Gluten Free Crispy Chicken Tenders

Total time35 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time20 min

5.0

(10)

Crispy, golden chicken tenders are one of those comfort foods that can feel completely off-limits when you're avoiding gluten — but this recipe proves that's simply not the case. The secret is a three-step breading process using rice flour and gluten free panko, which together create a shatteringly crunchy crust that rivals anything you'd pull from a fast-food bag. Smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and an optional hit of cayenne pack serious flavor into every bite, so these are anything but bland. Pan-frying in a shallow layer of oil means you get that deep golden color and firm, set coating without needing a deep fryer or a ton of cleanup. Cooking in two batches keeps the pan from getting crowded, which is the real trick to avoiding soggy breading. A quick check with an instant-read thermometer ensures everything is perfectly cooked through before you serve. Squeeze a little lemon over the top and you've got a crowd-pleasing dinner for four that nobody will believe is completely wheat-free.

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Ingredients

4 servings

For the chicken

1 ½ lb chicken tenders (about 12 pieces)
1 tsp kosher salt
½ tsp black pepper

For the breading

½ cup rice flour
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
2 large eggs
2 tbsp milk
1 ½ cups gluten free panko

½ cup neutral oil (such as avocado oil or canola oil), for frying

For serving

lemon wedges, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels, then season all over with the kosher salt and black pepper.
2
Set up a three-station breading line: in the first shallow dish, whisk together the rice flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, and cayenne (if using). In the second shallow dish, beat the eggs with the milk until smooth. In the third shallow dish, spread the gluten free panko in an even layer.

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