“Magic" Chicken – it’s so easy & fast that it’s like of like magic! (2 variations)

"Magic" Chicken is ready to go into the oven.

     Chicken tenders are so handy and quick cooking and this recipe, including prep and cooking time takes just about 20 to 25 minutes. We almost always pound chicken tenders (creating  “cutlets”) to insure that  they cook evenly and quickly + the portion size “seems” to increase as the poultry is flattened.

     Rather than the usual breading technique (involving dipping into wet and dry ingredients), I simple smear the “cutlet” with mayo and then cover with bread crumbs and bake. It doesn’t get much easier. And, the side dish, Calico Quinoa, is also an equally quick fix.

Since our original posting, we've added another recipe option -- both are good but we now prefer the revised recipe at the bottom of this post! 

"Magic" Chicken -- Original Recipe   Ingredients & instructions for 1 serving

1 chicken tender

1 scant tablespoon mayonnaise (regular, reduced fat or olive-oil based)

About 1 tablespoon dry bread crumbs with about ½ tsp. Italian seasoning mixed in

Thyme sprigs, optional

1.  Preheat oven to 425°.

2.  Line a baking sheet with foil. (You’ll be glad you did when it’s clean up time!)

3.  Pound the chicken tender a couple to times until it flattens and is of an even thickness.

We put the chicken tender in a plastic bag & then pound it with the bottom of a saucepan.

4.  Position tender on foil-lined baking sheet; spread with mayo and top with bread crumbs and thyme.

5.  Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until chicken in thoroughly cooked.

Dinner for Two—"Magic" Chicken, Calico Quinoa & Steamed Asparagus are all ready in less than 30 minutes.

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Revised Recipe -- Basically the same, but in this version we used Panko and then bake the chicken on a rack which keeps the bottom of the chicken really crisp . . .

"Magic" Chicken - Revised Recipe    Ingredients & instructions for 1 serving

(The amounts below are for 1 chicken tender; when I’m doing this in quantity, I just dump a bunch of mayo in a pan, a bunch of Panko and oil – I really don’t measure!)

1 scant tablespoon mayonnaise

About 1 tablespoon Panko with enough olive oil drizzled in to make the crumbs slightly moist

1 chicken tender

1.  Preheat oven to 425°.

2.  Line a baking sheet with a cooling rack; spray rack with pan spray.

3.  Put mayonnaise in a low, flat container for dipping.

4.  Mix Panko with olive oil in a low, flat container for dipping.

5.  Immerse chicken tender in mayonnaise to coat, shaking off excess. Then dip in Panko, coating both sides.

6.  Arrange breaded chicken tenders on cooling rack. Ideally they should be refrigerated for at least a couple of hours (overnight is fine, too) as this helps coating stick as chicken bakes.

7.  Preheat oven to 425°

8. Bake 15 min.+, until bread crumbs are golden brown. (170° internal temp).