These Gluten-Free Breadcrumb Crusted Spiced Chicken Tenders are sure to please. Spices bump up the flavor in this kid favorite meal.
Now that we only have one son at home, cooking dinner has really changed. I never imagined I would only have to cook for one child. The amount of food we used to go through with the three older boys at home was a ton, not to mention the grocery bills, so we are now at the opposite end of the spectrum, with a pre-teen who eats a sliver of what his older brothers did in high school.
Our youngest is probably the pickiest eater in the family and the moodiest when it comes to meal time. If he doesn’t “feel like” eating something, convincing him that he has to can be a real challenge. So, there are days I want dinner to be a no-brainer – what kid doesn’t like chicken tenders after all.
I still want to make sure my son continues to be exposed to a variety of foods and cuisines, so when I made these chicken tenders recently, I bumped up the spices, using coriander, cumin and Spanish smoked paprika.
This combination of spices was inspired by a fish taco recipe I spotted in Cooking Light that used smoked paprika. My son loves Spanish smoked paprika. He’s not a fan of cooked fish (he does like sushi), so I used chicken. Eventually, I’ll try the same recipe using a mild fish. I’ve found that sometimes it’s easier to introduce my kids to new foods if I keep the flavor profile similar, and switch up the protein.
Served with a quick corn salad (corn mixed with leftover tomato onion salsa ~ chopped tomatoes, onions, red wine vinegar), and a golden kiwi, this was a simple dinner that went down with no complaints. These chicken fingers freeze well too (uncooked).
Gluten-Free Spiced Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders or skinless boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs I used Aleias gluten-free Italian Bread Crumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Spanish smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon ground coriander
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 large egg lightly beaten
- a few drizzles olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, Spanish smoked paprika, coriander, cumin, black pepper and salt. Mix 2 teaspoons of spice mix with breadcrumbs. Sprinkle a little seasoning on chicken pieces. Dip chicken pieces in egg and then coat with spiced breadcrumbs. Lay in a single layer on baking tray that has been lightly greased with olive oil. Bake for 10 minutes; turn pieces over and bake another 5-8 minutes, until cooked through.
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Such a fun dinner idea!
Love the spices in this! Chicken tenders seem to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters!
I love your addition of coriander, cumin and Spanish smoked paprika to these chicken tenders – is Spanish smoked paprika very different to regular paprika?
Thanks Shashi – Spanish smoked paprika is very different from regular paprika – it has an intoxicating aroma – you must try it!
These look great!
Great combo of spices. Pinning now. I think my kids would love this recipe 🙂
Thanks Liz – I don’t think I’ve ever met a kid (or adult) that doesn’t like chicken tenders.
Pinning to the husband archives 😉
My husband loves chicken tenders too 😉
This is such a great way to introduce kids to unfamiliar spices. I know my boys would love this!
Thanks Dara – I’ve found trying new flavors in familiar foods helps get my kids to try different spices and herbs.
Pinning- These remind me of my childhood- but much healthier (and delicious!)
What a great way to introduce a variety of spices to little ones! My boys love chicken tenders so these would be pleasing to all of us!
Jeanette! These spiced chicken tenders look great!!! love the use of coriander, cumin and Spanish smoked paprika. These are my kind of chicken tenders!! pinned and can’t wait to try! It sounds like your youngest is keeping you on your toes in the cooking department . . but hey, that’s not a bad thing, right?! 🙂