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These single serving baked buffalo chicken tenders are coated in a seasoned breadcrumb and Parmesan mixture, then baked until golden and crisp. They’re finished with a simple buffalo sauce that brings just the right amount of heat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and Easy: Ready in under 30 minutes.
- Healthier Choice: Baked instead of fried.
- Flexible: Make it low-carb or double the batch if needed.
- Homemade Flavor: Tastes homemade whether you use store-bought or homemade sauce.
- Crispy and Seasoned: Coated in breadcrumbs and spices for a crunchy, flavorful crust.
What I love most about these baked buffalo chicken tenders is how satisfying they are with just a few basic ingredients. They’re bold and spicy, and packed with flavor.
This recipe is perfect when I want something that feels a little indulgent but still simple to make. I’ve made these so many times and they always hit the spot whether I’m tossing them in a salad, serving them with fries, or just eating them straight from the pan.
If you enjoy chicken tenders, try our baked chicken tenders for one and chicken parmesan tenders for one.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch buffalo chicken tenders recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Chicken Tenders (6 ounces): Use pre-cut chicken tenderloins or slice a boneless, skinless chicken breast into ½-inch strips. Tenders are usually sold in the meat section labeled as “chicken tenderloins.” Got extra chicken? Use it in our small batch chicken nuggets, single serving chicken shawarma, or single serving kung pao chicken.
- Breadcrumbs: Use either store-bought or homemade breadcrumbs. If you don’t have breadcrumbs, try:
- Rolled Oats: Blend into a fine powder and add 1/8 teaspoon salt.
- Corn Flakes: Crush for a crispier coating.
- Potato Chips or Pretzels: Crush and adjust added salt.
- Crackers: Saltines or Ritz work well crushed.
For the Buffalo Sauce:
- Hot Sauce: Use your favorite brand like Crystal, Louisiana, or Cholula. Leftovers? Use in small batch crab cakes, single serving pad thai, and in a bloody mary.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds tang and depth. Also great in a small batch of ham and cheese sliders and mini turkey meatloaf.
See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Recipe Variations
Try these simple ways to switch up your buffalo chicken tenders:
- Adjust the Heat: Use more or less hot sauce to control the spice level.
- Cheesy Tenders: Sprinkle shredded cheese over the tenders and bake until melted.
- BBQ Style: Replace the buffalo sauce with homemade BBQ sauce for a sweeter option.
- Herb Crusted: Mix dried herbs into the breadcrumbs for an extra layer of flavor.
How To Make Buffalo Chicken Tenders
The photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make a single serving of buffalo chicken tenders. See the recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions.
Before You Begin: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
- In a medium bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Once combined, set the bowl aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, melt the butter. Dip each chicken tenderloin into the melted butter, making sure it’s fully coated.
- Dredge the buttered chicken in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place the coated chicken pieces on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
- Make the buffalo sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the hot sauce, melted butter, and Worcestershire sauce. Adjust the amount of hot sauce to make it more or less spicy, depending on your preference.
- After the chicken strips finish baking, pour the buffalo sauce over the top.
Expert Tips
- Extra Sauce: Love buffalo sauce? Double the recipe for extra to drizzle or dip.
- Chicken Nuggets: Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces before baking to make buffalo nuggets.
- Low Carb Option: Skip the breadcrumbs and season the chicken with just the listed spices.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad: Slice the baked chicken and toss with buffalo sauce, 2 tablespoons chopped celery, and 2 tablespoons ranch dressing. Serve over lettuce.
Serving Suggestions
Enjoy these buffalo chicken tenders with a variety of sides:
Frequently Asked Questions
They’re best served fresh, but you can prep the coating and buffalo sauce in advance to save time.
Reheat in the microwave or in a 375°F oven for about 10 minutes until warmed through and crispy again.
Yes, double all of the ingredients to make buffalo chicken tenders for two.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders For One recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Buffalo Chicken Tenders For One
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoons butter -melted
- 6 ounces chicken tenders (3-4 chicken tenders, depending on the size)
For the Buffalo Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter -melted
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- In a medium bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
- Melt the butter in a separate bowl. Dip each chicken tenderloin into the melted butter, coating all sides.
- Press the buttered chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, making sure each piece is well coated. Place the coated chicken on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.
- Make the buffalo sauce: In a small bowl, stir together the hot sauce, melted butter, and Worcestershire sauce. Adjust the amount of hot sauce to make it more or less spicy, depending on your preference.
- After the chicken strips finish baking, pour the buffalo sauce over the top.
Notes
- Extra Sauce: Love buffalo sauce? Double the recipe for extra to drizzle or dip.
- Chicken Nuggets: Cut the chicken into 1-inch pieces before baking to make buffalo nuggets.
- Low Carb Option: Skip the breadcrumbs and season the chicken with just the listed spices.
- Buffalo Chicken Salad: Slice the baked chicken and toss with buffalo sauce, 2 tablespoons chopped celery, and 2 tablespoons ranch dressing. Serve over lettuce.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
My mouth waters just thinking about this recipe. I use panko bread crumbs and use more hot sauce. It’s my favorite so far, but I still have a lot of recipes to try