Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders Recipe
Crispy and flavorful Baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders served with a creamy garlic dip, fresh cos lettuce salad, and your choice of crispy fries. This easy-to-make recipe combines a crunchy panko coating seasoned with garlic and paprika, baked or air-fried to golden perfection, then topped with garlicky melted butter and Parmesan cheese for a delicious family-friendly meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Dipping Sauce
- 125 g mayonnaise
- 90 g Greek yoghurt or sour cream
- ½ tsp freshly minced garlic
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 1 tbsp finely chopped chives
- ¼ tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Breadcrumb Coating
- 90 g panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tsp sea salt flakes
- ½ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 75 g plain (all-purpose) flour
- 2 eggs, whisked
Chicken
- 600 g chicken tenderloins (tenders) or sliced boneless, skinless breast
- Olive oil spray, for cooking
Garlic Butter Topping
- 50 g unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp freshly minced garlic
- ¼ tsp sea salt flakes
- 1 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
- 25 g freshly grated parmesan (for sprinkling after baking)
Cos Salad
- 1 large cos (romaine) lettuce, cut into strips
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- ½ tsp sea salt flakes
- ¼ tsp freshly cracked black pepper
To Serve
- Air fryer chips, crispy oven fries or freezer fries
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat the oven or air fryer: For the oven, preheat to 220°C (425°F) (200°C fan/400°F fan-forced) and let it heat for 10–15 minutes after reaching temperature to ensure it is fully hot for crisp chicken. For the air fryer, preheat to 200°C (400°F) for 3 minutes.
- Make the dipping sauce: In a small bowl, combine mayonnaise, Greek yoghurt or sour cream, minced garlic, lemon juice, chopped parsley, chives, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper. Mix until smooth and set aside.
- Prepare the crumb: In a shallow bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder, sweet paprika, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper. Place the plain flour in another bowl and the whisked eggs in a third bowl.
- Coat the chicken: Dust each chicken tender in flour, dip into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko breadcrumbs, pressing firmly to help the crumbs adhere.
- Bake or air fry the chicken: For the oven, arrange the coated chicken on a lightly oiled rack over a baking tray or on a heavily oiled tray. Space pieces evenly and spray the tops with olive oil. Bake for 16–18 minutes, flipping once halfway and spraying with oil again, until golden and cooked through. Do not exceed 22 minutes to avoid drying. For the air fryer, spray the basket with oil, place chicken in a single layer, and spray tops evenly. Cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway and spraying again, until crisp and golden. Do not exceed 18 minutes to maintain juiciness.
- Make the garlic butter: In a small bowl, combine melted unsalted butter, freshly minced garlic, sea salt flakes, and chopped parsley.
- Finish the chicken: Immediately after cooking, brush the hot chicken tenders generously with the garlic butter mixture, then sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan cheese so it melts slightly and adheres to the coating.
- Make the cos salad: Toss the lettuce strips with extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, sea salt flakes, and freshly cracked black pepper just before serving to keep it fresh.
- Serve: Present the chicken tenders with the prepared dipping sauce, cos salad, your choice of fries (air fryer chips, oven fries, or freezer fries), and lemon wedges for squeezing.
Notes
- Preheating the oven fully is crucial for achieving a crispy coating on the chicken tenders.
- Do not overbake or over-air fry the chicken to prevent it from drying out; monitor the cooking time carefully.
- The garlic butter and Parmesan finishing step adds rich flavor and an appealing cheesy crust.
- Use fresh herbs and lemon juice in the dipping sauce and salad for bright, fresh flavors that complement the rich chicken.
- For extra crispiness, use a wire rack when baking in the oven to allow heat to circulate evenly around the chicken.
