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Best Crispy Honey Mustard Pretzel Chicken Tenders Recipe

crispy honey mustard pretzel chicken tenders - featured image
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These crispy honey mustard pretzel chicken tenders are oven-baked with a salty, buttery pretzel coating and a sticky-sweet honey mustard glaze. Quick, easy, and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds chicken tenders (or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 cups crushed pretzels (mini pretzel twists or pretzel sticks)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ⅓ cup honey
  • ¼ cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place 2 cups of pretzels in a food processor and pulse until you get a mix of fine crumbs and small chunks. Transfer to a shallow bowl and stir in garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
  2. Set up three shallow bowls: first with ½ cup all-purpose flour, second with 2 large eggs and 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard whisked together, third with seasoned pretzel crumbs.
  3. Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Working one piece at a time, dredge in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg mixture, letting excess drip off. Press firmly into pretzel crumbs, coating all sides. Place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Repeat with all pieces. Let rest for 5 minutes.
  4. Bake for 12 minutes, then flip each tender carefully. Bake for another 8 to 10 minutes, until coating is deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  5. While chicken bakes, combine ⅓ cup honey, ¼ cup Dijon mustard, 2 tablespoons yellow mustard, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and a pinch of cayenne in a small saucepan. Whisk over medium heat until it comes to a gentle simmer. Let bubble for 2 minutes, then remove from heat.
  6. Once chicken is done, brush each tender generously with warm honey mustard glaze. Let rest for 2 minutes before serving.

Notes

Don’t skip the flour step—it helps the coating stick. Let the coated chicken rest for 5 minutes before baking to prevent coating separation. For extra crunch, use a wire rack to allow air circulation. Watch the glaze carefully as honey burns quickly.

Nutrition

Keywords: chicken tenders, honey mustard, pretzel crust, oven-baked, crispy chicken, easy dinner, kid-friendly

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/best-crispy-honey-mustard-pretzel-chicken-tenders-recipe/