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Pickle-Brined Baked Chicken Tenders

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These juicy, flavorful chicken tenders are marinated in pickle juice then breaded and baked in the oven or air fryer!

These juicy, flavorful chicken tenders are marinated in pickle juice then breaded and baked in the oven or air fryer!

While I was on set doing the photography for my next cookbook in Charleston, I was chatting with the food stylist and Helene, my photographer about (what else) food and we got to talking about Chick-fil-A somehow and Abbie mentioned the secret to their amazing chicken is pickle juice. What!!? My daughter Madison LOVES pickles, and we go through jars of them each month and I always hate tossing the juice, so I loved the idea of reusing it.

These juicy, flavorful chicken tenders are marinated in pickle juice then breaded and baked in the oven.

Helene shared a recipe she often makes from The Southern Made Fresh Cookbook where she brines her chicken breast and pan fries them, I was inspired to try this when I got home! I didn’t follow the recipe from the book, but I did brine my chicken for 8 hours as instructed in her cookbook. Glorious results, I loved this so much I even created a short video! This is a recipe I will be making again and again!

How To Make Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders

pickle brined chicken tenders

pickle juice brined baked chicken tenders-2

pickle juice brined baked chicken tenders

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Pickle-Brined Baked Chicken Tenders

4.75 from 55 votes
3
Cals:244
Protein:37
Carbs:10
Fat:6
These juicy, flavorful chicken tenders are marinated in pickle juice then breaded and baked in the oven or air fryer!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
These juicy, flavorful chicken tenders are marinated in pickle juice then breaded and baked in the oven or air fryer!
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 Servings
Serving Size: 3 tenders

Ingredients

  • 12 (1 & 1/4 lbs) chicken tenders or skinless breasts cut into strips
  • 1- 1/4 cup dill pickle juice, enough to cover the chicken
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup seasoned panko
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  • Place chicken in a shallow bowl and cover with pickle juice (enough to cover completely). Marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours.
  • After 8 hours, drain and dry the chicken completely on paper towels; discard marinade.
  • Preheat oven to 425F. Spray a large baking sheet with generously with oil.
  • Combine egg, egg white, salt and pepper in a medium bowl. In a shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs and panko.
  • Dip chicken in the egg wash, then into the breadcrumb mixture and shake off excess.
  • Place the chicken onto the prepared baking sheet and spray the top generously. Bake in the lower third of the oven until the bottom is golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Turn and bake 6 minutes, until golden.

Air Fryer Directions:

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400F. Spray the chicken on both sides with oil. Cook in batches in a single layer 5 to 6 minutes on each side.

Last Step:

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Nutrition

Serving: 3 tenders, Calories: 244 kcal, Carbohydrates: 10 g, Protein: 37 g, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 150 mg, Sodium: 422 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 1 g

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