Crispy Chicken Stuffing Chicken Tenders

Back-to-school means activity-packed afternoons and busy weeknights where easy meals aren’t a question, they’re a necessity. Which is where these quick and fun, crispy chicken tenders enter the chat. They’re fast to make with juicy chicken breasts coated with crunchy, flavorful stuffing crumbs. You can fry them or bake them, whichever method suits.

These are like my pecan-crusted chicken tenders and Doritos-crusted Cool Ranch chicken tenders. The difference is we’re crusting the chicken with boxed stuffing mix instead. 

Why These Crispy Chicken Tenders Are a Family Favorite

• An easy shortcut. Turning boxed stuffing mix into breadcrumbs is an easy hack that you can do with your blender or food processor. No blender? Crush up the dry stuffing the old-fashioned way, with a ziplock bag and a rolling pin. It makes these tenders a 3-ingredient recipe.
• Perfectly crispy. An easy pan-frying method gets these homemade chicken tenders crispy and golden in minutes. You can also cook them in the oven or an air fryer. 
• Great for school nights. My kids love crispy chicken, and I love that this recipe is quick enough for weeknights! There’s juicy chicken and flavorful, seasoned breading in each bite. Pair these tenders and a tasty dipping sauce with fries or veggies on the side. Dinner is served!

You’ll Need 3 Ingredients

In addition to cooking oil for frying, you’ll need the three ingredients below to make these crispy stuffing-coated chicken tenders. Scroll down to the recipe card for the printable ingredients list with the full recipe amounts.

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken – You can buy pre-cut chicken tenders from the store or buy boneless, skinless chicken breasts and trim the fat and slice them into strips at home. You could also make this recipe with boneless chicken thighs, though thigh meat may require a slightly longer cooking time.
• Eggs – To help the breading adhere. 
• Stuffing Mix – Choose your favorite box of seasoned stuffing mix, like Stove Top, Trader Joe’s, or Pepperidge Farm. I like to use low-sodium stuffing.

Can I Use Breadcrumbs Instead?

Yes, of course! If you don’t have stuffing mix, you can bread your chicken tenders the traditional way with seasoned Panko or regular breadcrumbs. You could also use plain breadcrumbs and season them yourself (I recommend a blend of chicken seasoning and Italian herbs). Another DIY option is to use seasoned croutons and blend them into crumbs following the directions in this recipe.

How to Make Crispy Chicken Tenders Breaded With Stuffing

Once you’ve rounded up your ingredients, follow the steps below to coat the chicken tenders with stuffing and then fry or bake them until they’re crispy. This is an overview, and you’ll find the full recipe instructions in the printable recipe card.

• Prepare the stuffing crumbs. First, pulse the stuffing mix in your blender or food processor to make fine crumbs.
• Set up a breading station. Pour the crumbs into a shallow dish or onto a plate. Whisk the eggs in a second shallow bowl.
• Coat the chicken. Next, dip your chicken strips first into the egg, then into the stuffing, and place the breaded chicken tenders on a baking sheet. Repeat until you’ve coated all the chicken.

How to Fry Chicken Tenders

1. Preheat the oil. If you’re frying your chicken tenders, heat about ½” of cooking oil inside a heavy skillet with high sides. Check that it comes to the right temperature by dipping a wooden spoon into the hot oil. If bubbles start to form on the back of the spoon right away, the oil is hot enough for frying.
2. Fry. Carefully add the chicken tenders to the oil, frying in batches for 4 minutes per side until the stuffing is golden brown. Use a slotted metal spoon or metal tongs to transfer the fried chicken tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Frying Safety Tips

• Use the right oil. Choose a cooking oil with a high smoke point. The best oils for frying are vegetable oil, canola, sunflower oil, or peanut oil, which can withstand high temperatures without burning. Olive oil won’t work here, as it turns rancid when it’s overheated.
• Don’t leave hot oil unattended. If you’re cooking these on the stovetop or using a deep-fryer, take extra precautions against splattering oil and don’t leave the chicken unattended while it cooks. Make sure the kitchen is free from distractions. 
• Wear gloves. I’ll often use gloves when frying as extra protection! Make sure they’re heat resistant.

Oven Method

Nothing gets chicken tenders quite as crispy as pan-frying, but I also love baking as a lighter and more mess-free option. For even easier clean up, line your baking sheet! To bake your crispy chicken tenders instead:

1. Preheat the oven to 425ºF.
2. Arrange the stuffing-breaded chicken tenders on a wire rack set over a foil-lined baking sheet. You could also grease the foil and bake them directly on the sheet if you don’t have a rack.
3. Bake for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is crispy and golden.

Can I Make These in the Air Fryer?

Absolutely! Air fry the chicken tenders at 400ºF for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. You may need to cook them in batches. See my air fryer chicken tenders recipe for details.

3 Secrets to Crispy Chicken

• Get the oil to the right temperature. The temperature of the oil should be 325-375ºF for deep-frying. If the cooking oil isn’t hot enough, the chicken won’t get crispy. If it’s too hot, the stuffing crumbs will brown and burn before the chicken cooks through. Use a candy thermometer if you have one; otherwise, use the wooden spoon test (above) to check if the oil is at the correct temperature.
• If you’re using the oven, bake the chicken tenders on a wire rack set over a baking sheet for extra crispy results. It allows the hot air to circulate around the chicken while it cooks. Make sure the oven or air fryer is fully preheated.
• Check that the chicken is done. The easiest way to tell if chicken is cooked is to use an instant-read meat thermometer to take the temperature at the thickest part. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF.

Try These Variations

• Spice it up. Blend a little cayenne powder or Cajun seasoning into the stuffing or stir crushed chili flakes into the crumbs to give your crispy chicken tenders some kick. You can also prepare the chicken with a spicy marinade, like I do for my spicy chicken nuggets.
• Marinate the chicken. Speaking of marinades… If time allows, combine the chicken strips with your favorite chicken marinade before you bread them for even more flavor.
• Different breading. I mentioned it earlier, but you can swap the stuffing crumbs with more breading options, like breadcrumbs, crushed pecans, crushed chips or Doritos, or Ritz cracker crumbs (like my Ritz cracker chicken recipe).

Dipping Sauce Ideas

I serve chicken stuffing chicken tenders with my homemade chicken dipping sauce (the BEST Chick-Fil-A copycat). They also taste great dipped in any of the following:

• Ketchup
• BBQ sauce
• Cheese sauce
• Honey mustard
• Ranch dressing

What to Serve With Crispy Chicken Tenders

Pair these crispy fried chicken tenders with your choice of dipping sauce and a side of buttery mashed potatoes, quick air fryer sweet potato fries, or roasted carrots. Some days, I’ll put a batch of crock pot baked potatoes on in the morning so they’re ready to serve in time for dinner. 

Storing and Reheating

• Refrigerate. Store leftover crispy chicken tenders in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. The stuffing crumbs lose their crunch with time.
• Reheat. To reheat chicken tenders so they stay crispy, I recommend warming them in the oven or air fryer. 
• Freeze. You can freeze the cooked chicken tenders for up to 1 month. Pre-freeze them on a baking sheet and then transfer the chicken to a freezer bag or an airtight container. Thaw the chicken in the fridge before reheating.

More Easy Weeknight Chicken Recipes

• Homemade Chicken Nuggets
• Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
• Baked Chicken Breasts
• Crispy Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
• Crispy Chicken Cutlets
• Slow Cooker Crack Chicken