Italian Chicken Tenders

These Italian Chicken Tenders are flavourful and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and 100% kid-approved! Made with seasoned Italian breadcrumbs to keep the flavour fresh, they’re baked instead of deep-fried for an easy, cleaner meal. Chicken tenders are a weeknight lifesaver for busy families, and when they’re homemade, golden and full of Italian flavour like these, they’re on a whole new level!

Italian Chicken Tenders on a platter, with sauces and side salad in background.

These seasoned chicken strips are perfect for little hands to dip, munch, and enjoy. Serve them with some steamed veg or your child’s favourite dipping sauce – my toddler loves these with tomato sauce of course!


Why you’ll love these Italian Chicken Tenders

These Italian Chicken Tenders are the ultimate kid-friendly meal, with a mild Italian seasoning and no spice. They’re make-ahead friendly too – you can bread them in advance and freeze for an easy family meal later on.

Since they’re oven-baked instead of fried, they’re a cleaner option for toddlers, kids and adults. And best of all, they’re full of flavour thanks to homemade breadcrumbs and a proper flour-egg-crumb coating.


Ingredients in Italian Chicken Tenders

You’ll need just a few simple ingredients to make these crispy Italian chicken strips:

Chicken tenderloins or breast – Use chicken tenderloins or slice chicken breast into evenly-sized strips. I like using thin pieces so they cook quickly and stay juicy.

Flour – Dredging the chicken in plain/all-purpose flour helps the egg and breadcrumbs stick, and gives you a great crunch once baked.

Egg – A light egg wash helps the breadcrumb coating bind well.

Garlic powder – Added to the egg wash for extra flavour.

Salt (optional) and pepper – For flavouring the egg wash. I leave the salt out when making for babies under 12 months, but a pinch can be added for older children and adults. 

Italian breadcrumbs – For the best flavour, I use my own blend of Italian breadcrumbs. You can use store-bought if needed, but homemade lets you skip the additives. If you can’t make or buy Italian breadcrumbs, then substitute with plain breadcrumbs mixed with Italian seasoning (see Note 1 in recipe card).

Parmesan cheese – Mixed with the breadcrumbs for extra flavour and crunch.

Olive oil spray – Just a light spray before baking helps the tenders crisp up in the oven without frying.

Italian Chicken Tenders labelled ingredients on a chopping board.

How to make Italian Chicken Tenders

Making these crispy baked chicken tenders is as easy as flour, egg, crumb, bake!

Scroll down to the recipe card below, to find exact ingredient amounts and full detailed steps. 

Step 1: Preheat your oven and line a baking tray with baking/parchment paper. 

Step 2: Pat dry the chicken pieces with clean paper towel.

Step 3: Set up a crumbing station. Put plain flour in one shallow bowl. Whisk together egg, water, garlic powder, salt (optional) and pepper in another bowl. Mix together breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in another shallow bowl. Line the bowls up in order: flour, egg, then breadcrumbs.

Step 3 of Chicken Tenders process, arranging ingredients for the crumbing station.

Step 4: Dredge and bread the chicken. Coat each chicken strip in flour, dip in egg, then press into the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated.

Step 4 of Chicken Tenders process, dredging the chicken pieces in flour and egg, then crumbing.

Step 5: Arrange the crumbed chicken strips on a baking tray. Spray with olive oil. Bake for 18-22 minutes, turning once and spraying again, until golden and cooked through.

Step 5 of Chicken Tenders process, arranging the chicken strips on a baking tray before spraying with olive oil.

Tips

  • Don’t skip the flour dredge – it helps the egg and breadcrumbs stick properly.
  • Use thin chicken breast strips or tenderloins so they cook evenly and stay juicy.
  • Spray the tenders with olive oil before baking, and when turning, for that perfect golden crunch.
Italian Chicken Tenders on a plate with dipping sauce and coleslaw on the side.

Serving ideas

These Italian Chicken Tenders are perfect as a finger food for babies, toddlers and older kids. Try them with:

  • A dollop of plain Greek yoghurt, tzatziki, bbq sauce or ketchup for dipping.
  • Steamed veggies or soft-roasted carrot sticks.
  • A side of pasta or couscous.
  • Inside a wrap or sandwich for older kids.

For babies/toddlers, serve the tenders whole, halved or sliced into fingers depending on age and developmental stage.

I happily serve these Italian chicken strips as a family meal, with roast potatoes and a light and creamy coleslaw. They definitely have enough flavour to satisfy the adults, as well as kids!

Italian Chicken Tenders on a plate, with one cut into smaller pieces for a toddler.

Storing

Let the chicken tenders cool completely before storing. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the oven at 200°C/400°F (180°C fan forced) for 10-12 minutes.

You can also freeze them before or after baking. If freezing unbaked, place crumbed tenders on a tray, freeze in a single layer, and then transfer to a labelled ziplock bag or container.

To cook unbaked from frozen, spray with oil and bake at 220°C/425°F (200°C fan forced) for 25–30 minutes. Be sure to turn them and spray with olive oil after the first 15 minutes. Continue baking until golden and cooked through – always check that pieces are hot in the centre.

Looking for another easy bake recipe that’ll please both kids and adults? Try these homemade chicken sausage rolls – they’re full of flavour, and vegetables! 😄

If you make these Italian Chicken Tenders, please leave a 🌟 star rating and a 📝 comment below. I love hearing how my recipes work for you and your family! Don’t forget to follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest too for more family-friendly dinner recipes. 

Happy cooking,

Chloe

Italian Chicken Tenders

Author: Chloe
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 22 minutes
Total: 32 minutes
Category: Family Mains, Finger Food
5 from 1 vote
Servings: 4
These Italian Chicken Tenders are flavourful and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside and 100% kid-approved! Made with seasoned Italian breadcrumbs to keep the flavour fresh, they’re baked instead of deep-fried for an easy, cleaner meal. Chicken tenders are a weeknight lifesaver for busy families, and when they’re homemade, golden and full of Italian flavour like these, they’re on a whole new level!

Ingredients 

  • 500 g chicken tenderloins or chicken breast sliced horizontally and into strips
  • 1/4 cup plain/all-purpose flour
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbs water
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1/8 tsp salt optional, for family over 12 months
  • 3/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs homemade or store-bought (Note 1)
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • olive oil spray for cooking

Instructions

  • Pre-heat oven to 220°C/425°F (200°C fan forced). Line a baking tray with grease proof/parchment paper.
  • Pat dry 500 g chicken tenderloins with clean paper towel.
  • Prepare three shallow plates/bowls in an assembly line. In one shallow plate, put 1/4 cup plain/all-purpose flour. In another shallow bowl, whisk together 1 egg, 1 tbs water, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp ground black pepper and 1/8 tsp salt. In another shallow plate, mix together 3/4 cup Italian breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.
  • Dredge the chicken in flour, shaking off the excess. Then dip the chicken into the egg wash to coat. Lift the chicken out of the egg wash and lay it onto the breadcrumbs. Cover, pat it and turn, pressing to coat the chicken well.
  • Arrange the crumbed chicken in the baking tray, so that the pieces aren’t overlapping. Spray generously with olive oil spray.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, then turn the chicken tenders and spray again with olive oil spray. Bake another 10-12 minutes until golden and cooked through.

Recipe Notes

1. Breadcrumbs – You can use store-bought or homemade seasoned breadcrumbs. If you can’t make or buy Italian breadcrumbs, then substitute with 3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs mixed with 1 tbs Italian seasoning.
2. Storage – Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days or freezer for up to 3 months. Be sure to practice food safety when storing, defrosting and/or reheating food.
3. Nutrition – Per serve, as a general guide only. Note that packaged seasoned breadcrumbs were used in the calculation.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 307kcalCarbohydrates: 23gProtein: 35gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.02gCholesterol: 126mgSodium: 658mgPotassium: 554mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 195IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 136mgIron: 2mg
Keywords: chicken tenders, Italian breadcrumb chicken, Italian chicken strips

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One Response

  1. 5 stars
    These chicken tenders are a new favourite easy dinner, especially when prepped ahead! They’re so tasty! Healthier than store bought too.

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Hello there! I’m Chloe, a mum, wife, lifelong learner, and teacher. I started this blog as a place to share our family’s baby and toddler recipes. Here you’ll find FREE recipes for busy, real, health-conscious families.