Imagine a dish that combines crispy, golden-brown chicken tenders with a luxurious cream sauce that'll make your family fight for seconds. This Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders recipe is not just another weeknight meal – it's a culinary experience that transforms simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy masterpiece. With a perfectly crisp Parmesan coating and a velvety cream sauce, this recipe promises to become your new go-to comfort food that looks and tastes like it took hours to prepare.
Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 cups pasta
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare ingredients by patting chicken tenders dry with paper towels and seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Mix grated Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs in a shallow dish, creating a crispy coating mixture.
- Dredge each chicken tender completely in the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture, ensuring even and thorough coating.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Cook chicken tenders for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- While chicken cooks, boil pasta in salted water according to package instructions until al dente.
- In the same skillet after removing chicken, sauté minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour heavy cream into the skillet, scraping up any browned bits, and simmer for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Drain pasta and plate, then top with Parmesan-crusted chicken tenders.
- Drizzle cream sauce over chicken and pasta, garnish with chopped fresh parsley.
- Serve immediately while chicken is crisp and sauce is warm.
Tips
- Pat chicken tenders completely dry before coating to ensure maximum crispiness and better adherence of the Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that chicken reaches 165°F for food safety without overcooking.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch of dried herbs like oregano or thyme to your Parmesan-breadcrumb mixture.
- Use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for the best flavor and coating texture.
- Don't overcrowd the skillet when cooking chicken tenders – this helps them brown evenly and stay crisp.
- Let the cream sauce simmer gently to prevent separation and achieve the perfect consistency.
- Garnish with fresh parsley just before serving to add a pop of color and fresh flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 620kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 45g
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 18g
Cholesterol: 155mg
