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Crispy baked chicken tenders topped with chopped parsley on a tray.

Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders with Tahini Ranch

Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders with Tahini Ranch are my Mediterranean spin on the one dinner that makes everyone at the table happy. Cornflake-crusted chicken with Parmigiano Reggiano in the crumbs gets baked on a wire rack until properly crunchy, then dunked in a creamy tahini ranch loaded with dill, chives, and lemon!
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Keyword: Chicken Tenders
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 5
Calories: 421kcal
Author: Lola Jay

Ingredients

Chicken tenders

  • 2.5 lbs chicken breasts
  • Olive oil spray

Seasoned flour

Cornflake crust

  • 4 cups plain cornflakes crushed
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 3 large eggs beaten

Tahini ranch

  • 1 cup tahini
  • ¼ cup full fat Greek yogurt
  • ½ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ⅓ cup water plus more as needed
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 small garlic clove grated
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions 

Prep

  • Preheat the oven to 375F. Set a wire rack on a sheet pan and lightly spray the rack with olive oil spray so the tenders do not stick.
    Olive oil spray
  • Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally, then slice each half in half again lengthwise into thick strips. Try to keep the strips about the same thickness so they cook evenly.
    2.5 lbs chicken breasts

Set up the breading station

  • Add the chicken to a large bowl with the flour, onion powder, garlic powder, basil, and salt. Toss until every strip is lightly coated, then shake off the excess flour.
    1 cup all purpose flour, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp dried basil, 1 tsp salt
  • Crush the cornflakes in a zip bag with a rolling pin until you have a mix of coarse crumbs and some larger flakes. Pour into a shallow dish and stir in the Parmigiano Reggiano, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Beat the eggs in a separate shallow dish.
    4 cups plain cornflakes, ⅓ cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, ½ tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp paprika, 3 large eggs

Bread and bake

  • Dip each floured strip into the egg, let the excess drip off, then press firmly into the cornflake mixture, turning to coat every side. Place on the wire rack with space between each tender.
  • Spray the tops generously with olive oil spray until no dry cornflakes remain. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until the crust is deep golden and the thickest piece reads 165F on an instant read thermometer.

Make the tahini ranch

  • While the tenders bake, whisk the tahini, lemon juice, and water together until smooth. It may look thick at first, so keep whisking and add a splash more water if needed. Whisk in the Greek yogurt, olive oil, grated garlic, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir in the chives, dill, and parsley, then season with salt and pepper. Taste and adjust lemon and salt. It should be creamy, tangy, and pourable.
    1 cup tahini, ¼ cup full fat Greek yogurt, ½ cup fresh lemon juice, ⅓ cup water, 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, 1 small garlic clove, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives, 1 tbsp chopped fresh dill, 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, Salt and black pepper to taste

Serve

  • Serve the tenders hot with the tahini ranch on the side for dunking.
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Notes

Nutrition facts are only estimates. Estimates are for the tenders only. 
Storage
Store leftover tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 375F for 5 to 6 minutes or in the oven at 400F on a wire rack for 8 to 10 minutes so the crust crisps back up. Skip the microwave, which makes the coating soft. Cooked tenders also freeze well for up to 2 months in a single layer in a zip lock bag, and reheat from frozen at 375F until hot and crisp. Store the tahini ranch separately in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 57g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 248mg | Sodium: 876mg | Potassium: 945mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 462IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 3mg
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