25-30 minutes
- ✓Use aged Parmigiano-Reggiano (24+ months) in your breading because its lower moisture content (32% vs 38% in younger cheese) creates crispier coating and concentrated glutamate flavors.ingredient32% moisture content
- ✓Pound chicken to exactly 1/2 inch thickness before cutting into tenders - this ensures uniform 6-7 minute total cooking time and prevents overcooking thinner pieces while thicker sections reach 165°F internal temperature.technique1/2 inch thickness
- ✓Heat oil to precisely 350°F for pan-frying because this temperature creates immediate protein coagulation on the surface, forming a moisture barrier that keeps chicken juicy while achieving golden Maillard browning.equipment350°F oil temperature
- ✓Let breaded tenders rest for 10 minutes before frying so egg proteins partially set and create stronger adhesion, reducing breading loss by up to 30% during cooking.timing10 minutes rest time
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
30
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Parmesan cheese loses 40% of its umami when pre-grated—freshly grated creates twice the flavor coating.
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Dive into a mouthwatering adventure with these Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders! Tender strips of chicken are perfectly crisped and generously coated in a rich, buttery garlic-parmesan sauce that will have you coming back for seconds. This easy-to-make dish is a crowd-pleaser that brings the flavors of Italian cuisine right to your dinner table!
The Story
This American diner staple actually traces back to 1950s Italian-American kitchens in New Jersey, where immigrant nonnas discovered that coating chicken in their leftover Sunday gravy breadcrumbs and Parmigiano created the perfect after-school snack—what started as resourceful Depression-era cooking became the golden standard that launched a thousand sports bar menus across the Midwest.
Regional Twist
In Louisiana's Baton Rouge parishes, they muddy up those breadcrumbs with cayenne and paprika, then finish the parmesan coating with a proper roux-thickened garlic butter that'll make your tongue sing Creole hymns.
📝 Ingredients
Shopping List
- 1 cup (237 ml) breadcrumbs
- 1 lb (454 g) chicken breast
- 2 whole eggs
- ½ cup (118 ml) parmesan cheese
Pantry Items
Amounts also listed in instructions below
- garlic (to taste)
- salt and pepper (to taste)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Roast the garlic until golden and fragrant.
- 2
In a bowl, mix the roasted garlic, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, eggs, salt, and pepper.
- 3
Coat the chicken breast pieces in the mixture.
- 4
Pan fry the coated chicken tenders for about 3 minutes on each side until golden and crispy.
- 5
Coat the cooked chicken tenders in the garlic parmesan sauce.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Roast garlic at 400°F for 25-30 minutes until cloves are golden and caramelized - this converts harsh allicin compounds into sweet, nutty maltol and creates deeper umami flavor than raw garlic.technique400°F for 25-30 minutes
- ✓Use aged Parmigiano-Reggiano (24+ months) in your breading because its lower moisture content (32% vs 38% in younger cheese) creates crispier coating and concentrated glutamate flavors.ingredient32% moisture content
- ✓Pound chicken to exactly 1/2 inch thickness before cutting into tenders - this ensures uniform 6-7 minute total cooking time and prevents overcooking thinner pieces while thicker sections reach 165°F internal temperature.technique1/2 inch thickness
- ✓Heat oil to precisely 350°F for pan-frying because this temperature creates immediate protein coagulation on the surface, forming a moisture barrier that keeps chicken juicy while achieving golden Maillard browning.equipment350°F oil temperature
- ✓Let breaded tenders rest for 10 minutes before frying so egg proteins partially set and create stronger adhesion, reducing breading loss by up to 30% during cooking.timing10 minutes rest time