With just Five Ingredients and Five Minutes of prep time, these baked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders will be your new easy dinner. This is our favorite easy Chicken Tenders Recipe.
Five Minute Prep to perfect chicken! Low Carb, Keto, Gluten-Free.
It can be difficult to make simple staples taste good quickly. MyBaked Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders Recipe does just that. With a five minute prep time, you can pop them in the oven and help kids with homework, get a couple of chores done, or just sit back and put your tired feet up.
These healthy baked chicken tenders are also a great kid-friendly option! Or if you want some heat in a chicken tenderloin recipe try my Blackened Chicken Tenders!
How To Make Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Making this parmesan garlic chicken is super simple and really doesn’t take much effort at all. It’s great for serving to a crowd of hungry guests or kids! Everyone will eat every last bite in record time. Take a look at the video at the top of this post to see simple it is:
First Step: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Second Step: Mix together the mayonnaise, ¼ cup of cheese, garlic, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. Place the chicken in the bowl and stir, so it’s all coated. Lay the pieces of chicken on the baking sheet.
Third Step: Add the rest of the cheese on top of the chicken.
Fourth Step: Bake the garlic parmesan breaded chicken for 25-30 minutes until the chicken is all the way cooked.
Fifth Step: If you want the chicken to be golden brown, broil it for 2-3 minutes. This will brown up the cheese.
Expert Tip: If you decide to broil the chicken, it’s important not to cook it too long and keep a close watch. It can burn really quickly in the broiler. Plus, if it cooks too long, it can dry out some.
Mayo? Do I have to use Mayonnaise in Garlic Parmesan Chicken?
Mayo is my favorite condiment ever. It takes almost any savory dish and kicks it up a notch. It is my go-to for making anything dairy-free creamy. That delicious emulsified oil can replace cream in many recipes.
You cannot taste it in this recipe. Really. But if you are adamantly opposed to using mayonnaise I've had readers use yogurt or sour cream successfully.
Can I Sub in Chicken Breasts?
Chicken tenderloins are my favorite meat for quick dinners. They cook fast and don't require cutting or trimming first. Since chicken doesn't have a ton of flavor on its own you can incorporate them in hundreds of ways.
I'm able to get them for about .50 more per pound than chicken breasts. Since they are a better cut of poultry this price difference is worth it to me. But if you prefer to use chicken breasts you can. Just cut them into strips and proceed with the rest of the garlic parmesan chicken recipe.
If you prefer you can also use boneless skinless chicken thighs.
What Temperature Do Chicken Tenderloins Need to Cook to?
Chicken should be 160 degrees F. before it’s consumed. As the chicken bakes, once it reaches 158 degrees, you can remove it from the oven and let it rest for around 5 minutes. This gives it time to finish raising the temperature to 160 degrees F as it sits.
When it comes to chicken (or any meat really), you don’t want to overcook it. I know it sounds like a good idea to cook it until it’s hotter in theory, but you will end up with a dry and flavorless meal if you do. As long as it’s prepared to 160 degrees F., it’s safe to consume, and you don’t need to worry.
Can cooked chicken be pink?
Yes, sometimes chicken that’s fully cooked will have a slight pink color in the center. As long as it’s not raw and you are positive that it reads the correct temperature, it’s okay to eat. Undercooked chicken can make you very ill, so it’s always a good idea to check the temperatures when making any type of chicken dish.
How many servings does this make?
These keto chicken tenders make 8 servings. Typically, you will end up with around 3 maybe 4 tenderloins per person. So if you are feeding a large crowd, you may need to make a double or even triple batch. Additionally, you can easily half the ingredients if you don’t need to make as much. It’s an easy recipe to adjust as needed.
What should I serve with this?
This is one of those recipes that goes with almost anything. Serve it with some roasted veggies like garlic broccoli, oven-roasted green beans, or cauliflower. You could also pair it with some mashed cauliflower, cucumber tomato salad, or some keto garlic bread.
This garlic parmesan chicken also goes excellent with zucchini fries, onion rings, and other side items like that as well. You could even serve it with a Caesar salad and some fresh fruit too. You can’t go wrong with pretty much anything you decide to make with this chicken dinner idea.
How do you store garlic parmesan chicken tenders?
Let the chicken cool down after cooking it, then place the chicken tenderloins in a container with a tight-fitting lid and place it in the fridge. This garlic chicken will last 3-4 days, and it’s incredible for leftovers.
You can also freeze the chicken too. I like to flash freeze it on a baking dish for around 2 hours, then take the pieces and put them in a freezer bag. Then they won’t stick together, and you can just grab out the pieces that you want.
How do you reheat keto garlic parmesan chicken?
You can quickly reheat the keto chicken tenders in the microwave by putting it in a microwave-safe container and heating it for a couple of minutes. I recommend heating it in 1-minute intervals because it warms up pretty quickly when you are just heating a few.
You can also lay the chicken tenders on a baking sheet at heating them in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes. Once they are warm all the way, you can eat them.
Can I use the sauce in other ways?
This recipe has the same topping I use on my Garlic Parmesan Zucchini. It is a family favorite and I knew it would also be great on chicken. My kids gobbled this up.
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Five Minute Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds chicken tenderloins
- ¾ cup mayo
- ¾ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Combine the mayo, ¼ cup of the cheese, garlic, and salt in a medium bowl. Add the chicken and stir to coat. Put the chicken on a large baking sheet. I put parchment on mine to save on the cleanup.
- Sprinkle on the rest of the cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through. It should read 160 on a meat thermometer. I try to take it out at about 158 and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Optional: Broil for 2-3 minutes to brown the cheese. Watch the chicken closely if you are broiling so it doesn't burn.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Here are a few of my other favorite Keto Chicken Tenders Recipes:
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders with Ranch Dip
Cumin Rubbed Chicken with Black Bean & Corn Salsa
Greek Chicken with Feta and Dill
Creamy Tomato Chicken & Spaghetti Squash Casserole
Ham & Cheddar Chicken Skillet Dinner
Originally published on 11/3/2017. Revised and republished on 2/6/2020.
Jan Izzo says
Love, love, love this recipe! Even my two picky eaters ate it. Definitely will be making this again. Probably ones a week. So easy and delicious! Thank you for sharing!
Crystal says
Hey Taryn, I can't wait to try this for my family!! My question is what kind of mayo did you use? I just wanted to make sure to get the right kind!!
Taryn says
I normally buy Just Mayo but any mayo should work.
Elaine says
I know mayo is used to have low carb .. but can Mirical Whip salad dressing b used
Elaine says
... “ Miracle Whip”
Taryn says
Probably. You just need something to hold the parmesan to the chicken.
Jessica says
I made this tonight and used miracle whip and it was a huge hit.
sam says
Miracle Whip is not mayo. It's 'salad dressing' (whatever THAT is), and has added sugar. Use Best Foods (AKA Hellman's).
Sandy says
You can also use sour cream instead of mayo
Taryn says
Hi Sandy, you tried this recipe with sour cream?
Mary says
This recipe is awesome! My husband was the chef of the family and now he is working extended hours, I have to cook. Usually I get comments from my fussy eaters that dad's was better. Tonight with this recipe, my children are all their chicken and my pickiest eater had seconds. Thank you!
Deb says
Could you cook these in an air fryer?
Taryn says
I'm sorry but I haven't tried it. You would have to half the recipe or they wouldn't fit. I think it would work.
Carol-Ann Walker says
Taryn this looks Amazing!!I do have a question. The recipe calls for 3/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese, divided. I don’t have any of this and, my family doesn’t care for it but, they like the bottled Kraft Grated Parmesan cheese (sprinkle cheese as they call it). Is it possible to substitute the shredded for grated and how much would you recommend to use?Or should I substitute the shredded Parm for shredded Mozzarella cheese instead?Thanks for any help and advice. Your recipes are Amazing. They are helping me lose weight and feed my family healthy meals.
Taryn says
My kids call it sprinkle cheese too 😀 I would use about 1/2 cup so these don't turn out too salty.
Bailey says
Can you use this recipe on chicken breasts as well?
Taryn says
Yup! They will take longer to cook though. Just make sure to cook to 160 degrees. I temp at 20 minutes and then every 5 minutes after that until they are done.
Pauline says
Thank you for all the low carb foods. I enjoy all of them.
Gayle says
This recipe is the best!!!! Easy and so delicious!!!! Thank you for all your recipes, Taryn!!!❤
Bettyann Bennett says
Love this recipe. Thansks for sharing!!
Wendy Underwood says
I used 1/4 cup mayo and 1/4 cup parmesan cheese and no salt. Turned out great!
ovealia thomas says
Need to know the carb count on this recipe please
Taryn says
This chicken tenders recipe has 0.5 carbs per serving, there are 8 servings in the recipe.
Tammy says
Can you substitute anything for mayo??
Taryn says
The mayo acts like a binder to hold on the parmesan. You can substitute a beaten egg as a binder instead. Or maybe a little soft cheese such as cream cheese or ricotta mixed with egg. But the mayo gives it a nice creamy flavor.
Juel says
I don’t have time to run to the store, would shredded parmesan work just as well?
Taryn says
Yup!
Katy says
So easy and quick to make!!!!
O Thomas says
I love your recipes however am on a under 15 carb per day and some of your recipes say low carb but does not tell me how many. Can you help me.
Taryn says
I am working through all of them updating nutrition facts. But it takes time to do 400+ recipes. If you have a specific recipe you'd like the info for just leave a comment and I'll do that one next.
Jennie says
5 minutes meals are the BEST! Plus my kids would love this one.
Shadi says
I love an easy recipe that comes together in no time. Never had thought of using mayo though, looks really good!
Jenny says
Taryn,
How many are in a serving please? Thank you. Jenny
Taryn says
Hi Jenny, that depends on the size of your chicken tenders. Just count how many and divide by 8. It should be 3-4 per serving.
Toni says
Hmm, I have stopped purchasing bottled mayo, and it was a flop when I tried to make some with olive oil! Is there anything else that would substitute?
Taryn says
I'm not sure. Maybe cream cheese.
David says
Use a nut based oil. Pure olive oil will not work for homemade mayo unless it's a mix