Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (2024)

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By: Oriana Romero/Published: /48 Comments

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There is nothing ho-hum about these Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders! This chicken has the same crispy, golden texture as the fried version. Plus, no greasy mess to clean up.

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Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (4)

Table of Contents hide

1.Why I Love This Recipe

2.Ingredients You’ll Need

3.Step By Step Recipe Photo Tutorial

4.Frequently Asked Questions

5.Quick Recipe Tips

7.More Recipes You’ll Love

8.Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders

Why I Love This Recipe

These Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders look amazing, tastes just like deep-fried fried chicken, and always cure my cravings. Plus, this recipe is straightforward to make.

Looking at these photos, you’ll swear this oven-fried chicken, lower in calories and fat but still crunchy and delicious, was made in the frying pan. Nope! They’re completely baked from start to finish. There’s absolutely no searing or frying here.

The chicken has the same crispy, golden texture as the real deal.

The chicken is soaked in buttermilk, which keeps it moist and juicy, and then rolled into a crunchy and tasty coating. Even though they are made with chicken breast, they are incredibly juicy and tender.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (5)

Ingredients You’ll Need

Amounts are included in the printable recipe below (scroll down).You’ll need:

  • Chicken breast: I use boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
  • Buttermilk: don’t have any? Here’s how to make your own buttermilk.
  • Cornflakes
  • Seasoned breadcrumbs: you can buy seasoned breadcrumbs or add your own seasoning of choice to plain breadcrumbs.
  • Seasoning: I use garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, and ground cayenne pepper.

Step By Step Recipe Photo Tutorial

Detailed instructions are included in the printable recipe below (scroll down).

1 – Prepare The Chicken

Use a sharp knife to trim the fat from the chicken breasts and cut it into tenders. Dip the chicken into buttermilk and let soak for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (6)

2 – Make the Breading

Place corn flakes, seasoned breadcrumbs, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper into a small food processor. Pulse until well combined.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (7)

3 – Bread the Chicken

Place breadcrumbs mixture in a shallow pan. Then dip each chicken piece into the breading mixture. Press down firmly so the breading sticks to the chicken.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (8)

4 – Bake the Chicken

Preheat oven to 450º F. Place the chicken on a lightly oiled pan; spray the top of the chicken well with cooking spray. Bake the chicken until done, about 30 minutes.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (9)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different cut of chicken?

You can use whatever cut of chicken you prefer. Just keep in mind that dark meat has more calories than white meat.

Can I make this in an air fryer?

You can make this healthier fried chicken in the air fryer! Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Cook for 13-15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through so they’re crispy on both sides. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

How do I reheat oven-fried chicken?

To keep the chicken crispy, reheat the chicken tenderloins in a 350ºF oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until warmed through.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (10)

Quick Recipe Tips

  • The cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of your chickenpieces. So make sure to check that the chicken is cooked through before you serve. The best way is to use a meat thermometer (170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and legs).
  • Don’t have regular breadcrumbs? Try panko breadcrumbs.
  • This baked crispy chicken is best enjoyed right away as it loses its crispness over time.
  • Leave space between the chicken breasts when placing it on the sheet pan. This way, the heat can reach all sides of the chicken to help it get extra crispy.

Storing & Freezing Instructions

If you have extra healthier oven-fried chicken, here’s how to store it.

Leftovers

Thesecrispy chicken tenderloins can be refrigerated for 3 days. Be sure to wrap it up tightly or store it in an airtight container.

Freeze

This eggless oven-fried chicken tender can also be frozen.

  • Baked Chicken Tenders: Let the chicken cool completely and then place them in a freezer plastic bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Unbaked Chicken Tenders: Arrange the breaded chicken tenders on a baking sheet and freeze until hard, 1 to 2 hours. Then, transfer to resealable freezer bags and freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to eat the frozen tender, generously spray the frozen chicken tenders all over with cooking spray. Arrange on the baking rack and bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy and cooked through.
Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (11)

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Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (12)

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders

There is nothing ho-hum about these Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders! The chicken has the same crispy, golden texture as the fried version. Plus, no greasy mess to clean up.

4.35 from 111 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 40 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 lb (450 g) chicken breast, boneless and skinless (about 2 -3 medium-size chicken breasts)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk
  • 1 cup (80 g) cornflakes
  • 1 cup (100 g) seasoned bread crumbs or panko (see notes)
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  • Use a sharp knife to trim the fat from the chicken breasts and cut it into tenders.

  • Dip the chicken into buttermilk and let soak for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight.

  • Place corn flakes, seasoned breadcrumbs, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper into a small food processor. Pulse until well combined.

OVEN:

  • Preheat oven to 450º F (230º C).

  • Place breadcrumbs mixture in a shallow pan. Then dip each chicken piece into the breading mixture. Press down firmly so the breading sticks to the chicken.

  • Place the chicken on a lightly oiled sheet pan; spray the top of the chicken well with olive oil spray.

  • Bake the chicken until done, about 30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through so they're crispy on both sides. NOTE: The cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of yourchickenpieces. The best way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer. The chicken will be done when it reaches 175º F. So make sure to check that the chicken is cooked through before you serve.

AIR FRYER:

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200º C).

  • Place the chicken in the basket, DO NOT crowd or overlap. You might need to do this in batches depending on the air fryer's capacity.

  • Cook for 13-15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through so they're crispy on both sides. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

Oriana’s Notes

Store: Thesechicken tenders can be refrigerated for 3 days.

Freeze:This eggless oven-fried chicken tender can also be frozen.

  • Baked Chicken Tenders: Let the chicken cool completely and then place them in a freezer plastic bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Unbaked Chicken Tenders: Arrange the breaded chicken tenders on a baking sheet and freeze until hard, 1 to 2 hours. Then, transfer to resealable freezer bags and freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to eat the frozen tender, generously spray the frozen chicken tenders all over with cooking spray. Arrange on the baking rack and bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy and cooked through.

Reheat: reheat the baked chicken tenders in a 350ºF (180º C)oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until warmed through.

Bread Crumbs Vs Panko: to make this recipe you can use either. I prefer to use Panko because it adds extra crispiness to the chicken tenders.

Quick Tips:

  • The cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of your chickenpieces. So make sure to check that the chicken is cooked through before you serve. The best way is to use a meat thermometer (170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and legs).
  • Don’t have regular breadcrumbs? Try panko breadcrumbs.
  • This baked crispy chicken is best enjoyed right away as it loses its crispness over time.
  • Leave space between the chicken breasts when placing it on the sheet pan. This way, the heat can reach all sides of the chicken to help it get extra crispy.

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!

Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate and it can vary depending on the products used.

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 31gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 648mgSugar: 5g

Rate This Recipe

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Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Calories 303

Keyword chicken easy eggfree Eggless fried healthy oven

Eggless Baking Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve asked, and I’ve answered! Read on for a handful of answers to the most frequently asked questions abouteggless baking.

FAQs

Originally posted in April 2016, photos were replaced in December 2019, and post content was edited to add more helpful information, no change to the recipe. The post was updated again in September 2021.

Welcome to my eggless kitchen!

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (13)Thanks for stopping by! I’m Oriana, a wife, mom to three wonderful kids, and a passionate baker and cooker of all eggless things delicious. My goal is to give you the confidence and knowledge to cook and bake without eggs while providing quality recipes that your whole family will love. I’m really happy that you’re here, so take a seat and have fun exploring! Read More…

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders Recipes (2024)

FAQs

How do you get batter to stick to chicken without eggs? ›

Editor: One option is just dipping the fish or chicken breast in melted butter before rolling it in the spices or coating, like we did in this Blackened Chicken recipe. You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first.

What can you use instead of eggs for frying chicken? ›

To make this egg substitute for frying, combine 1 tablespoon of flour with 2 tablespoons of water until the mixture is lump free. Mix in 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder and 1/8 teaspoon of salt if desired. Use this mixture as you would regular eggs when frying foods.

Should you fry chicken with egg or no egg? ›

To make the chicken coating stick without using eggs, you can dip the chicken pieces in a liquid such as oil or melted butter, then roll them in your desired coating mixture, such as breadcrumbs or seasoned flour. The oil or melted butter will act as the binding agent to help the coating adhere to the chicken.

How do you keep batter from falling off chicken tenders? ›

Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

What can I use for breading if I don't have eggs? ›

The typical three-step process is flour, eggs and then breadcrumbs. Instead of the egg, Moskowitz recommends a mix of cornstarch and water, which, when stirred together, forms a slurry. It, too, is an effective glue, and you may even notice more crispness to, say, your chicken parm.

Can you use milk instead of egg to batter chicken? ›

As long as you coat the cutlets in a layer of flour first, you can substitute milk in place of eggs for the next layer. The combination of flour and milk will create a sticky coating that breadcrumbs can adhere to.

What can I use as a binder instead of eggs for chicken? ›

This article explores the various ingredients that can be used as egg alternatives.
  • Applesauce. Applesauce is a purée made from cooked apples. ...
  • Mashed banana. ...
  • Ground flaxseeds or chia seeds. ...
  • Commercial egg replacer. ...
  • Silken tofu. ...
  • Vinegar and baking soda. ...
  • Yogurt or buttermilk. ...
  • Arrowroot powder.

Can I use mayo instead of eggs for breading? ›

There are more than a few reasons why mayo makes sense as a substitute for egg wash. Since they both share the same main ingredient (eggs), they function in very similar ways. Much like egg wash acts as a binding agent to help seasonings and breadcrumbs stick to meat, creamy mayonnaise also manages to do the same.

What is a good binder for fried chicken? ›

MUSTARD is the best binder🍤 I use it on shrimp, fish, and when making fried chicken.

What is a good egg substitute for chicken tenders? ›

What can I use as a substitute for eggs when frying chicken? There are several options you can use as an egg substitute when frying chicken. Some popular alternatives include buttermilk, yogurt, mayonnaise, milk, or even a simple flour-water mixture.

What is the one thing you should always do when making fried eggs? ›

High heat (not low heat) is best.

Do you need to dip chicken in egg before frying? ›

Using flour and egg to coat chicken before frying serves a dual purpose. The flour creates a crispy outer coating, while the egg helps the flour adhere to the chicken, resulting in a delicious and golden crust.

How do you keep fried chicken tenders from getting soggy? ›

Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

In much the same way, putting fried food on a cooling rack means the excess oil will drip off, but there's enough air circulating underneath the food that the bottoms don't get soggy.

How do you keep batter from sticking? ›

It's all about pan prep

Your goal is to prevent your cake from sticking by creating a barrier between batter and pan (e.g., parchment, nonstick spray, or shortening and flour) prior to adding cake batter.

Why is my batter not sticking when frying? ›

First, if the fryer oil temperature isn't at the right level, it won't keep the batter adhered to the food. That's because the batter is at a lower temperature than the oil in the fryer, which causes the batter to ooze off and not stick. When the oil is hot enough, it helps keep everything contained better.

How to make seasoning stick to chicken? ›

Seasoning skinless chicken is as straightforward as with any other cut of meat. Lightly drizzle olive oil over the chicken to act as a binder, sprinkle your seasoning on top, then gently press it in and let your chicken dry-marinate for about 45 minutes.

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