Chicken tenders are a go-to in our house, with the kiddos asking for them on the regular. Admittedly, the hubby and I enjoy them, too, but the standard chicken tender can get a little old after a while. Looking for a way to literally spice things up, I came up with this everything seasoning chicken tenders recipe and it’s been a game-changer!
These elevated chicken tenders channel all of that everything spice flavor that we are all in love with on bagels. Plus, the panko bread crumbs add a level of sophistication with the light crunchiness they bring to the table. Trust me — after trying a ton of versions of chicken tenders, I’m confident this one will be a hit with everyone in your house!
Why You’ll Love These Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders
Crispy chicken tenders coated in a combination of panko breadcrumbs and flavorful everything seasoning- what’s not to love!
- Your favorite bagel in dinner form – The flavor of the everything bagel that we all know and love is carried over into this dinner favorite.
- Loved by kids and adults – Chicken tenders are loved by kids of all ages, but this elevated version is loved by adults too!
- Simple ingredients – Every ingredient on this list is super easy to find at your local grocery store.
Ingredients
With a few simple ingredients and a bunch of spices you may already have on hand, these chicken tenders are easy to toss together any time!
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (or Chicken Tenderloin Pieces) – While lean, this cut of chicken is still tender and juicy.
- Large Eggs – Eggs are one of the ingredients that help the seasonings and breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken.
- Mayonnaise – Mayonnaise adds moisture which helps the tenders to remain juicy.
- Flour – Flour helps create a light and crispy coating on the chicken tenders.
- Onion Powder – This simple seasoning adds depth to the blend.
- Garlic Powder – I’m all about garlicky flavor, and this helps add more to the mix.
- Coarse Kosher Salt – Salt helps to enhance the other flavors in the seasoning blend.
- Smoked Paprika – This version of paprika adds a signature smoky flavor to the tenders.
- Everything Bagel Seasoning – This seasoning is the star of the show, adding a fun and funky combination of spices to the blend.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – These help to create a perfectly light and crunchy coating.
- Dipping Sauce– No matter what you are looking for, we have the best sauces for chicken.
How to Make Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders
Get ready for some serious flavor that only takes a few minutes to prepare!
- Prepare chicken. Slice the chicken into evenly sized strips.
- Make egg wash. Add the eggs, mayo, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and paprika to a bowl and stir until it becomes pasty.
- Make breading. Add the panko and everything seasoning to another bowl or dish.
- Coat chicken. Coat the chicken slices with the mayonnaise mixture before dredging them through the panko crumbs and placing them on a prepared baking sheet.
- Bake. Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for the recommended time, flipping halfway through.
- Allow to rest. Once the chicken has reached the recommended internal temperature, remove the pan from the oven. Allow the chicken to rest briefly before serving.
What to Serve With Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders
I can’t help but start off with all of the dipping sauces that these tenders pair well with! They’re absolutely delicious with anything from honey mustard sauce, ranch, and chipotle ketchup to Chinese hot mustard, honey sriracha, or tiger sauce. Plus, they’re amazing with any type of BBQ sauce!
If you’re looking for other dishes to serve chicken tenders with, I love serving them with, or over top of, a simple side salad or kale salad. They’re also fantastic as part of a party spread with other appetizers like bacon ranch chicken pinwheels, cheesy loaded tater tots, and chile relleno bites.
Variations
There’s no shortage of ways to shake things up with this easy recipe!
- Protein – Instead of chicken breasts or tenderloin pieces, you can use other proteins such as turkey breast, pork loin, or even firm tofu for a vegetarian option.
- Seasonings – You can experiment with different seasonings to customize the flavor of the chicken tenders. Some options include Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, curry powder, or ranch seasoning mix. Or, make your own creative seasoning blend!
- Mayonnaise – Swap out the mayonnaise for Greek yogurt or sour cream.
- Flour – For a gluten-free option, you can use almond flour, coconut flour, or a gluten-free flour blend in place of traditional wheat flour.
- Spices – You can add other spices such as cumin, chili powder, paprika, or turmeric to the seasoning mix for extra flavor.
- Salt – Instead of coarse kosher salt, you can use sea salt, Himalayan pink salt, or flavored salts such as garlic salt or lemon pepper salt.
- Breadcrumbs – Substitute alternative coatings such as crushed cornflakes, crushed crackers, or crushed nuts for some or all of the panko.
- Cooking Method – Instead of baking, you can air fry the chicken tenders or cook them in a skillet.
Storage and Freezing
Once the chicken has cooled to room temperature, you can refrigerate or freeze them — that is, if you actually have leftovers of these tasty tenders!
Want chicken tenders all week to snack on alone or to toss on a salad? No problem! They store well so they’re perfect for meal prep.
How to Store Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders
Store chicken tenders in a resealable storage bag and place in the refrigerator for three to four days.
Can I Freeze Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders?
Wrap chicken tenders tightly in plastic wrap, place them in a resealable freezer bag, and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Common Questions about Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders
They do not taste the same. Chicken thighs have a bit more fat and therefore often have a more rich flavor than chicken breasts.
Chicken thighs can be a good alternative to chicken breasts. While the flavor differs slightly, chicken thighs are a close substitute and they can sometimes be more affordable.
While dark meat may cook a bit more slowly than white meat, there’s more to consider than the type of meat. You’ll want to consider if there are bones in the cut and the size, as well.
More Flavorful Chicken Dishes
Chicken dinners don’t have to be boring! Here are a few of our favorites that we know you’ll love too.
Baked Caesar Chicken Recipe
Crock Pot White Chicken Chili Recipe
Szechuan Chicken Recipe
Everything Seasoning Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (or chicken tenderloin pieces)
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 2 tablespoons everything bagel seasoning
- 1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Cut each piece of chicken into chicken strips about 2/3 of an inch thick. Try to make pieces uniform size so they cook evenly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, mayonnaise, flour, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and paprika until it makes a creamy paste.
- In a separate shallow dish or dredging pan, combine the panko and everything seasoning.
- Dredge each piece of chicken in the mayonnaise mixture and then the panko breadcrumbs, pressing the crumbs into the chicken and tapping off the excess. Place the chicken onto the prepared baking sheet and repeat with remaining chicken strips.
- Bake for 7 minutes. Remove and flip each piece of chicken. Return to the oven for another 7 minutes or until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
Nutrition
Great recipe for chicken tenders. We make them regularly and our kids love them. Thanks for sharing.
Quick, easy and flavorful. Looks soft, moist and juicy too. My kids would love this dish. Definitely going to be my weekend special.
The seasoning added a delicious mix of flavors and gave the tenders a nice crunch. It was easy to make and a great way to switch up traditional chicken tenders.
Sounds delicious – I’ll have to look in wholefoods to see if we can get everything bagel seasoning here!
These flavors are fantastic! Never thought of having them on chicken tenders, but now I want it all the time!