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Turkey Tenders
Coated with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices, crispy homemade turkey tenders are ideal for a quick main dish, a light lunch, or even just a snack.
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Classic, oven-baked turkey tenders have tons of flavor and are an easy dinner option that will please the whole family. Simple, delicious, and easy to make, these homemade turkey tenders are coated with a crispy batter of bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices.
MORE RECIPES: Turkey Chili | Instant Pot Turkey Breast | Turkey Taco Ring
This tasty variation of kid-friendly chicken fingers, crispy turkey tenders are ideal for a quick main dish, a light lunch, or even just a snack. These baked turkey tenders have a crispy texture outside with a juicy tenderness inside.
Perfect for dipping, these homemade tenders are scrumptious when served with our Honey Mustard Sauce, Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce, or Chicken Dipping Sauce. Turn these yummy turkey tenders into a complete meal by pairing them with creamy mashed potatoes, Million Dollar Mac and Cheese, or Dinner Rolls.
You’ll love the crunch and irresistible flavor of these crispy turkey tenders. Hearty turkey breast is sliced and marinated before being dipped in a homemade blend of parmesan cheese, spices, and bread crumbs before being baked and served with your favorite dipping sauce.
Turkey Tenders Ingredients
- Eggs
- Oil - olive oil
- Butter
- Lemon - lemon Grated zest and juice
- Parsley - fresh parsley
- Garlic - minced garlic
- Salt
- Pepper
- Turkey - turkey tenders, or 2 to 3 pound turkey breast, plain or oven-ready
- Bread crumbs - Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Cheese - freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Cooking oil spray - olive oil is best
If you can’t find turkey tenders in your store, you can make your own by picking up a turkey breast. You will be cutting against the grain, so look for the white veining in the meat. Whatever direction the white “stripes” are going, you cut opposite. Cut in about 1 to 1½-inch strips. You can then cut those strips to the size you want for your tenders.
If you want a little added kick to your tender coating for this easy turkey recipe, add a dash of chili powder or cayenne pepper to the seasoning mix. Or, for a different flavor variation, you can add a teaspoon of Italian seasoning to your spice mix.
Instead of bread crumbs, you could use crushed cornflakes as a great option. For crispier turkey tenders, place the tenders under the broiler for 3 minutes.
How to Make Turkey Tenders
FIRST STEP: In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, olive oil, melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, salt, pepper, and garlic.
SECOND STEP: Add the turkey tenders and make sure they all have been coated in the egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for one hour or, even better, overnight.
THIRD STEP: Preheat oven to 400°F.
FOURTH STEP: Prepare a large cookie sheet with a wire cooling rack placed on it. Spray the cooling rack with nonstick spray.
FIFTH STEP: In a shallow pie plate, mix together the bread crumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and parmesan cheese.
SIXTH STEP: Place each turkey tender into the breadcrumb mixture and coat well on both sides.
SEVENTH STEP: Place the turkey tenders onto the sheet pan on the cooling rack. Lightly spray the turkey tenders with olive oil cooking spray.
EIGHTH STEP: Bake turkey tenders for 20 minutes. Since you are using a cooling rack, you don’t have to turn them over during cooking.
What kind of breadcrumbs should I use?
You can use Italian seasoned bread crumbs, or even crushed cornflakes as your breading. If you’d like extra crunch for this great recipe, panko breadcrumbs would be a great choice.
Can I prepare and bread the turkey ahead of time?
We think it is best to coat the turkey right before baking. You can marinate the turkey in the egg mixture overnight, but stick to the breading when you are ready to cook these. Cooked tenders can be frozen for up to a month in an airtight container.
What dipping sauce should I serve with my turkey tenders?
Ketchup, barbecue sauce, and ranch are all popular dipping choices. You can also make your own delicious dipping sauce, like our Honey Mustard Sauce, Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce, or Chicken Dipping Sauce.
How to Store Turkey Tenders
IN THE FRIDGE: You can keep leftover tenders in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days. Reheat them in the oven at 400°F for about 8 to 10 minutes. You can also use an air fryer to help reheat and get them crispy if you have one.
IN THE FREEZER: You could make a double batch of these turkey tenders and freeze half for a fast snack, lunch, or dinner on a busy day. Place the frozen tenders on a baking sheet and reheat for 18 to 20 minutes at 400°F.
Turkey Tenders
Coated with bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, and spices, crispy homemade turkey tenders are ideal for a quick main dish, a light lunch, or even just a snack.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 23 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 33 minutes
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter melted
- 1 lemon Grated zest and juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2½ pounds turkey tenders or 2 to 3 pound turkey breast, plain or oven-ready
- 1 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese
- Cooking oil spray olive oil is best
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, olive oil, melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, salt, pepper, and garlic.
- Add the turkey tenders and make sure they all have been coated in the egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate to marinate for one hour or, even better, overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Prepare a large cookie sheet with a wire cooling rack placed on it. Spray the cooling rack with nonstick spray.
- In a shallow pie plate, mix together the bread crumbs, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and parmesan cheese.
- Place each turkey tender into the breadcrumb mixture and coat well on both sides.
- Place the turkey tenders onto the sheet pan on the cooling rack. Lightly spray the turkey tenders with olive oil cooking spray.
- Bake turkey tenders for 20 minutes. Since you are using a cooling rack, you don’t have to turn them over during cooking.
Nutrition
Calories: 449kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 160mg | Sodium: 907mg | Potassium: 124mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 451IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 252mg | Iron: 2mg
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