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Whole30 chicken tenders in a baking dish with a compliant dipping sauce

Whole30 Chicken Tenders

40aprons.com/whole30-chicken-tenders/
These Whole30 chicken tenders are tender, flavorful, and a family favorite. Tenderized with a secret weapon (pickle juice!), they're baked to perfection, making them super quick and easy, too. They're on repeat at our house!
Prep 25 minutes
Cook 20 minutes
Chill 1 hour
Total 1 hour 45 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 4 servings

Equipment

  • Oven
  • baking sheet
  • parchment paper
  • Airtight container or sealable plastic bag
  • 2 shallow bowls
  • whisk

Ingredients

  • 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1 ½ pounds, cut into strips)
  • ½ cup dill pickle juice (from a jar of dill pickles)
  • 1 large egg (beaten)
  • ⅔ cup almond flour
  • ½ cup coconut flour
  • ¾ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • refined coconut oil spray (or spray avocado oil)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
  • Combine chicken strips and pickle juice in airtight container or sealable plastic bag. Toss gently to coat, then refrigerate at least one hour, tossing every so often. Note: for best flavor and most tender chicken, refrigerate overnight.
    Chicken tenders in pickle juice in a glass baking dish
  • When you're ready to cook chicken, drain and discard pickle juice. Add beaten egg to one shallow bowl and set aside. In second shallow bowl, whisk together almond flour, coconut flour, salt, onion powder, paprika, garlic powder, and pepper.
  • One at a time, dip chicken tender in beaten egg, pausing to allow excess egg to drip back into bowl, then coat all sides of chicken tender in almond flour mixture and shake any excess off into bowl. Place breaded chicken tender on baking sheet and repeat until all chicken tenders have been breaded.
    Chicken tenders breaded on baking sheet lined with parchment paper
  • Place baking sheet in oven and bake 14 to 16 minutes. If desired, lightly spray tops of breaded tenders with oil after 10 minutes in oven, for a little extra browning. Once chicken tenders are golden brown and lightly crispy, remove from oven and serve warm with compliant dipping sauces and sides.
    Baked Whole30 chicken tenders on baking sheet lined with parchment paper

Recipe Notes

  • The total number of chicken tenders produced will depend on the size and thickness of the strips you cut.
  • If you'd like to use a thermometer to ensure your chicken tenders are ready, the food-safe internal temperature for chicken is 165° Fahrenheit.
  • Make it Nut-Free: Use cassava flour instead of almond flour.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1servingCalories: 263calProtein: 20gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 995mgPotassium: 386mgTotal Carbs: 16gFiber: 8gSugar: 3gNet Carbs: 8gVitamin A: 332IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 61mgIron: 2mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/whole30-chicken-tenders/