Chicken Tenders with Greek Yogurt Ranch
These healthy baked chicken tenders can be enjoyed by both kids and grown-ups!
After a weekend filled with fried egg rolls with bacon and avocado and all-you-can-eat sushi along with these heavenly pizookies, it was time to make a more hearty and skinny-jean-bikini-friendly-dish. That’s where these chicken tenders come in.
At first glance, you could never guess that these babies are actually crusted with day-old whole wheat bread crumbs, baked (not fried) to crisp-perfection. They come together in a cinch, making it a perfect weeknight meal. Best of all, they’re kid-friendly and grown-up friendly too without tasting “healthy” at all! Plus, you could even indulge a bit more in a ranch sauce lightened up with Greek yogurt. Now who said healthy food doesn’t have to taste good?
Chicken Tenders with Greek Yogurt Ranch
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch strips
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
For the Greek Yogurt Ranch
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper, to taste; set aside in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Place a cooling rack inside a baking sheet and coat rack with cooking spray; set aside.
- Season chicken strips with salt and pepper, to taste.
- In a large bowl, combine bread crumbs, garlic and onion powder; set aside.
- Working one at a time, dredge chicken strips in the flour, dip into the eggs, then dredge in the bread crumbs mixture, pressing to coat.
- Place breaded chicken strips on top of prepared rack and lightly coat with cooking spray. Place into oven and bake for 8 minutes. Flip each strip over and lightly coat with cooking spray. Continue baking for 8-10 minutes, or until crisp and golden brown.
- Serve immediately with Greek yogurt ranch, if desired.
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Any way these can be made without the eggs? Any suggestions for another binding item, my daughter has an egg allergy. I’m thinking applesauce would not work well.
Donna, here is a great list of possible egg binding substitutes. Hope that helps!
https://onceamonthmeals.com/blog/series/kitchen-tips/egg-substitutes-for-cooking/
do you think it would work to make a large batch of these and then freeze them to eat later on?
Unfortunately, I cannot answer this with certainty as I have never tried freezing this myself – there were no leftovers left to freeze! Please use your best judgment for freezing and reheating.
Thank you so much for this recipe. I couldn’t find whole wheat bread crumbs so I bought organic wheat bread and cooked 5 pieces at 350 in the oven, let them cool in the oven and put them in my food processor, they turned out great.
These were excellent!! I didn’t have ww breadcrumbs so used halve panko and halve almond flour…. Crispy and delicious!! The dip mmmmmmm! Third recipe I have tried and third hit .. Thanks
Do you use unseasoned bread crumbs or seasoned?
Caiti, it is best to use whole wheat bread crumbs.
Another one of my favorites! So yummy!
I just finished making these now and the chicken turned out great but….OH MY GAWD.. the ranch dip is to DIE for! XD Had I known about this recipe a long time ago, I wouldn’t even buy the ones at the store! Even though it’s only 1 or 2 bottles a year but still, you know what I mean. Thank you, thank you so much for this recipe!
This recipe was awesome! My son, who is quite the connoisseur, nearly devoured the entire batch.
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