By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 11, 2026
Serves 4
573 cal · 45 min
Cheddar Bacon Chicken Tenders
Recipe GLPRd92f4be8a753c6
Crispy, golden-brown chicken tenders coated with a savory mixture of panko breadcrumbs, sharp cheddar jack cheese, and smoky bacon crumbles. Seasoned with garlic salt and onion salt, these oven-baked tenders are tender on the inside and crunchy on the outside. Ready in under an hour, this crowd-pleasing main dish is perfect for weeknight dinners or meal prep.
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Ingredients
1 package (14 oz) uncooked chicken tenders
1 large egg
Garlic salt, to taste
½ cup finely shredded cheddar jack cheese
Onion salt, to taste
½ cup plain panko bread crumbs
Black pepper, to taste
3 oz cooked bacon crumbles
Cooking spray
Directions
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Lightly spray a roasting grill pan or baking sheet with cooking spray and set aside.
Season each chicken tender generously with garlic salt, onion salt, and black pepper.
Pour the egg into a shallow bowl and beat it well with a fork.
In a large bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, shredded cheddar jack cheese, bacon crumbles, and a pinch each of additional garlic salt, onion salt, and black pepper. Mix until evenly combined.
Working with one tender at a time, dip it into the beaten egg to coat both sides, then gently press it into the breadcrumb mixture, turning to coat all sides evenly. Place the coated tender on the prepared pan.
Once all tenders are coated and arranged on the pan, lightly spray the tops of each tender with cooking spray.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the internal temperature of the thickest piece reaches 165°F, the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the bread crumb coating is golden brown.
Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.
Comments
Every ingredient is readily available at any major Charlotte grocery chain—chicken tenders, eggs, cheddar jack cheese, panko, and bacon crumbles are staples. The recipe is honest about time: breading and baking 4 servings of tenders takes roughly 45 minutes as stated, making it genuinely weeknight-friendly. Cost per serving runs about $2.50 to $3.00, driven by the chicken and cheese, which is reasonable for a protein-centered main. The dish works well for families and requires minimal active attention once the tenders hit the oven, though it will not reheat particularly well—the breading softens and loses crispness—so it's best eaten fresh the same night.
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