
Chicken Tenders Recipe
Each Chicken Tender provides 29g protein and 319 calories — a portion-controlled lunch that stacks cleanly with rice or vegetables. Quick-preps 12 servings on the stovetop, turning one cooking session into two weeks of lunch protein. Scales efficiently for high-volume meal prep without waste or repetitive cooking.
Ingredients
- •1 Tablespoon Kosher Salt (Plus 1/2 Teaspoon, Divided)
- •Paprika, Smoked(10g)
- •Onion powder(5g)
- •Garlic powder(5g)
- •Honey(15g)
- •Buttermilk, Cultured, Low-Fat(240g)
- •Chicken Breast, Boneless Skinless(680g)
Boneless skinless. Buy in bulk and freeze — Costco rotisserie packs work too.
- •Bread Crumbs, Panko, Dry(480g)
Plain dry bread crumbs. Panko works too but is lighter per cup.
- •Olive oil(30g)
Regular (not extra-virgin) olive oil for high-heat cooking. EVOO for dressings.
- •Egg Whites(908g)
Carton egg whites (e.g., Great Value, Eggland's Best) — no separating needed.
- •Mustard, Dijon(15g)
Dijon mustard — Grey Poupon or store brand. Spicier than yellow mustard.
- •Greek Yogurt (Nonfat)(120g)
Plain Greek yogurt — nonfat (0%) or low-fat (2%). Not regular yogurt.
- •Mustard, Dijon(30g)
Dijon mustard — Grey Poupon or store brand. Spicier than yellow mustard.
- •Honey(15g)
- •Pinch salt
Instructions
- 1For the Honey Mustard Chicken Tenders: In a large bowl, combine 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, and 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder in a large bowl. Add the buttermilk and honey and whisk until well combined. Add the chicken tenders, toss to coat, then let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. (Do not allow to sit longer, or the chicken will become too salty.)
- 2In a large, shallow dish (a 9x13-inch pan works well), combine the Panko breadcrumbs and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Drizzle the oil over the top, then toss to moisten.
- 3In a second shallow dish, whisk together the egg whites and mustard.
- 4Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil, then place an ovenproof wire rack on top of it. Coat the rack with cooking spray.
- 5Arrange the bowls in a line from left to right as follows: egg white dish; Panko breadcrumbs; baking sheet. Working with a few pieces of chicken at a time, with your left hand, remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any excess (this is the "wet" hand). Still with your left hand, dip the chicken into egg mixture, turning to coat all sides, then place in breadcrumb mixture. With your right hand (the "dry" hand), pat the chicken on all sides with the breadcrumbs, pressing them on lightly so that the chicken is well coated. Still with your dry hand, place the chicken on the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each. Repeat for remaining tenders.
- 6Bake the chicken until golden brown and the juices run clear, 15-20 minutes.
- 7While the chicken bakes, stir the dip ingredients together in a small bowl: Greek yogurt, Dijon, honey, and salt. Taste and add additional honey as desired. Serve chicken hot or at room temperature with the dip.
Nutrition — Per Serving
319
calories
29g
protein
7g
fat
- Carbohydrates
- 34g
- Saturated fat
- 1.4g
- Sodium
- 503 mg
- Dietary fiber
- 2.2g
12 servings per batch · ~213g each
Macro data sourced from USDA FoodData Central
AI Swap Engine
Set up your profile to enable swaps →Common questions
How much protein does Chicken Tenders Recipe have per serving?
Each serving contains 29g of protein and 319 calories, with 7g fat and 34g carbs providing balanced macros for a standard meal. This moderate protein-per-calorie ratio makes it a flexible option that works across different macro targets.
How long does Chicken Tenders Recipe take to prep?
Quick prep time on the stovetop with 12 servings per batch means you can prepare two weeks' worth of lunches in a single cooking session. The 12-serving yield is the largest batch size in this set, maximizing meal prep efficiency and time savings.
Is Chicken Tenders Recipe good for muscle gain?
At 29g protein per serving, you'd need to stack this with higher-protein options to meet muscle gain daily targets of 180-200g protein. The 34g carbs per serving do support workout performance, but the protein content is better suited as a component within a larger meal.



