Easy Tex Mex Chicken Tenders Recipe

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Are you looking for easy chicken recipes the whole family can enjoy? We love chicken tenders, do you? If you answered yes then you will enjoy this version of Tex Mex Chicken Tenders! My grandma used to cook up big pans of fried chicken when I was growing up with sides of mashed potatoes and whatever seasonal vegetable was in season.

This was one of her typical Sunday dinners. We’d all load up into the car and off to grandma’s house we’d go. The drive less than ten minutes away to visit, we would have dinner together every Sunday. After we’d talk, visit and watch television in their tiny living room in the cottage house they lived in.

• Today’s recipe is a spin on one of her easy fried chicken recipes that she would cut up into strips or bite-sized pieces. Don’t run when you hear fried chicken because you can bake this recipe!

Tex Mex Chicken Tenders

Chicken is one of the staples we enjoy several times a week in our recipes. I love cooking chicken enchiladas with green sauce, which is Sammie’s favorite. Then there is the always delicious chicken broccoli noodle casserole I fixed up recently which might be a contender for her. I hope to share that with you all sometime.

• Another family favorite is our smothered tacos recipe.

Let’s get onto this easy Tex Mex Chicken Tenders recipe and how to make chicken tenders. 

Chicken Tenders

Tex Mex Chicken Tenders is a spin on my grandmas easy fried chicken recipe. This is a fried recipe but, you can bake this chicken recipe and get similar results. Start with a few great chicken breasts. Make sure it’s skinless and boneless, organic chicken that you pick up to use. It is readily available.

How to Make Chicken Tenders

Prepare the chicken for cooking or baking

• Take the boneless, skinless chicken out of the refrigerator. (Defrost your chicken in the refrigerator in advance if frozen)
• Next, take your chicken out of the package drain it off (if you rinse your chicken be sure to pat dry but, new food safety standards say DO NOT rinse your chicken before using!)
• Cut chicken into tenders, strips or nuggets and set it to the side (refrigerate if not making immediately)
• Take a dish similar to a pie dish, baking dish, or larger bowl and add flour, garlic powder, salt, pepper, paprika, cumin, and a little cayenne if you like things a bit spicy. 
• Whisk the flour and spices 
• If you really want to give it a kick add 1/2 tsp of dried red pepper flakes 
• Make an egg wash of egg and milk or buttermilk then whisk it in a separate bowl

Tex Mex Chicken Strips

It was about time we updated the photos on this post, originally was taken at NIGHT (my bad! and not with this camera). Plus, we added helpful cooking tips, how I get dinner on the table when I travel, and other recipes and resources for cooking chicken. Girl, it’s been a long time since I posted this image! But, I didn’t want to remove it so you could see the original image I took. Wayyyy back! 

How To Fry Chicken Tenders

1. Take the cut chicken, dip in the whisked eggs and next dip it into the flour mixture.
2. Add it into your already heated pan of vegetable oil.
3. Turn and rotate pieces occasionally, until done.
4. These cook really fast about in five to ten minutes depending on the thickness of the strips. *use these guidelines for  USDA food-safe cooking temps
5. Temp with a meat thermometer when you get 165F internal temperature your chicken is done.
6. Place cooked pieces onto a paper towel, let cool slightly and pat off excess oil. 
7. Serve with a side salad or your favorite vegetables… 

How To Bake Chicken Tenders

1. Follow the instructions above for preparing the chicken and the spices

Instead of frying in a skillet or pan follow these instructions 

1. If you don’t have a baking rack, place the chicken tenders on the bottom of a sheet pan that has been covered with aluminum foil. (this makes clean up easy!)
2. Drizzle a little olive oil or spray with non-stick cooking spray so the coated chicken will not stick to the foil/pan.
3. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes (depending on thickness) or when the chicken reaches 165F internal temp.
4. Turn halfway through the cooking time.
5. Make sure the chicken is cooled slightly before serving. 

Alternately you can place the chicken on a baking rack and then onto a sheet pan.

1. Bake at 425 degrees for about 15-20 minutes (depending on thickness) or when the chicken reaches 165F internal temp.
2. Turn halfway through the cooking time.

What to serve with this chicken dinner?

• Serve with a side of Avocado Sauce (this recipe has multiple uses!), Ranch Dressing or Ketchup for dipping.
• For side dishes love having a salad and fries along with ours.

No matter what you call this dish chicken tenders, chicken strips or chicken fingers. They are flavorful, tender and so tasty with the additional spices to kick up the flavor a k-notch. If this isn’t the recipe for you. You might like these chicken dinner ideas. 

Don’t have time to shop? Or are you traveling for work and the family is staying at home? You might remember this post where I shared our Sun Basket Meal, the chicken dinner we made. Or this post for how to plan dinners for when you are traveling. Their food is organic, it’s easy to follow and make. I love buying it for Sammie and her dad to cook when I go out of town. Better than buying fast food!

Want to give Sun Basket a try? Go and Get ($35 Off) Healthy, Organic, Easy to follow food and recipes for cooking straight to your door! 

Related Easy Chicken Recipes 

1. Chicken Fajitas you can enjoy this recipe any night of the week in your meal plans, as it’s a 30-minute meal. 
2. Easy Smothered Chicken Tacos an easy chicken recipe that is Mexican inspired. The chicken is spiced and cooked in a skillet, making a great chicken tacos stove-top recipe. 
3. Easy Restaurant Style Nachos A restaurant-style nachos with chicken. This is so easy for an appetizer or dinner.
4. Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe is a great dish the kids will love. This is quickly prepped and baked in the oven. (A really old recipe that we will update but, easy and good)
5. Easy Crispy Baked Chicken A family favorite dinner, 30-minute meal. 
6. Tex Mex Chicken Strips (made with corn flakes)

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The recipe was brought to you by HarvestLand Chicken I did receive free product coupons for review purposes thanks to HarvestLand and Mom’sMeet. These are my 100% honest opinions. I have to say we loved this product and are so happy our local Walmart store is carrying it. There is a store locator on HarvestLand’s site. Just check out the features and benefits below about the chicken.

Each variety of product has it’s own calorie content right on their site. I can’t wait to try their chicken burgers from the frozen section. Grilling season can’t come quick enough! They also have other products such as turkey and pork plus recipes you may enjoy. 

HarvestLand’s Product details 

• No Antibiotics Ever
• Fed All Vegetarian Diet
• No Animal By-Products
• Raised Cage-Free
• No Hormones or Steroids Added
• Freezer ready pouches 
• Individually wrapped boneless chicken breasts
• Easy-open convenience
• Visit HarvestLand to find out more

What is your favorite chicken recipe you or your family enjoys? 

 

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