This easy homemade chicken tenders recipe is a favorite for kids as well as adults! My Almond Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders make the perfect quick fix snack or light dinner recipe!
If you love chicken recipes like we do, try our Pesto Ranch Crock Pot Chicken Thighs.
Homemade Chicken Tenders
You are in for such a treat with my Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders! My kids go nuts when I make them homemade chicken tenders. With back to school season here, I am always looking for quick and simple dinners! They could not be easier to prepare, and chicken tenders cook up quickly in a nice hot skillet. There’s no flour, no double dipping with messy fingers which is always a plus. This recipe is gluten free too!
Try my Crispy Sriracha Chicken Tenders too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
What You’ll Need
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make homemade chicken tenders at home. See the recipe card located at the bottom of the post for full details.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil– You’ll use olive oil to cook the chicken tenders in a hot skillet or pan.
- Raw Chicken Tenders– Look for the chicken tenders in the meat department. Often times it’s near the chicken breast and other chicken pieces.
- Almond Meal– Almond meal is ground almonds in a fine powder like consistency. Check for almond meal in the baking section of the grocery store. I’ve ordered it on Amazon as well if it’s hard to find.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese– Parmesan cheese adds the perfect flavor to the chicken tenders with the almond meal. You can grate your own Parmesan or find it already grated in the grocery store.
- Kosher Salt– Kosher salt is a more coarse salt. I prefer it in my cooking and baking.
- Black Pepper- Use fresh cracked pepper from a pepper mill for best taste.
- Dipping Sauces– Use your favorite dipping sauces for the chicken tenders. Ketchup, mustard, ranch dressing, even barbecue sauce.
How To Make Chicken Tenders
Heat Oil. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Prepare Dry Ingredients In Shallow Dish. Place ground almonds, Parmesan, salt and pepper into a shallow dish, stirring to combine. (If you have whole almonds on hand like we did, you can grind them in a powerful blender. We used our Blendtec.)
Coat Chicken. Press each side of chicken tenders into almond Parmesan mixture, gently shaking off any excess.
Cook Tenders. Place coated chicken strips into hot saute pan. Cook each side for about 3 minutes, until cooked through and browned.
Serve. Remove strips from skillet and let cool on a baking rack or paper towel lined plate. Serve warm with your favorite chicken strip dips. My boys enjoy ketchup, Ranch dressing, mustard and honey.
Can I Use Other Chicken Parts?
You can use chicken breast and even chicken thighs with this recipe. Adjust your cooking time accordingly. Coat both sides of the chicken tenders in the almond coating.
Recipe Tips For Success
- Use Good Ingredients. Make sure you have fresh almond meal and good quality chicken and Parmesan for best tasting results.
- Preheat Pan. To get your tenders nice and crispy on the outsides make sure your pan is hot before cooking them.
- Use A Serving Basket For Fun Display. Arrange your cooked tenders in a “bread type” basket lined with parchment paper
- Have A Variety of Sauces. Offer a nice variety of dipping sauces for your guests such as Ranch Dressing, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, ketchup and salsa to name a few.
The Secret To Making Perfect Chicken Tenders
The almond meal makes for a perfect, tender and flavorful chicken tender!
How To Serve
Serve your homemade chicken tenders warm with your favorite dipping sauces. They’re great on their own for dinner or perfect appetizers too.
How To Store Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat as needed.
Try More Chicken Tender Recipes
Almond Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- Stove
- Large Skillet/Fry Pan
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- fork for handling chicken
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1 1/2 cups ground almonds or almond meal
- 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Place ground almonds, Parmesan, salt and pepper into a shallow dish, stirring to combine. (If you have whole almonds on hand like we did, you can grind them in a powerful blender. We used our Blendtec.)
- Place coated chicken strips into hot saute pan. Cook each side for about 3 minutes, until cooked through and browned. Remove strips from skillet and let cool on a baking rack or paper towel lined plate. Serve warm with your favorite chicken strip dips. My boys enjoy ketchup, yogurt Ranch, mustard and honey.
Nutrition
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Woooow It looks amazing,, well done dear 🙂
Thanks a lot for the recipe, Inshallah I’ll try it very soon 🙂
Jenny, we made these over the weekend and LOVED them. I will always coat chicken with ground almonds from now on – (I used freshly ground). It’s incredible!
Homemade chicken tenders are a good thing and always a family favorite.
Super idea ! I love almonds, I’ll try that for sure !
LOVE this preparation for chicken ~ it’s truly amazing all the ways to use blanched almond flour 🙂
Jenny- Made this and coated them well, but once in the sauté pan, the almond parmesan coating wouldn’t seem to stick to the tenders. any tips for next time? thanks!
Hmmm, weird Elizabeth. I didn’t have that problem. Did you use a stainless steel pan or non stick?
a stainless steel non-stick!
Yum yum! Can we bake the chicken? If so, how long and at what temperature?
Thanks.
For chicken strips, I would bake at 350 for about 20 min or until chicken is cooked through. I’d love to hear if baking works for you. 🙂
I love your idea…so healthy!! Would your recipe work in the oven? Perhaps I could coat the chicken and then bake at 350 degrees for 30 mins?
Kristin, Yes on the 350 degrees but I would check the chicken at 20 min to make sure it’s cooked through then.
This looks sooooooo yummy!
Super smart, Jenny!! Thanks for the reminder that I am all out of almond flour…
Mmm, that looks really good! I never buy chicken tenders, but I bet my kids would like me too.
This looks so easy – I am overflowing with almonds so it will be a fun way to incorporate them into a meal. My roommate is deterred by cute serving baskets for some reason.. I’ll tell her to get over it because it’s such a fun idea!
How funny. Just serve the chicken on a white paper plate to your roommate. 🙂
This will definitely be for dinner this week!
such a great weeknight meal 🙂
Ooh almond crusted, that sounds fancy! Can’t wait to try these!
Chicken tender were a favorite as a kid, so they are still a favorite as a adult! I can’t wait to make these – thanks! 🙂
I’m so excited to find your website. I have two 11 year-old-nephews coming to visit for two weeks, and I want to feed them well.
Personally, I have multiple allergies, so that’s also a consideration. This recipe is ideal. The almond meal makes this gluten free, and if I use sheep Pecarino Romano cheese I’ll be able to do the “dairy”. And the “chicken strip” idea will be easy on the kids.
What a great idea!! I can’t wait to try them them. Now I can use my almond meal for something other than macarons :p
OMG, these sound so delicious, and sooo easy. I shared on my Fantabulosity Facebook Page, and “pinned,” it. I can’t wait to make them! Thank you for sharing!
These chicken tenders sound so good. We try to stay away from fried foods. Have you tried baking them in the oven?
I understand what you’re saying about the fried foods but this is pan fried in Olive Oil, which many say is one of the best oils you can have. You do have to be careful you don’t overheat the Olive Oil. So, we don’t consider these deep “fried food”, but yes baking will work also. Let us know if it works for you. Thanks for the question!!
Have you tried using coconut oil instead of olive oil? Its my new addiction! One of my favorites is chicken tenders dipped in egg white then panko, and pan fry in a small amount of coconut oil till crispy….the best part? Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the cooked chicken…SNORT! 🙂 I want to try this one, I love almond meal (from my homemade almond milk…can ya tell I’m a newbie at this?
beautiful timing Jenny! My kids will love these and they are easy for me as school starts again!
Flavorful and quick chicken dish. Nice idea to coat the chicken tenders with almond and Parmesan, for sure everybodie’s favorite.
My kids will love this! Pinned!
What a simple yet gorgeous meal for the family.
I really like the use of the almond coating!
This sound delicious! Im sure the ground almonds add wonderful texture
This looks SO good! I love the almond crusted on it, so different!
Love this idea! Something both the kids and adults would love!
I want some!
Delicious! The kiddos would love these!
I’m in for these!!! Yum!!!
Oh, these chicken tenders look fabulous! I so need to make these!
I can’t wait to make these for Caleb!
They look delicious and simple. I love chicken tenders. Will try soon!
Homemade chicken tenders with almond meal are SUCH a good idea. A little more nutritious and even more delicious 🙂
They look so crispy!! I love cheese coated chicken finger and the almond meal makes them totally healthy! Score! My family would go crazy for these!