Baked Chicken Tenders

By Brittany Mullins

4.73

120

Published Aug 27, 2021, Updated Jan 14, 2025

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These baked chicken tenders are coated in almond flour or meal, shredded coconut and a blend of spices. They’re absolutely delicious and perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce.

I feel like most adults deem chicken tenders as a kids food. But I’m a big fan of chicken tenders! They’re super flavorful, crispy and can be eaten on their own or in a variety of ways.

Overhead shot of baked chicken tenders on 2 plates with dipping sauce.

Instead of using traditional bread crumbs for breading, I made these baked chicken tenders paleo and grain-free by using almond meal. My family is hooked on this simple dinner!

Ingredients measured out to make baked chicken tenders: cayenne pepper, almond meal, egg, chicken, coconut flakes, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.

Here’s What You Need

boneless skinless chicken breast – cut into strips. You can also buy pre-cut chicken tenders but they’re usually more expensive and it’s easy to slice a chicken breast into strips!
egg – to bind the almond meal to the chicken.
almond meal – the base of the breading! I typically use almond meal, but you can definitely use almond flour instead. You’ll mix spices into the almond meal or flour to make it extra flavorful.
unsweetened shredded coconut – to add flavor and crunch to the breading! If you’re not a big coconut fan, you can just use more almond meal.
spices – a delicious combination of paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, sea salt and pepper.

tip!
Bake these chicken tenders on a baking sheet with a wire rack. The wire rack will result in a crispier texture!

Side by side photos. The first is of coconut, almond flour and spices in a bowl. The second photo is a bowl of whisked egg and a bowl of the whisked almond flour mixtire.

Overhead shot of chicken tenders on a baking sheet.

Dip Pairings

You can’t have chicken tenders without dipping sauce, right?! Here are some of our favorites:

What to Serve Baked Chicken Tenders With

Like I mentioned earlier, these baked chicken tenders are actually pretty versatile! Here are some ways to serve them:

As a full meal – Eat them on their own with a delicious dip and vegetable fries – my favorites are baked zucchini fries or baked sweet potato fries!
On a salad – Top a salad with crispy chicken tenders! The options are endless here – swap any protein out for these chicken tenders or add them to a side salad like this strawberry spinach salad for a complete meal.
In a wrap – Make a wrap by adding greens, any extra veggies, chicken tenders and a sauce. Lunch on the go!
As a side – Make a pot of vegan mac and cheese or healthy mac and cheese and serve chicken tenders on the side.

Overhead shot of a serving platter with baked chicken tenders.

How to Store Baked Chicken Tenders

Leftover chicken tenders store really well! After allowing them to cool, store in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To reheat, I like to pop them in the conventional oven or toaster oven for a few minutes so they crisp back up!

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4.73 from 62 votes