These Crispy Paleo Chicken Tenders will blow your mind and tastebuds! They are Whole30 friendly nut free, grain free, sugar free – “breaded” with a mixture of cassava, coconut flour and savory spices. Super kid friendly and great with all your favorite dips!
Well hey there! Can someone remind me what day it is?! We’re officially back from Hershey Park (at least physically) and that means I can stop trying to be fun mom and go back to being boring tired mom. Phew!
Being fun mom is harder than you might think, especially when it involves going on rollercoasters PLUS trying to keep my eyes inside their sockets when my kids are eating cookie ice cream sandwiches larger than Adam’s head (no joke) and trying not to cry while reading the ingredients in those make-your-own-Hershey bars. I was good, really, I was! And, everyone had tons of fun, which means that mommy had tons of fun, too.
Even though I definitely loosen up when we’re away from home with food rules and such, I have limits, for sure. One of those limits is fried food, like chicken tenders and fries. I swear, it seems like every time I’ve allowed my kids to eat chicken fingers and fries their little tummies rebel, and now I just have to say NO altogether, for my own sanity and of course their health.
Luckily at home, crispy chicken tenders with fries are not only a whole lot healthier, but also really easy to make! I’ve experimented with many different variations in “breading” and spices, and this recipe today for crispy paleo chicken tenders are the favorite so far.
Yes, these chicken tenders are still fried, but I use refined organic coconut oil to pan fry to just the right amount of crispiness. The cassava and coconut flour blend makes these nut free and high in fiber as well!
If you haven’t yet tried cassava flour, I highly recommend it! It’s ground yuca (cassava) root, and very starchy yet grain free. It gets very crispy and pairs with coconut flour so well for these chicken tenders! Cassava flour also works great in so many baked goods. For a totally different recipe involving cassava flour, check out my cookie dough truffles!
So, I guess I can still be fun mom as long as I keep coming up with healthy ways to make kid friendly food, like these Paleo chicken tenders. They’re husband friendly too, in case that’s an issue for your family as well. For dipping, we love creamy ranch dip, maple chipotle ketchup or BBQ sauce <–you can also find my go-to recipe for crispy baked sweet potato fries with the BBQ sauce 🙂
Crispy Paleo Chicken Tenders {Whole30 & Nut Free}
Crispy Paleo Chicken Tenders {Whole30 & Nut Free}
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins organic, sliced evenly
- 1 egg whisked
- 3/4 cup Cassava flour*
- 1/4 cup Coconut flour*
- 2 tsp fine grain sea salt
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup plus up to 2 tbsp more of cooking fat - refined coconut oil light olive oil, or your preference
Instructions
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In a large bowl, combine the cassava flour, coconut flour, salt, and spices. In a small bowl, whisk your egg. For this recipe, you will be coating the chicken in the egg, then grain free flour/spice mixture, and then pan frying.
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Heat a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat and add your cooking fat of choice**
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Test the oil by dropping in a tiny bit of the breading to see if it sizzles. Adjust your heat accordingly.
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Begin to dredge each chicken tenderloin in the whisked egg, followed by the flour mixture. Shake off excess and add to the skillet, repeat until the skillet is filled up***
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Cook on one side until golden brown and crisp, then carefully turn each one over to cook the second side. Add up to 2 tbsp more cooking fat if necessary, and adjust the heat either up or down for even browning.
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Once both sides are evenly golden brown and the middle is cooked through, transfer the chicken tenders to a baking sheet lined with paper towel to drain excess oil.
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Repeat the process for the remaining chicken tenders, adding more oil and adjusting heat if necessary.
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Serve hot with your favorite dip. Enjoy! Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and reheated in the oven to retain the crispy exterior.
Recipe Notes
*I used Anthony's Goods brand cassava flour and coconut flour
**For best results, I recommend either refined coconut oil or light flavored olive oil
***You can fry the chicken in batches if your skillet isn't large enough to accommodate.
What I Used to Make My Crispy Paleo Chicken Tenders
Want more kid friendly Paleo dinner recipes? Try one of these!
Mini Sweet Potato Bacon Burgers
Loaded Chili Sweet Potato Fries
What are your limits with your kids when out to eat?
What’s your favorite healthy kid friendly dinner?
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Could I use Tigernut flour instead of Cassava?
These turned out so good! My 7 year old son loved them, and he’s been kind of off chicken for a little while, even chicken strips. I enjoyed them too. I’ll be putting this into the rotation for sure, but may try them in the oven with butter! Thank you for another great recipe 🙂
Tasted great! Is it ok to bake these as well? If so what would you bake at?
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