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My husband and son were buzzing over these chicken crispers. My 4-yr old loved dunking them in ranch while my hubby preferred the more adult flavors of the honey mustard sauce.
These chicken strips are much healthier and tastier than any chicken strips or chicken nuggets you’ll find in the freezer aisle. They’re baked at just the right temperature which gives them that crisp golden crust.
The breading seals in all the amazing flavors and makes these chicken tenders just right. You’ll be back for seconds ;).
Ingredients for Chicken Strips:
2 lbs chicken breast (about 3 large chicken breasts)
Sea Salt & Pepper
1/3 cup dijon mustard
1/3 cup real mayo
2-3 small garlic cloves, pressed
2 cups bread crumbs (I used a mixture of 1 cup seasoned Italian-style bread crumbs and 1 cup Panko bread crumbs, but you can use 100% seasoned bread crumbs)
Ingredients for Honey Mustard Dip (Optional):
1/3 cup dijon mustard
1/3 cup honey
1/3 cup real mayonnaise
1/2 tsp poppy seeds (for effect, optional ;)).
How to Make Baked Chicken Tenders:
Preheat Oven to 450˚F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil (to save yourself some clean-up).
1. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup dijon mustard, 1/3 cup real mayo and 3 pressed garlic cloves and set aside to let the garlic infuse into the marinade while you prep your chicken.
2. Place bread crumbs in a second bowl.
3. Rinse and pat dry your chicken with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat and cut chicken breasts into 1-inch thick strips.
Lightly season both sides of the chicken strips with salt and pepper.
4. Place chicken strips into the marinade and mix well.
5. Roll each chicken strip into your bread crumbs a couple times to get a nice coating of crumbs then transfer breaded strips to prepared baking sheet. For the best, crispy crust results, do not overcrowd chicken.
6. Bake at 450˚F for 15-17 min or until chicken is cooked through and golden brown on the outside.
How to make the Honey Mustard Dip:
1. In a medium bowl (or in a blender), mix together 1/3 cup dijon mustard, 1/3 cup honey and 1/3 cup real mayo until well blended. 2. Stir in poppy seeds (if using). Refrigerate your dip until ready to serve.
Serve chicken strips warm with ranch, honey mustard or your favorite dipping sauce.
Baked Breaded Chicken Strips Recipe with Honey Mustard Dip

Ingredients
Ingredients for Chicken Strips:
- 2 lbs chicken breast, about 3 large chicken breasts
- Sea Salt & Pepper
- 1/3 cup dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup real mayonnaise
- 2-3 small garlic cloves, pressed
- 2 cups bread crumbs, I used a mixture of 1 cup seasoned italian-style bread crumbs and 1 cup panko bread crumbs, but you can use 100% seasoned bread crumbs
Ingredients for Honey Mustard Sauce:
- 1/3 cup dijon mustard
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/3 cup mayonnaise*
- 1/2 tsp poppy seeds, for effect, optional ;).
Instructions
How to Make Baked Chicken Tenders:
- Preheat Oven to 450˚F. Line a large, rimmed baking sheet with foil (to save yourself some clean-up).
- In a large bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup dijon mustard, 1/3 cup real mayo and 3 pressed garlic cloves and set aside to let the garlic infuse into the marinade while you prep your chicken.
- Place bread crumbs in a second bowl.
- Rinse and pat dry your chicken with paper towels. Trim off any excess fat and cut chicken breasts into 1-inch thick strips.
- Lightly season both sides of the chicken strips with salt and pepper.
- Place chicken strips into the marinade and mix well.
- Roll each chicken strip into your bread crumbs a couple times to get a nice coating of crumbs then transfer breaded strips to prepared baking sheet. For the best, crispy crust results, do not overcrowd chicken.
- Bake at 450˚F for 15-17 min or until chicken is cooked through and golden brown on the outside.
How to make the Honey Mustard Dip:
- In a medium bowl (or in a blender), mix together 1/3 cup dijon mustard, 1/3 cup honey and 1/3 cup real mayo until well blended. 2. Stir in poppy seeds (if using). Refrigerate your dip until ready to serve.
What’s your favorite dipping sauce? I’m a ranch kinda girl myself ;).
I made this today and I used chicken breast and thighs. They came out so crispy. I love many of your recipes, they are easy to follow and a snap to make. Thank you for all your recipes. This is a winner.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite! Thanks for sharing that with us, Angela!
Wowsa Natasha darling those chicken strips are the bomb and look really mad easy peasy breezy lol to make tho am wondering if I can let the chicken tenders marinate overnight or is it best to make them on the day you’re gonna make them plan to make these babies next Tuesday for my sissy she loves them figure instead of buying why not make them thanx so much and have a really very sweet blessed week cheers
Hi Tzivia, it isn’t necessary to marinate for a long time with this recipe because the marinade is very flavorful and the chicken tenders are thinner strips and more tender naturally so it doesn’t take much 🙂 I think it’s best to make them on the same day you add the sauce 🙂
Natasha made these babies today thought I was gonna save a few for my sissy but between me and my mom we ended up polishing them off for the crumb topping used a mixture of bread and pretzel crumbs and your honey mustard dipping sauce such a huge big hit also good with a lemon oil dressing poppy seeds do add pizzaz all part of my Russian eastern European heritage am definitely making this recipe again wow blew me away
That’s awesome Tzivia! I’m glad to hear how much you enjoy the recipe! Thanks for sharing your excellent review!
If I wanted to use boneless chicken thighs, would I keep the over at the same temperature?
Hi Kim, yes you would keep it at the same temperature :).
Natasha! I love all your recipes ! They are so easy to follow thank you!
I Have some turkey cutlets do you think I can use them for this recipe?
Hi Jennifer, yes, I do think that would work great! 🙂
Hi Natasha, my picky 3yr old loveees these chicken strips,he kept saying “more more” :)Could you please do a macaroni and cheese recipe? Ive tried before but my sauce always turned out bad 🙁
Thanks again!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review! I’m in the same boat about mac and cheese. The ones I’ve tested even though I thought they tasted great, my kids didn’t dig them so I’m still working on it! 🙂
Such a great recipe! Simple, delicious and quick. I didn’t have any honey, so I didn’t make the honey mustard sauce (but I will sometime soon!). Ranch dressing as a dip worked amazingly well. Thanks for the recipe!
Patty, thank you for the nice review and you are welcome 😀.
Tried this, my husband hates mustard and mayo and he loved this! I love the dip, so easy to make. Second time I made it I added a little Sriracha to the marinade to add a touch of heat, turned out great.
Thank you….this was delicious!
Mandy, thank you for the great review and you are welcome 😀.
Love this! So good and so simple for a weekday dinner.
I’m so happy to hear that you liked the recipe :). Thanks for sharing your great review!
The bottom of mine burnt at 450. 🙁 Otherwise they were delicious! We peeled off the bottom. I’d like to try them again maybe at 400?
Julie, did you have the rack in the center of the oven? Also, were you using convection or regular setting?
Just made these last night as a test run for a large group meal at our local Ronald McDonald House. They were delish! Definitely passed the test. One question though: Any idea on the nutritional details?
I’m so happy you liked it and what an awesome thing you’re doing! I don’t typically include calorie counts, but if you go to caloriecount.com you can plug in the ingredients and servings and figured out pretty easily that way. I hope that helps!
I am 13 and I cooked this. It is really simple and delicious!
That’s awesome!! I wasn’t cooking much of anything at age 13. I’m so impressed! 🙂 And I’m happy you liked the recipe 🙂
Hi Natasha, can these be made the night before and baked the next day?
HI Eleonora, I don’t marinate these for too long because it doesn’t need any lengthy marinating and the flavors may get a little strong if left overnight. My other concern about breading them and refrigerating is that the breading might get soft and not turn out as crispy in the final product.
Made it from 6lb of chicken, food for my family for several days. Thank you for helping me to avoid frying. I added some dry herbs (parsley and oregano) to the crumbs for extra flavors. The pieces wouldn’t brown after 17 min, so I added 2-3 min of broil. They stay juicy. Kids love them the same as fried ones, so everybody happy 🙂
I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for sharing that with me! 🙂
Mmmmmmmmm!!!! I wonder what side dish would be perfect for the baked chicken strips……
Any green salad would be delicious with these chicken strips, or a good coleslaw! 🙂
Mashed potatoes and gravy !
love this recipe!!! just wondering if it is possible to freeze it, cooked or uncooked. Thanks!!!
I haven’t tried freezing them but I think you could do it either way; cooked or uncooked, but I would suggest freezing them in a single layer so they don’t stick together, especially if you are freezing them raw.
hi natasha, can you marinate these overnight?
You can but it isn’t necessary with this recipe. You might add just a little bit less mustard if marinating overnight so it doesn’t taste overpowering.
Thank you so much … it was lovely and easy – a keeper!
I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for your great review!
Very tasty. Bad bad idea to use tin foil. They just stick to it. Better on an oiled tray.
You can also try placing a rack inside of a rimmed cookie sheet and they become crisp all around, or try a silpat liner.
I had chicken strips seasoning in the fridge for a couple days (minimum seasoning in my kitchen is overnight). I was going to make the strips just using egg to help the bread crumbs adhere to the chicken then I ran into this. Can’t wait to try it! It’s in the oven right now. I used spicy mustard and seasoned my bread crumbs. Will post to twitter the final results @iamnaturallymia
I saw your post and thank you so much for sharing how you made the strips into wraps. YUM!!! You’re making me so hungry! 🙂
These turned out perfect! Thank you so much, my wife was so impressed lol
Justin, thanks for the great review and you very welcome :).