Oven Chicken Tenders

My kids loved these. They love fried chicken tenders, and wanted to have something similar at home. I will say that I don't really know how to use the broiler on my little oven here, so I couldn't get them super crisp, but broiling them at the end of cooking would surely crisp them up.  I want to mess around with the oven and try it for next time.  Although... setting the oven to one setting always makes the power go out in my whole house... lol... the joys of living overseas!!  The kids still loved these; they were so tender and good. 

Oven Chicken Tenders
Adapted from Carlsbad Cravings

Chicken:
10 chicken tenderloins (can use more)
1 cup buttermilk
1 cup flour
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup fine cornmeal
3 tablespoons butter

Spice Mixture:
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons chili powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon smoked paprika (may sub. regular)
1 teaspoon onion powder

1.  Mix Spices together in a small sealable bag. Add 1 tablespoon Spices, 1 cup buttermilk and chicken to a large freezer bag and marinate 6-24 hours. Store remaining spices.

2.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking tray with parchment paper (foil will NOT work because the chicken sticks to it). Add butter to baking tray and melt in oven while it preheats. Remove baking tray once butter is melted.

3.  Mix together flour, panko, cornmeal and remaining spices in a large bowl. Add half of this breading mixture to a large freezer bag. (Or a large pie plate or something simliar.)

4.  Remove chicken tenders from buttermilk and dab off excess marinade with paper towels.  Add half of the chicken to the breadcrumb bag and shake until well coated, pressing the breadcrumbs into the chicken with your fingers through the bag. (If you used a pie plate- just press each tender into the crumb mixture one by one.)  Lay breaded chicken in butter on baking tray. Add remaining breadcrumb mixture to bag along with remaining chicken and repeat.

5.  Bake at 400F degrees for 10-12 minutes until golden then carefully flip chicken and bake another 5 minutes then broil to desired crispiness. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

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