McDonald's invented chicken tenders in 1983 to compete with KFC, accidentally creating America's most-ordered kids menu item.
Healthier Classic Chicken Tenders
Get ready to savor a guilt-free twist on your favorite chicken tenders! These crispy delights are packed with protein and made even healthier by using whole grain breadcrumbs and a light oven bake for that perfect crunch without the extra calories. Dive into this deliciously satisfying recipe and enjoy a wholesome treat that the whole family will love!
Prep
15
min
Cook
16
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(1)
- Parsley (optional)optional
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 210g Chicken breast (0.46 lbs)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 1 Egg
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- All Purpose Flour
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Salt & Pepper
📦Other(1)
- 30g Korn Flakes (1.06 oz)may need more in the bowl, this is about the amount that sticks
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Take your tender strips and dip them in flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- 2
Then dip them in a little Egg-O-Mick whisk, and finally press them into some big cornflake chunks.
- 3
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F and cook for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- 4
Finally, top with some parsley and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Preheat your air fryer to exactly 380°F for 3-5 minutes before adding chicken because proper preheating creates immediate Maillard reactions that form the crispy exterior.equipment380°F, 3-5 minutes preheat
- ✓Crush cornflakes to 1/4-inch pieces maximum because larger pieces fall off during cooking while smaller pieces create a denser coating that blocks moisture escape.ingredient1/4-inch maximum
- ✓Press cornflake coating firmly for 10-15 seconds per tender to achieve 80% surface coverage, which prevents bare spots that lead to uneven browning.technique10-15 seconds, 80% coverage
- ✓Flip tenders at exactly 8 minutes to ensure even heat distribution, as air fryers create hot spots that can overcook one side by up to 15°F.timing8 minutes, 15°F temperature variance
- ✓Let beaten egg come to room temperature for 30 minutes because cold eggs don't adhere to flour coating properly, reducing breading retention by 25%.ingredient30 minutes, 25% retention loss
Share this recipe
Prep
15
min
Cook
16
min
Serves
4
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
McDonald's invented chicken tenders in 1983 to compete with KFC, accidentally creating America's most-ordered kids menu item.
Healthier Classic Chicken Tenders
Get ready to savor a guilt-free twist on your favorite chicken tenders! These crispy delights are packed with protein and made even healthier by using whole grain breadcrumbs and a light oven bake for that perfect crunch without the extra calories. Dive into this deliciously satisfying recipe and enjoy a wholesome treat that the whole family will love!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 4🥬Fresh Produce(1)
- Parsley (optional)optional
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 210g Chicken breast (0.46 lbs)
🥛Dairy & Eggs(1)
- 1 Egg
🫙Pantry Staples(1)
- All Purpose Flour
🧂Spices & Seasonings(3)
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Salt & Pepper
📦Other(1)
- 30g Korn Flakes (1.06 oz)may need more in the bowl, this is about the amount that sticks
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Take your tender strips and dip them in flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- 2
Then dip them in a little Egg-O-Mick whisk, and finally press them into some big cornflake chunks.
- 3
Preheat the air fryer to 380°F and cook for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- 4
Finally, top with some parsley and enjoy.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Preheat your air fryer to exactly 380°F for 3-5 minutes before adding chicken because proper preheating creates immediate Maillard reactions that form the crispy exterior.equipment380°F, 3-5 minutes preheat
- ✓Crush cornflakes to 1/4-inch pieces maximum because larger pieces fall off during cooking while smaller pieces create a denser coating that blocks moisture escape.ingredient1/4-inch maximum
- ✓Press cornflake coating firmly for 10-15 seconds per tender to achieve 80% surface coverage, which prevents bare spots that lead to uneven browning.technique10-15 seconds, 80% coverage
- ✓Flip tenders at exactly 8 minutes to ensure even heat distribution, as air fryers create hot spots that can overcook one side by up to 15°F.timing8 minutes, 15°F temperature variance
- ✓Let beaten egg come to room temperature for 30 minutes because cold eggs don't adhere to flour coating properly, reducing breading retention by 25%.ingredient30 minutes, 25% retention loss