Chicken Tenders

Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to prepare certain meals. This supper time favorite in our house is easy to make and does not take a long time. You can buy chicken tenders or take boneless chicken breasts as we did and cut them into strips. We happen to get an on sale package of boneless chicken breasts and cut them ourselves. Saved money and one package yields a large portion, making this a great meal for a large family. However we used 2 large breasts from the package, and believe it or not my husband sliced 13 pieces - two of which were small and it could comfortably feed six people - more if you have family members with a light appetite.
Adding up the cost of the chicken tenders, the home made french fries and a side salad it cost $13.25, feeding six people for $2.20 each. We however have left overs which we will chow down on another night.

• 2 large boneless chicken breasts

For the breading combine the following ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of crushed Panko bread crumbs (place in a plastic bag and roll with a rolling pin)
• 1 tsp. onion powder
• 1 tsp. granulated garlic
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• salt and black pepper to taste

For the egg wash whisk together:

• 2 or 3 large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk

1. After prepping the chicken, dredge the chicken in 1 cup of flour.
2. Dip each chicken piece in the egg wash.
3. Place the chicken pieces in the panko mixture and pat the breading onto the chicken.
4. Put in the refrigerator for about 10  to 15 minutes.
5. Heat up in a deep skillet 1 inch or so of oil - canola or vegetable - until it reaches 340 degrees. 350 degrees is the max temperature because you need to cook the chicken and not burn it.
6. Cook the chicken to a nice deep golden brown, turning over in the oil. The chicken pieces should cook at least 3 minutes per side.
7. Check for doneness with an instant read thermometer. The chicken should be 165 degrees for safety purposes.
8. If the chicken is browning too quickly, reduce the heat under the oil. If your chicken is browned, but not cooked thoroughly, place in a 350° oven while you fry the rest of the batch. 

Serve the chicken tenders with your favorite Marinara Sauce or a Ranch Dressing. Add in some home made french fries and if you wish a side vegetable for a delicious treat the whole family will love.

Another spin on this for a dipping sauce would be a mustard and honey sauce.  Or try making a homemade horseradish cream sauce.