Delicious oven baked hot chicken tenders lightly spiced and dipped in a sweet maple Dijon mustard sauce!
This post is sponsored byMaple From Canada
These are breaded chicken tenders with hot chicken style spice and not traditional Nashville hot chicken which is a unique chicken dish. But if you love hot chicken as much as I do, these are a great snack that skips all of the mess of deep frying!
I consider myself quite knowledgeable about hot chicken having tried many different restaurants and comparing the good and the not so good. I always lean towards a medium heat level but my kids are more for a much milder version.
That’s why these hot chicken tenders were the perfect snack for them and they’re oven baked and not deep fried for a healthier result.
The flavor relationship between maple syrup and fried chicken is a popular one and pure maple syrup from Canada is a perfect example. It contains nothing other than 100% pure Canadian maple syrup which gives it that natural sweet taste that can elevate so many types of food from pancakes and scones to these breaded chicken tenders.
Maple syrup from Canada is tapped from the maple tree each spring and then boiled and reduced down until you’re left with that rich dark and sweet syrup we all love. There’s nothing artificial about the process!
Why is hot chicken so popular
There’s so many reasons to love it, from the crunchy batter to the tender juicy chicken. I think my favorite reason is how the spices always compliment a sweet dip that usually is available with hot chicken.
Pure maple syrup is fantastic addition to any kind of fried chicken especially if you eat your chicken with some fluffy fresh baked waffles, but any sweet and savory combination is perfect. I added an easy dipping sauce made with 100% Pure Maple Syrup from Canada and Dijon mustard.
Hot chicken is also the ultimate fast food with many restaurants always showing large lines of customers waiting patiently to order their food.
Why does maple syrup go so well with chicken?
I think the marriage of sweet and savory flavors is the ultimate experience for anyone's tastebud, and there’s no better sweet taste than the dark, caramel taste of pure maple syrup. It works well with savory foods by not over powering them with a sickly sweet taste, but actually complimenting them.
The maple Dijon sauce for this recipe is fantastic but don’t forget you can just dip your chicken straight into pure maple syrup.
Salmon is another good example of a savory dish that pairs really well with pure maple syrup. It tastes amazing lightly brushed with maple syrup and then broiled until caramelized.
Spices needed for your hot chicken
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Cayenne
- Paprika
- Garlic Powder
- Salt and Pepper
How to coat the chicken in breading
Breading any certain foods like chicken or fish requires a process that must be done in a particular order or the breadcrumbs may not stick to the food. The first dip is the flour and this can be lightly seasoned with salt and pepper or some Old Bay Seasoning which tastes really good.
After dipping in the flour and shaking off any excess, you’ll drop the floured chicken into some beaten egg mixture. Finally the chicken gets dredged in the breadcrumbs and the breading should be well attached to the chicken and ready for baking.
Baking the hot chicken tenders
You could place these on a baking tray and bake them just like this, but I prefer sautéing the oven baked chicken tenders in a little oil before sending them to the oven. This creates a crispier and darker crust on the breaded chicken. Cook for one to two minutes on each side and then transfer to a parchment lined pan with a wire rack on it.
What can I serve with my hot chicken tenders?
My maple Dijon dipping sauce is definitely the best sauce to use for these baked chicken tenders, it’s sweet from the Pure Maple Syrup with a mildly spicy kick from the Dijon mustard. You could also add one or two of your own favorite chicken dipping sauces such as ranch, teriyaki, buffalo or barbecue.
Recipe FAQ’S
Can I make my chicken tenders ahead of time Yes, you can complete the steps up until the chicken is breaded and then cover the tray with plastic and store in the fridge until you need to bake them. I’d recommend no longer than 24 hours
Are these hot chicken tenders really spicy It depends on your tolerance for spice level. I love spicy foods but I’d say these are definitely more on the milder side. If you prefer more spice but don’t want to ruin the chicken for everyone else, try saving a little of the spice mixture to sprinkle on your own chicken after cooking.
Are Panko breadcrumbs the best choice for breading the chicken I love how panko breadcrumbs always seem to turn out much crispier than regular breadcrumbs which always seem a little soggy.
Can these hot chicken tenders be deep fried? Yes they could be but the cooking time would be much quicker than baking in the oven.
Why does the chicken marinade in buttermilk? Buttermilk is a great tenderizer for chicken and also adds a tangy flavor making the cooked chicken juicy and tasty
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