Orange chicken, meet chicken tenders. Chicken tenders, meet orange chicken. Now that we’re all BFFs, it’s time to combine these two culinary classics into a single family-friendly, finger-lickin’ favorite: Baked Orange Chicken Tenders!
Ditch the deep fryer. Skip the freezer aisle. Toss the takeout menus. We’re going homemade all the way. Extra-crispy chicken tenders are baked to golden brown perfection then dunked in a DIY sauce starring a breakfast beverage favorite: not-from-concentrate Florida’s Natural Orange Juice.
I’ve partnered with the fine folks at not-from-concentrate Florida’s Natural® Orange Juice to whip up this quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for palates of all ages. This California girl married a Florida boy, so I’ve been traveling to the Sunshine State for more than a decade. If there’s one thing I love about Florida, it’s the endless orange groves that produce the state’s finest fruit. And I’ve been a longtime fan of Florida’s Natural Orange Juice because it’s made from one single ingredient: 100 percent real Florida oranges.
Pair that fresh citrus flavor with plenty of garlic and ginger, add some soy sauce and hoisin sauce to the setup, and you have the makings of the ultimate homemade orange chicken. Serve these sticky-sweet chicken tenders as a party appetizer, gameday snack or weeknight entrée, and find inspiration for all things orange chicken with additional recipes for Orange Chicken Meatballs and Crispy Orange Chicken Wings!
Craving more? Subscribe to Just a Taste to get new recipes, meal plans and a newsletter delivered straight to your inbox! And stay in touch on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram for all of the latest updates.
Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Florida’s Natural for an exclusive endorsement of not-from-concentrate Florida’s Natural® Orange Juice. This blog post is sponsored by Florida’s Natural®. All opinions are my own.
Ingredients
For the chicken tenders:
- Olive oil
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 1/4 cup orange juice
- 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 1/4 lbs uncooked chicken tenders
- Cooking spray (optional)
For the sauce:
- 1 cup orange juice
- 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/2 cup orange marmalade
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 Tablespoons low sodium soy sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or more to taste (optional)
Instructions
Make the chicken tenders:
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and brush it liberally with olive oil.
- Add the flour, 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper to a large, shallow bowl, whisking to combine. Add the eggs and orange juice to a second large, shallow bowl, whisking to combine. Add the Panko breadcrumbs to a third large, shallow bowl.
- Rinse and pat the chicken tenders dry. Dip each tender in the flour, shaking off any excess, then into the egg mixture, shaking off any excess, and finally into the breadcrumbs, pressing them to adhere to the chicken. Place the coated chicken tender on the prepared baking sheet and repeat the breading process with the remaining chicken tenders. Spray the top of the chicken tenders lightly with cooking spray. (This is optional, but it leads to a more golden brown color and crunch.)
- Bake the chicken tenders for 15 to 20 minutes, rotating them once halfway through, until they are fully cooked. While the tenders bake, prepare the sauce.
Make the sauce:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice and cornstarch. Set the mixture aside.
- Add the sesame oil and olive oil to a medium saucepan set over medium-low heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for about 2 minutes until golden brown.
- Add the orange marmalade, hoisin sauce, soy sauce and crushed red pepper flakes (optional) and increase the heat to medium. Whisk in the orange juice mixture then bring the mixture to a boil and continue cooking the sauce, whisking occasionally, until it is thick enough to coat the back of a spoon.
- Remove the chicken tenders from the oven, allow them to cool for 10 minutes then then dip them, one by one, into the sauce. Transfer the coated chicken tenders to a plate and serve immediately.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
Shoutout
Did you try this recipe?
Share it with the world! Mention @justataste or tag #justatasterecipes!
Recipe by Kelly Senyei of Just a Taste. Please do not reprint this recipe without my permission. If you'd like to feature this recipe on your site, please rewrite the method of preparation and link to this post as the original source.
Disclosure: I’ve partnered with Florida’s Natural for an exclusive endorsement of not-from-concentrate Florida’s Natural® Orange Juice. This blog post is sponsored by Florida’s Natural®. All opinions are my own.
Had to leave a reply to comment on how tasty these were!! Loved them!! Here in the UK ‘orange chicken’ isn’t as much of a thing, I remember having it years ago when in the US in the mall… so seeing this recipe on Instagram made me have to give it a go. this is now a new favourite takeaway style chicken dish! Yum!!
Yay! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Clare!
Hi Kelly: I made these for a Super Bowl party this past Sunday and they were a big hit! I made lots of them once I was in the groove so we have delicious leftovers for lunch, snacks or meals.
Awesome! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Betty!
My kids loved these chicken tenders. We’ll be making them again for sure!
OK, I’m definitely not your average reader. I’m old, a bachelor, an enthusiastic but not natural cook & a Canadian. BUT…I can ‘t be the only person in the world who doesn’t know what a “chicken tender” is.
Tom no worries Sir. A chicken tender is any boneless skinless cut of chicken meat you prefer sliced lengthwise to be a chicken strip (tender). Although most people would prefer to use white meat (breast meat) for tenders. Your supermarket should have chicken tenders readily available but it may save a few cents in cutting your own.