Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Strips (Easy Homemade Chicken Tenders)

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These crispy oven baked chicken strips are easy to make with real ingredients and baked until golden and crunchy. A simple homemade chicken tenders recipe the whole family will love.

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I don’t know about you, but my kiddos love chicken strips… and honestly, so do I! While the frozen ones are convenient, they’re often filled with ingredients I’d rather avoid. That’s why I wanted to create a homemade chicken tenders recipe that’s made with real ingredients and is easier to make at home — no messy frying required.

These crispy oven baked chicken strips are perfectly seasoned, golden on the outside, and juicy on the inside. Instead of deep frying, they bake in the oven until crispy with a flavorful coating made from chickpea flour, arrowroot powder, and simple pantry spices.

This recipe is simple enough for busy weeknights and delicious enough that everyone at the table will ask for seconds. And the best part? They’re made with real ingredients you can feel good about serving your family.

Just like everything here at My Colorado Kitchen, this recipe proves that real ingredients and everyday cooking can go hand in hand. I hope these crispy homemade chicken tenders become a family favorite in your home too.

Why You’ll Love These

There are so many reasons to love this easy chicken dinner.

They’re crispy without frying
A quick brush of butter and olive oil helps the coating bake up perfectly golden and crunchy.

Made with simple real ingredients
No processed coatings or mystery ingredients — just pantry staples.

Naturally gluten free
Using chickpea flour and arrowroot powder makes these chicken strips gluten free.

Kid friendly
Chicken strips are always a win with kids, and these are even better homemade.

Perfect for dipping
Serve them with ranch, honey mustard, fry sauce, or barbecue sauce.

Ingredients for Homemade Chicken Strips

These crispy baked chicken strips use simple ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

Chicken

• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into thin strips

Coating

• 1 cup chickpea flour
• ¼ cup arrowroot powder
• 4 tsp salt
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp black pepper

Egg Mixture

• 2 eggs

For Baking

• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 2 Tbsp olive oil

How to Make Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Strips

These homemade chicken tenders come together quickly and bake in about 25 minutes.

1. Preheat the Oven

Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

This helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup easy.

2. Make the Seasoned Coating

In a medium bowl, combine:

• chickpea flour
• arrowroot powder
• salt
• garlic powder
• paprika
• onion powder
• pepper

Whisk everything together until the spices are evenly mixed.

3. Prepare the Egg Wash

In a separate bowl, whisk the 2 eggs until smooth.

This will help the coating stick to the chicken.

4. Coat the Chicken

Dip each chicken strip into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off.

Next, place it in the flour mixture and coat it well, gently pressing so the coating sticks.

Place the coated chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet.

5. Add the Butter and Olive Oil

In a small bowl, stir together:

• melted butter
• olive oil

Lightly brush this mixture over the chicken strips.

This step is the secret to getting that crispy golden exterior without deep frying.

6. Bake the Chicken Strips

Bake the chicken strips at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through.

7. Broil for Extra Crispiness

Turn the oven to broil for the last 2 minutes of cooking.

This helps the coating become beautifully golden and crisp.

Keep a close eye on them so they don’t burn.

Tips for Perfectly Crispy Chicken Tenders

These simple tips will help your chicken strips turn out perfect every time.

Cut Chicken Evenly

Cut the chicken breast into similar sized strips so they cook evenly.

Don’t Skip the Oil and Butter

The butter and olive oil help the coating brown and crisp up in the oven.

Use the Broiler

That final broil step creates the delicious crunchy texture everyone loves.

Use a Parchment Lined Pan

Parchment paper helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup quick and easy.

What to Serve With Chicken Strips

These crispy baked chicken strips pair well with so many sides.

Some family favorites include:

• 4 bean salad
• macaroni salad
• simple green salad
• roasted broccoli
• fresh fruit
• coleslaw

They’re also perfect for easy weeknight dinners, lunches, or meal prep.

Best Dipping Sauces for Chicken Strips

Chicken tenders are even better with a good dipping sauce.

Try serving them with:

• homemade ranch dressing
• honey mustard
• fry sauce
• barbecue sauce
• ketchup

If you love making sauces from scratch, homemade ranch is always a great choice.

Storing and Reheating

Refrigerator

Store leftover chicken strips in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating

For the best texture, reheat them in:

• Oven:
  375°F for 5–7 minutes
• Air Fryer:
  375°F for 4–5 minutes

This helps keep them crispy instead of soggy.

Final Thoughts

These crispy oven baked chicken strips are one of those simple recipes that quickly becomes a regular in the dinner rotation.

They’re crunchy, flavorful, and made with real ingredients — exactly the kind of meal that makes feeding your family both easy and satisfying.

At My Colorado Kitchen, that’s what cooking is all about:
Where real ingredients meet everyday cooking.