Description

Crispy, golden, and cheesy chicken tenders made with pantry staples for under $2 per serving. A quick, budget-friendly weeknight dinner that uses simple ingredients like chicken breast, flour, eggs, and Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 600g / 1.3 lbs)
½ cup all-purpose flour (60g)
2 large eggs (100g)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (50g)
1 cup plain dried breadcrumbs (100g)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
2–3 tbsp vegetable or canola oil

Instructions

Trim excess fat from chicken breasts. If thick, slice horizontally to create thinner cutlets, then cut into 1-inch wide strips. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, mix flour with half of the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
In the second bowl, whisk eggs with a splash of water and the remaining spices.
In the third bowl, mix breadcrumbs with grated Parmesan cheese.
Dredge each chicken strip in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip into the egg wash, letting excess drip off. Press firmly into the breadcrumb-Parmesan mixture to coat evenly.
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat until a breadcrumb sizzles immediately upon hitting the surface.
Place 4-5 tenders in the skillet without overcrowding. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side until golden brown.
Flip tenders and cook for another 3-4 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
Remove from pan and place on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.

Notes

Pat chicken dry before breading to ensure the coating sticks. Do not overcrowd the pan to maintain crispiness. For extra crunch, add a tablespoon of cornstarch to the flour. These can be frozen raw after breading and cooked from frozen by adding 2-3 minutes to cooking time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 4 tenders
Calories: 380
Sodium: 450
Fat: 18
Carbohydrates: 20
Fiber: 1
Protein: 35

Keywords: budget meals, chicken tenders, parmesan chicken, quick dinner, cheap meals, crispy chicken, weeknight dinner, meal prep