Grated parmesan cheese makes a flavorful, crispy crust for these delicious keto parmesan chicken tenders. This 30-minute recipe is ideal for a weeknight dinner.
I often make chicken tenders. Most kids love them, and as a parent, you quickly learn that the best strategy is to find recipes that both kids and grownups will enjoy. That's why I like these chicken tenders. They are easy to make and everyone enjoys them - even The Picky Eater. For us, her parents, the parmesan coating is a delicious change from traditional recipes.
Ingredients and Variations
See the recipe card for exact measurements. Here are my comments on some of the ingredients.
- Raw chicken tenders: 1.5 pounds or about 12 pieces.
- Mustard: I use Dijon mustard, which is creamier and less vinegary than yellow mustard. You can use mayonnaise (or sriracha mayo) instead of mustard.
- Grated parmesan cheese: Make sure it's finely grated and not coarsely shredded.
- Olive oil: I use extra-virgin olive oil to fry the tenders. You can use avocado oil, ghee, or duck fat instead.
Instructions
The detailed instructions and step-by-step photos are included in the recipe card. Here's a quick overview.
Pound the chicken pieces thin with a meat pounder to help them cook evenly. Brush the chicken pieces with Dijon mustard and sprinkle them with spices. Dip the chicken pieces in the parmesan, gently pressing to help it adhere.
Fry them in olive oil on both sides until golden.
Serve immediately. Look how juicy they are!
Tonight will be the second time I’ve made this recipe. It’s very easy and delicious! My husband loved it.
Anita
Read more comments
Tonight will be the second time I’ve made this recipe. It’s very easy and delicious! My husband loved it.Recipe Tips
- The main challenge when making this recipe is that grated parmesan doesn't adhere to chicken as well as traditional coatings. The finer the cheese is grated and the drier it is, the better it will adhere.
- Make sure you use a nonstick skillet and a good one. If your nonstick skillet is five years old and scratched, the coating might stick to it and come off.
- There's no need to add salt - the cheese and mustard add plenty of saltiness.
Recipe FAQs
When I stopped using breadcrumbs as coating, I experimented with several alternatives, including gluten-free chicken tenders, almond flour chicken tenders, and pork rind tenders. They are all excellent!
Golden, crisp, and flavorful, grated parmesan cheese makes an especially flavorful crust. It's one of those keto recipes that even people who are not on any special diet love because it simply tastes good!
Yes, although it won't be as good as fried. Arrange them on heatproof parchment paper and bake them in a 400°F oven for 10 minutes per side, then check to see if they are done.
Not if you want this to be a low-carb recipe. Although parmesan coating by itself is a bit more fragile than a coating that also contains breadcrumbs, it does work, especially if you use dry, finely grated cheese.
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The coating tends to lose its crispness, so it's best to reheat them uncovered in a 350°F oven to regain some of that crispness, but the microwave works too if you're in a hurry.
The leftovers are also delicious cold, and since I don't like the taste of reheated chicken, that's my favorite way of enjoying them.
Serving Suggestions
I like to serve these chicken tenders with a side of green vegetables such as roasted Brussels sprouts, and with baked fries like zucchini fries or jicama fries. When I feel like making things truly easy, I serve them with a salad such as any of the following:
Recipe Card
Keto Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds raw chicken tenders - about 12 pieces
- 3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 cup parmesan cheese - grated; not shredded
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Place the chicken tenders between two layers of wax paper and pound them ⅛-inch-thin.
- Brush both sides of the chicken pieces with mustard and sprinkle them with garlic powder and cayenne.
- Place the parmesan in a shallow bowl. Dip the chicken pieces, one by one, into the parmesan and press to coat.
- Heat a nonstick double-burner griddle or two large nonstick skillets over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Brush with olive oil. Fry the chicken tenders until browned and cooked through (their internal temperature should reach 165ºF), about 3 minutes on each side. Use two wide spatulas to flip them, not tongs - this will ensure the parmesan coating stays intact.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- If working in batches, keep the cooked chicken tenders in a 170°F oven while you cook more batches.
- The main challenge when making this recipe is that grated parmesan doesn't adhere to chicken as well as traditional coatings. The finer the cheese is grated and the drier it is, the better it will adhere.
- There's no need to add salt - the cheese and mustard add plenty of saltiness.
- Make sure you use a nonstick skillet and a good one. If your nonstick skillet is five years old and scratched, the coating might stick to it and come off.
- You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The coating tends to lose its crispness, so it's best to reheat them uncovered in a 350°F oven to regain some of that crispness, but the microwave works too if you're in a hurry. The leftovers are also delicious cold, and since I don't like the taste of reheated chicken, that's my favorite way of enjoying them.
Nutrition per Serving
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Disclaimers
Most recipes are low-carb and gluten-free, but some are not. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate. Please verify it independently. The carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Please read these Terms of Use before using any of my recipes.
Faith says
This recipe was great!
Vered DeLeeuw says
Glad you liked it, Faith! Thank you very much for the review.
Brett Horst says
Any way to get the nutritional/carb/calorie information on these recipes???
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hey Brett
The nutrition info appears in the recipe card.
Debra Russell says
2 questions - would the parm stick better if they're dipped in egg?
How do they freeze? I'm disabled and live alone, so I cook big batches and freeze for future meals.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Hi Debra,
1. Not necessarily. I haven't seen a difference between using mustard (or mayo) vs. eggs.
2. Yes, you can cool them completely and freeze them in a single layer in freezer bags. Or use freezer-safe containers and separate layers with wax paper.
Anita says
Tonight will be the second time I’ve made this recipe. It’s very easy and delicious! My husband loved it.
Vered DeLeeuw says
I'm so glad you and your husband like this recipe, Anita!
Veronica says
Made this tonight and it turned out great. Flipping the tenders (only once per side) with a spatula rather than turning with tongs helped me to keep the parmesan coating intact. Came out nice and crispy, too. Very easy recipe. Thanks!!
Vered DeLeeuw says
I'm glad you enjoyed this recipe, Veronica! Thank you for the tip about using a spatula. I'll go ahead and add it to the recipe.
Janna DeBella says
We have made this recipe twice. The first time with tenders, and the second time with cutlets. Both times it was a huge hit at our house. Thank you!
Vered DeLeeuw says
You're very welcome, Janna! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe.
Charlotte DuJardin says
These turned out perfect! Tasty with a crunch very close to the real thing.
Vered DeLeeuw says
Yay! I'm so glad you liked these chicken tenders, Charlotte. Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.