Best Guide to How Long To Bake Chicken Tenders At 400° F

How long to bake chicken tenders At 400° F (204° C)? Your chicken tenders are lying on the table, and the ingredients are all prepared. But there are 2 things that you need right now: A recipe and a guide. No worries; this post will provide them in detail.

Serving chicken tenders of the highest quality requires effort and skills. You have to season them properly and not mess up the baking time. All of which are more complicated than they seem. So, enough talk! Time to make a memorable dish.

The Health Benefits of Chicken Tenders And Why You Should Bake Them At 400°F

Why chicken tenders and 400°F? While there are other ranges of temperature as well as choices of meat to enjoy, there are several reasons to choose this combo. Scroll down now to find out!

What Are Chicken Tenders? How About Chicken Tenderloins?

Chicken tenders are strips of meat cut from any part of the chicken breasts. On the other hand, chicken tenderloins are long, narrow pieces lying underneath the breasts. Sometimes, chicken tenders may be chicken tenderloins, but you can’t be sure.

You can easily get chicken tenders at supermarkets or grocery stores. They are often frozen and covered in plastic wrap. There is also a wide range of brands for you to choose from.

In case you want to get chicken tenders from a whole chicken. Firstly, remove the breasts and then flip them over. You can notice if a piece of meat of semi-circular shape is right under the breastbone, it is the tenderloin.

If you want it to be easier, just chop the breasts into slices about 4 inches long and 1 inch wide. This way results in more than just 2 pieces of meat.

Removing chicken tenderloins from the breasts is not as hard as you think; this video will show that.

How Does Eating Chicken Tenders Affect Your Health?

Chicken tenders are good sources of protein, carbs, and healthy unsaturated fats ⁽¹⁾. For people who need to gain muscles, chicken tenders can be a great tool. Moreover, studies also point out that their protein can work with calcium to improve bone strength.

However, too much chicken tenders consumption can bring about some risks. Being high in calories, they can easily add some weight to your body. Not to mention that they are usually served with sweet drinks or french fries, big sources of calories.

Weight is not the only thing you should worry about. Although chicken tenders only contain a moderate amount of fat, they are often deep-fried. This further raises bad cholesterol levels, increasing the risk of diabetes as well as heart disease.

Why You Should Bake Chicken Tenders At 400° F (204° C) 

Now, let’s address the elephant in the room: Why you should bake chicken tenders at 400° F. As you might have already known, different chicken parts require a different baking time. For example, chicken thighs baked at 350°F for the appropriate time taste phenomenal.

At 400° F, the chicken tenders will turn crispy on the outside but still feel tender inside. This gives them a juicy, tender mix with a savory taste.

In terms of health, baking is a much better cooking method than deep frying. In contrast to the latter, the former requires little or even no oil, which cuts down your fat and calories intake. For people who are on a diet, baking will be your ideal choice.

Moreover, crispy chicken tenders go well with a lot of sauce, from ketchup to chili sauce. A dish of crispy tenders can attract the attention of a lot of people, especially children. Don’t worry about overcooking the tenders, you just have to time it nicely.

How Long To Bake Your Chicken Tenders At 400° F

Now, let’s approach the main point of the question. Below, you can find guides for all types of chicken tenders. Just pick according to your needs.

Before taking action with the chicken, you need to preheat the oven to 400° F. Depending on different types of ovens, it generally takes around 15 to 20 minutes to reach this temperature, almost the same amount of time to bake chicken breasts at 400° F. Do note that oven preheating time is not included in the total time below.

The size of your chicken tenders may affect heating time. However, I will talk about tenders with traditional sizes (1 inch wide and 4  inches long).

Breaded Tenders

Breading is the act of coating chicken tenders with breadcrumbs. This will further increase the crispiness of the meat outside but still maintains its juiciness inside.

As you can notice, breading is the most popular way people enjoy chicken tenders. Generally, fast food restaurants serve breaded chicken tenders. However, even if you are a beginner, breading chicken tenders is quite easy to do.

After covering the tenders in breadcrumbs, you need to bake them for 15 to 20 minutes. After this, flip the tenders and wait for 5 more minutes. The tenders are ready when the coat turns into a brown and yellow color.

Raw Chicken Tenders (No Coating)

In case you have thawed your chicken, the cooking will take just around 20 minutes or a little more. The meat is cooked when the color turns from pink to light brown. Don’t forget to flip the pieces halfway to ensure that the 2 sides are evenly cooked.

Using a meat thermometer is also a good way to know that your chicken tenders are cooked. 165° F is the ideal degree the internal part of tenders should reach. ⁽²⁾

Frozen Chicken Tenders

In case your chicken tenders are frozen, you may want to thaw them before cooking. There are several ways. Remember to cook right after they are defrosted for the best quality.

Firstly, you can defrost them right in the refrigerator. You need to remove them from the freezer and place them on a lower shelf. This thawing process may take you several hours or even a day. And there is one general rule: 1 pound will take 5 hours.

In the next method, cover the tenders in a plastic bag and submerge it in cold water. After that, change the water every half hour to make sure it does not get warm. Your chicken tenders will be ready for cooking in around one and a half hours

If you find the procedures above too time-consuming, you can put the bag in hot water instead. The water needs to be heated to above 140° F to ensure that bacteria doesn’t grow fast. This method takes around 10 minutes; however, it is not suggested by the FDA.

After being defrosted, your chicken tenders can be cooked right away. In case you want to bake them in a frozen state, bring a meat thermometer with you. This will help you know that your chicken is not undercooked.

However, at the cost of your convenience, cooking unthawed chicken tenders will take more time. The extra time is around 7 minutes.

With Foil

You may want to wrap the tenders in aluminum foil before cooking. The foil helps the meat keep moisture and ensures a juicy but tender taste. You need to grease the foil a little with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking.

However, you will have to wait a little more for foiled chicken tenders to be cooked. After around 25 to 30 minutes, take the tenders out for checking. If the color or internal temperature indicates that they are undercooked, just rewrap the foil and put it back.

Marinated Tenders

In case you want to add extra flavors to the chicken tenders, soak them in the sauce of your choice. It’s recommended to wait from 4 to 8 hours so that the sauce will marinate well. However, you should pay attention to how much time you spend marinating chicken, or your dish will turn out to be mushy or worse.

The longer the marinating time, the less the baking time since your tenders will be softer. As a result, it will take only 15-20 minutes to perfectly cook the tenders.

Ingredients To Help Chicken Tenders Reach Their Full Potential

You can find the ingredients below at almost every supermarket and grocery store. Despite being simple, they go perfectly with chicken tenders. Although you may use different ingredients, the ones I introduce are most favored by people:

The list here is sufficient for 1 lb of chicken tenders, which is around 6 pieces:

• 1 egg
• ½ tbsp garlic powder
• ½ tbsp paprika
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup of breadcrumbs (panko is recommended)
• 1 tbsp water
• ½ cup of parmesan cheese
• ¼  cup of all-purpose flour

Don’t forget to prepare your favorite source: ketchup, chili sauce, mayonnaise – you name it. And your best friend – the meat thermometer, also deserves a place on the table.

Coating chicken tenders in egg allows the breadcrumbs to cling to them better. While olive oil adds a pleasant smell, garlic powder brings about a strong taste. Paprika adds a little spiciness, and the cheese adds butteriness. Truly a festival of flavors!

Remember that this is just a guide; you can be flexible. For example, remove the paprika if you can’t eat spicy foods, or add honey if you love the taste. Moreover, adding a little lemon is also a good idea, but it’s up to your preferences.

How To Bake Chicken Tenders At 400°F

If you think baking chicken tenders is a challenging task, allow me to change your mind. You can easily prepare a tasty meal with baked chicken tenders by using an oven or, for a high-tech option, an air-fryer.

Using Oven

Baking using an oven is simple and convenient. Just remember to use a baking tray lined with parchment paper, then cover it in a little cooking spray. This prevents the pieces from sticking, which will come in handy when you clean after.

Learn how to bake chicken tenders at 400°F in the oven with detailed steps in this video.

Step 1: Preheat The Oven

Don’t skip this step. Preheating the oven ensures that the tenders will not be undercooked. Just wait for 15 minutes or a little longer while getting the ingredients ready.

Step 2: Prepare The Coat

You need to prepare 3 bowls for this step. Firstly, crack the egg in a bowl, then pour oil and water before whisking the mixture. In another bowl, place breadcrumbs together with cheese, paprika, and garlic powder. The last bowl is used for flour.

Step 3: Coat Your Tenders

Now, dip the tenders in the bowl with flour. Subsequently, cover the meat with the egg mixture. Finally, coat the pieces with breadcrumbs. Thanks to the egg combination, the breadcrumbs will stick better.

Step 4: Bake The Tenders

Place the pieces carefully on the parchment paper and turn the oven on again. After 15 to 20 minutes, flip the tenders. The meat should be ready in 6 minutes. Don’t forget that 165° F is the internal temperature you want to reach.

Using Air Fryer

You can also cook frozen chicken tenders using a reliable air fryer. The steps are similar in the case of using an oven. However, it will take less time to preheat as well as bake.

The air fryer may be a great tool for you if you want to make it fast.

Step 1: Prepare The Coat

The instructions are the same as baking in an oven. You should prepare the coat before preheating the air fryer since the latter takes little time.

Step 2: Preheat The Air Fryer

You need to wait for 5 minutes for the air fryer to reach 400° F. A little cooking spray will ensure that the tenders do not adhere to the surface.

Step 3: Coat Your Tenders

The way to do this is the same as with the air fryer. Remember to dip only 1 piece at a time.

Step 4: Bake The Tenders

Lay the chicken tenders on a single layer of your air fryer. Wait for 6 minutes before flipping them. After 6 more minutes, the meat is at your service.

Useful Ways To Know That Your Chicken Tenders Are Ready To Be Served

Assume that you do not cover the tenders in breadcrumbs, you can judge their doneness by looking at them. When the chicken is cooked, the white-pink color on the outside will turn into a golden brown. However, the inside will be white with clear juice. You may want to cut the tenders open for this.

The second way requires you to use your feelings. To do this, touch a piece of meat with your thumb. If it feels firm, then the tender is perfectly cooked

The size can also be a good indicator. When cooked, the chicken tenders will shrink a little bit. If you feel that there are no changes in the size of the pieces, wait a little more.

The most efficient way to check the state of the chicken tenders is using a meat thermometer. You just need to insert it into the middle part of a random piece. If the temperature displays 165° F, your meat is ready.

Learn how to use a meat thermometer to check your chicken’s doneness here.

Interesting Tips To Make Chicken Tenders Irresistible

Knowing how to maintain the warmth of your food for a friendly gathering will surely help you increase the appeal of your chicken tenders. But there are other ways to make chicken tenders more appealing to your taste. You don’t have to buy any expensive ingredients or use a magical recipe; what you need is just around your kitchen.

Enjoy Tenders With Sauce

Nowadays, enjoying chicken tenders with sauce is considered a norm. The sauce not only can enhance but also add flavors to the meat. So, don’t forget to prepare a bottle of ketchup, chili sauce, or mayonnaise in your kitchen. Even better, how about some delectable sauces from Wingstop?

In case you want to taste something different, options are available all the time. Just add some honey to your ketchup if sweet is your favorite flavor. On the other hand, mix your sauce with spices for extra spiciness or squeeze a little lemon to make the sauce sourer.

Alter Recipes Depending On Your Taste

Being flexible is a major point for chicken tenders. They can be in harmony with a lot of flavors out there. You don’t have to follow instructions or guides all the time; your preference decides the ingredients.

There are tons of recipes out there for baking chicken tenders. There is also a list in the next section for your interest!

Marinate In Advance

Marinating the chicken tenders long before cooking is recommended. This will not only save your time but also helps the ingredients fully coat the meat.

To do this, put the tenders along with the ingredients in a large sealed bag. Subsequently, rub the bag evenly and then refrigerate it for at least 4 hours. After this period, you will notice that the meat is softer with a strong flavor.

Constantly Check The Tenders When Baking

By paying close attention to the meat when baking, you can avoid it from being overcooked. As you know, baking time varies between types of ovens or air fryers, so guides can not be 100% accurate all the time. In case you use the latter, a dependable large capacity air fryer will be a great help.

By checking the tenders, you will notice the color of the chicken or the coat. Thanks to this, flip the pieces or take them out at the right time to ensure the best quality.

Recipes That Can Bestow Magic On Your Chicken Tenders

The awesomeness of chicken tenders encourages people to come up with new recipes every day. I am sure that at least one recipe below can attract your attention.

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

For people with a sweet tooth, this may become your go-to recipe in the future. Honey, garlic, ketchup, and lime juice are the main characters here. They will leave a taste that will linger on your tongue for some time.

This video provides a detailed guide on how to make honey garlic chicken tenders.

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

With the addition of buffalo sauce, your chicken tenders will come with a unique taste. Easy to prepare and savory, this recipe is worth a try. This dish also uses no spice, but you can remove the hot sauce if you can’t stand even the slightest spiciness.

Asian Lemon Chicken Tenders

Let’s add some Asian atmosphere to your chicken tenders! You need a lot of ingredients to complete the job here: from honey and vinegar to lemon juice and sugar. However, the amazing combination of flavors won’t disappoint you.

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

Add some milk to the meat for extra butteriness, why not? The buttermilk carries enzymes that make the meat even tender. The combination you see right here might be a surprising one but awesome nonetheless.

FAQS

Baking chicken comes with a lot of steps and other matters. For this reason, some questions may pop up while you read this article. I will try my best to answer all of them.

Baking Chicken Tenders Maybe Your Piece Of Cake Now

After reading this post, you can become a star at parties or family gatherings. You can not only prepare different kinds of chicken tenders but also cook them perfectly. Your chicken tenders may even surpass the ones at restaurants!

Inevitably, some of your friends may ask for the secret to baking chicken tenders. When that happens, don’t forget to tell them about this post. If you have any tips or recipes, don’t hesitate to comment below this post, food lovers will appreciate that!

References

1. Nutritionix.com. 2017. {{MetaTags.title || ‘Nutritionix Common Foods’}}.
2. CIDRAP. 2006. USDA: 165 degrees is magic number for safe poultry.
3. www.cdc.gov/. 2021. Chicken and Food Poisoning.