Taco Chicken Tenders are easy to make and are ready in less than 40 minutes. Chicken tenderloins are breaded with homemade gluten-free bread crumbs and homemade taco seasoning then baked for 20 minutes to create a crispy exterior and moist, juicy chicken inside. Fun to dip in salsa, guacamole or crema!
This post is sponsored as part of Boulder Locavore’s ongoing partnership with Udi’s Gluten Free. All opinions are my own.
My quest for fast, easy, delicious dinner recipes continues with a note of desperation right now! Life is busier than I can describe (and if I tried, you’d want to take a nap just thinking about it). With Cinco de Mayo coming up this week I’ve been craving all flavors Mexican food. Though we do make tacos and quesadillas often, I wanted to jazz up a different favorite recipe with some familiar seasonings: Taco Chicken Tenders!
Most chicken tenders are either purchased frozen and heated at home, or picked up at fast foods restaurants to go. Once you see how easy these are to make you will be making them fresh at home. They cook in 20 minutes and only take about 10-15 minutes to prepare.
This recipe is made with ‘chicken tenderloins’ which is a cut of meat you can buy in your grocery store. The tenderloin is a strip of meat attached to the chicken breast but is easily removed so when buying a package of chicken tenderloins, no further cutting of the meat is required.
Unlike many chicken tenders which are fried, these Taco Chicken Tenders are baked. They are breaded with homemade gluten-free bread crumbs and baked for 20 minutes. They emerge with a crispy taco-flavored outer coating and moist, juicy chicken inside. I love to dip them in taco-friendly things such as guacamole, salsa or crema. Using homemade taco seasoning also makes for big bold flavor that is not overly salty as many pre-made taco seasoning packets tend to be.
How to Make Homemade Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs:
Making breadcrumbs from scratch is very easy. It’s a great trick in the event you run out of purchased breadcrumbs too. This method works for any type of bread (gluten-free or with gluten). I used Udi’s Gluten free Whole Grain bread which makes a great crunchy texture with a slightly nutty flavor.
Step 1: Toast slices of bread in a toaster using a higher setting, in a toaster oven or under the broiler (watching to ensure no burning). Allow to cool to they feel room temperature to the touch.
Step 2: Break the toast into a few large pieces and process through a food processor, mini chopper or blender until achieving the desired crumb consistency.
Step 3 (if needed): If the crumbs still have any moisture, spread the crumbs into a single layer on a rimmed cookie sheet and bake on 400 degrees for 5 minutes, shaking the pan halfway through. Crumbs should just begin to turn golden. Allow to cool fully before incorporating into a recipe or freezing in a sealed bag for future use.
How to Make Taco Chicken Tenders:
Jeanette says
Oh my goodness this looks so good! I wish I would’ve saw this last night because we had chicken and I think I would’ve preferred which he made here.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Holy. Moly. Taco Tuesday just got a lot more interesting! I just want to wrap one of those tenders up in a soft shell and cover them in taco sauce and sour cream.
Colleen Lanin says
Those sound so good! I love a nice crispy coating on my chicken, and this take on the classic is so original. Thanks!
Jen Rattie says
That is fully awesome! It’s a fully self-contained chicken taco. I can’t wait to try this for our next Taco Tuesday.
Melissa says
If they taste half as good as they look it will be delicious. I will consider making these for my kids who love tacos, and gluten free as a bonus.
Pam says
I love chicken tenders and I love tacos. This is the perfect meal for me and my family!
Sarah says
You had me at tacos and chicken tenders. You could have said anything at that point and I would have just kept on reading, lol. I love both of those foods and can’t wait to try this recipe. It sounds delicious and I think the recipe is one that my significant other will appreciate as well, he is much more into sophistication than I am, I could eat frozen chicken nuggets all the time.
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad you like it Sarah! It’s unbelievable how fast it is to make these and they are so good!
Maureen says
What a delicious way to serve up dinner from home but with a sort of junk food style idea 😉 I love that we can create the fast food menu options at home and have them be much loved by the family but healthier 😉
Liz Mays says
Now that kind of flavoring sounds pretty good and I like the alternate way of breading them. This could be a fun one to try out!
gingermommy says
These look so good! MY teens would love to have these for dinner any night
Amy says
I love making my own chicken tenders too! This is exactly the kind of meal that my family can all agree is delectable.
Toni Dash says
And so fast!!
Olivia Douglass says
These sound and look delicious! I was just looking for some new chicken recipes too!! Yum.
Fariha says
Oh what a great idea! We had tacos tonight and I was kind of “meh” about them. These would really make them more appealing and unique.
Natasha says
It’s too late for me to start eating, but it’s perfect to pick up the ingredients from the store in the morning! These look so tasty!
Dawn Lopez says
It’s always nice to see a quick and tasty recipe I know my family will love, Taco night is big around here so I can’t imagine this wouldn’t be a big hit on the dinner table!
janis @mommyblogexpert says
Your recipe looks so delish, I’m bookmarking it to make for my family. Limes are so good with Mexican food, too, not only do they add unique flavor they also make beautiful garnishes as your post so artfully illustrates.
Alicia Gonzalez says
This looks delicious and much easier than my current recipe. I also love the lime, because my family eats lemon or lime with just about everything! Not kidding, I’ve caught them putting it on cereal….that’s another story. Thanks for sharing! I was going to try it tonight, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Brianne says
These look so yummy! Definitely something my family would devour!
Jennifer says
These seriously look amazing! I need to make these and see how we like them, too.
Colleen Cayes says
I love the idea of Taco Tuesday. Also Taco Wednesday and Thursday … if there is a limit to eating taco-like food, I haven’t found it yet. This would be a great party appetizer, too. Thank you!
Jennifer G says
This looks like it would be such a creative and delicious dinner. I am positive the kids would love it.
Rosey says
What a fun way to make the chicken tenders. I think this is a splendid idea my kids would really love.
Kristi says
My work schedule just changed and it has left me scrambling to find easy dinner ideas that our kids can help with. This looks like a great one to add to our list.
Annemarie LeBlanc says
I was just wondering what to do with the chicken breasts in my freezer. Thanks for the idea. Now I know what to make! I am sure my family will love this and ask me to cook it again on the weekend.
My Teen Guide says
I love that this recipe calls for the chicken to be baked and not fried. That would be healthier alternative. Thanks for sharing this recipe. As much as we love tacos and chicken in this house, having both of them together in one dish is a winner!
Sherry says
Homemade chicken tenders beat store bought any day. I am trying to bring healthier foods and ways of cooking into my home and I will be adding these to my list.
Carol Cassara says
Those are lovely and I appreciate that you baked them instead of frying them. The sauces are perfect and I like the idea that you made your own breadcrumbs!
Amanda Love says
I’m sure the kids won’t even notice that these are baked and that the bread is gluten free. I think these are great and it’s a lovely recipe for movie night or dinner!
Shannon Gurnee says
This looks and sounds like a yummy recipe! I”m always on the lookout for new recipes!
Baker by Nature says
These Taco Chicken Tenders look phenomenal!