There is nothing ho-hum about these Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders! This chicken has the same crispy, golden texture as the fried version. Plus, no greasy mess to clean up.  

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders garnished with chopped cilantro

Why I Love This Recipe

These Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders look amazing, tastes just like deep-fried fried chicken, and always cure my cravings. Plus, this recipe is straightforward to make.

Looking at these photos, you’ll swear this oven-fried chicken, lower in calories and fat but still crunchy and delicious, was made in the frying pan. Nope! They’re completely baked from start to finish. There’s absolutely no searing or frying here.

The chicken has the same crispy, golden texture as the real deal.

The chicken is soaked in buttermilk, which keeps it moist and juicy, and then rolled into a crunchy and tasty coating. Even though they are made with chicken breast, they are incredibly juicy and tender.

Close up of healthy Skinny Oven Fried Chicken in a plate.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Amounts are included in the printable recipe below (scroll down). You’ll need:

  • Chicken breast: I use boneless and skinless chicken breasts.
  • Buttermilk: don’t have any? Here’s how to make your own buttermilk.
  • Cornflakes
  • Seasoned breadcrumbs: you can buy seasoned breadcrumbs or add your own seasoning of choice to plain breadcrumbs.
  • Seasoning: I use garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, and ground cayenne pepper.

Step By Step Recipe Photo Tutorial

Detailed instructions are included in the printable recipe below (scroll down).

1 – Prepare The Chicken

Use a sharp knife to trim the fat from the chicken breasts and cut it into tenders.  Dip the chicken into buttermilk and let soak for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. 

Chicken marinating in buttermilk.

2 – Make the Breading

Place corn flakes, seasoned breadcrumbs, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper into a small food processor. Pulse until well combined.

Breading ingredients in a food processor.

3 – Bread the Chicken

Place breadcrumbs mixture in a shallow pan. Then dip each chicken piece into the breading mixture. Press down firmly so the breading sticks to the chicken.

Chicken breasts being breaded.

4 – Bake the Chicken

Preheat oven to 450º F. Place the chicken on a lightly oiled pan; spray the top of the chicken well with cooking spray. Bake the chicken until done, about 30 minutes.

Sheet pan with breaded chicken breasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a different cut of chicken?

You can use whatever cut of chicken you prefer. Just keep in mind that dark meat has more calories than white meat.

Can I make this in an air fryer?

You can make this healthier fried chicken in the air fryer! Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken in the basket in a single layer (cook in batches if needed). Cook for 13-15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through so they’re crispy on both sides. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

How do I reheat oven-fried chicken?

To keep the chicken crispy, reheat the chicken tenderloins in a 350ºF oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until warmed through.

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders garnished with lemon wedges.

Quick Recipe Tips

  • The cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of your chicken pieces. So make sure to check that the chicken is cooked through before you serve. The best way is to use a meat thermometer (170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and legs).
  • Don’t have regular breadcrumbs? Try panko breadcrumbs.
  • This baked crispy chicken is best enjoyed right away as it loses its crispness over time.
  • Leave space between the chicken breasts when placing it on the sheet pan. This way, the heat can reach all sides of the chicken to help it get extra crispy.

Storing & Freezing Instructions

If you have extra healthier oven-fried chicken, here’s how to store it.

Leftovers

These crispy chicken tenderloins can be refrigerated for 3 days. Be sure to wrap it up tightly or store it in an airtight container.

Freeze

This eggless oven-fried chicken tender can also be frozen.

  • Baked Chicken Tenders: Let the chicken cool completely and then place them in a freezer plastic bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Unbaked Chicken Tenders:  Arrange the breaded chicken tenders on a baking sheet and freeze until hard, 1 to 2 hours. Then, transfer to resealable freezer bags and freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to eat the frozen tender, generously spray the frozen chicken tenders all over with cooking spray. Arrange on the baking rack and bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy and cooked through.
Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders on a black plate

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Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders on a black plate

Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders

There is nothing ho-hum about these Eggless Oven Fried Chicken Tenders! The chicken has the same crispy, golden texture as the fried version. Plus, no greasy mess to clean up.  
4.35 from 112 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
 

Important

Don’t forget to check out the step-by-step photos above in the post—they’ll guide you through the process and make everything super clear!

Instructions
 

  • Use a sharp knife to trim the fat from the chicken breasts and cut it into tenders.
  • Dip the chicken into buttermilk and let soak for at least 30 minutes or up to overnight. 
  • Place corn flakes, seasoned breadcrumbs, garlic powder, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper into a small food processor. Pulse until well combined.

OVEN:

  • Preheat oven to 450º F (230º C).
  • Place breadcrumbs mixture in a shallow pan. Then dip each chicken piece into the breading mixture. Press down firmly so the breading sticks to the chicken.
  • Place the chicken on a lightly oiled sheet pan; spray the top of the chicken well with olive oil spray.
  • Bake the chicken until done, about 30 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through so they're crispy on both sides. NOTE: The cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of your chicken pieces. The best way to check for doneness is to use a meat thermometer. The chicken will be done when it reaches 175º F. So make sure to check that the chicken is cooked through before you serve.

AIR FRYER:

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200º C).
  • Place the chicken in the basket, DO NOT crowd or overlap. You might need to do this in batches depending on the air fryer's capacity.
  • Cook for 13-15 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through so they're crispy on both sides. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Oriana’s Notes
 
Store: These chicken tenders can be refrigerated for 3 days.
Freeze: This eggless oven-fried chicken tender can also be frozen.
  • Baked Chicken Tenders: Let the chicken cool completely and then place them in a freezer plastic bag and freeze for up to 2 months.
  • Unbaked Chicken Tenders:  Arrange the breaded chicken tenders on a baking sheet and freeze until hard, 1 to 2 hours. Then, transfer to resealable freezer bags and freeze for up to 1 month. When ready to eat the frozen tender, generously spray the frozen chicken tenders all over with cooking spray. Arrange on the baking rack and bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy and cooked through.
Reheat: reheat the baked chicken tenders in a 350ºF (180º C) oven for 10 to 15 minutes, or until warmed through.
Bread Crumbs Vs Panko: to make this recipe you can use either. I prefer to use Panko because it adds extra crispiness to the chicken tenders. 
Quick Tips:
  • The cooking time will depend on the thickness and size of your chicken pieces. So make sure to check that the chicken is cooked through before you serve. The best way is to use a meat thermometer (170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and legs).
  • Don’t have regular breadcrumbs? Try panko breadcrumbs.
  • This baked crispy chicken is best enjoyed right away as it loses its crispness over time.
  • Leave space between the chicken breasts when placing it on the sheet pan. This way, the heat can reach all sides of the chicken to help it get extra crispy.
 
 Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
 
Please note that nutritional information is a rough estimate and it can vary depending on the products used.
I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!Recipe reviews on the website are extremely valuable to other readers online. So, please don’t forget to give it a 5-star rating below.

Nutrition

Calories: 303kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 31gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 648mgSugar: 5g

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

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Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Calories 303
Keyword chicken easy eggfree Eggless fried healthy oven

Eggless Baking Frequently Asked Questions

You’ve asked, and I’ve answered! Read on for a handful of answers to the most frequently asked questions about eggless baking.

Originally posted in April 2016, photos were replaced in December 2019, and post content was edited to add more helpful information, no change to the recipe. The post was updated again in September 2021.

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4.35 from 112 votes (100 ratings without comment)

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48 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Something I was sad to give up were chicken tenders, but this recipe helped to satisfy that craving. Even my picky son enjoyed them – he tells me he loves them more than the ones we can get at a restaurant. Thanks! 🙂

  2. 5 stars
    I just tried your recipe in the air fryer, it turned out perfectly! I think that it tastes better than fried chicken. This is definitely gonna be a regular for me.

    1. Hello Mary! To cook in the air fryer: reheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken in the basket, adding in batches to not crowd or overlap. Cook for 13-15 flipping the chicken halfway through so they’re crispy on both sides.

    1. Hello Mary! Yes…reheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken in the basket, adding in batches to not crowd or overlap. Cook for 13-15 flipping the chicken halfway through so they’re crispy on both sides. Hope this helps!