Diabetic Chicken Tender Recipes

This healthy Mustard Baked Chicken Tenders recipe is super simple and deliciously flavorful. You can serve as-is, or dish it up over rice or a salad to soak up the tasty mustard sauce!

Did you know that chicken tenders are also referred to as chicken fingers or chicken strips? Whatever you call them, be sure to make them with a tangy, zesty mustard sauce.

This recipe for baked chicken tenderloins is one I return to when I want something easy, healthy, and delicious! And it will become your favorite too!

Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders

First, the flavor is just wonderful. Mustard and chicken pair so well together, add in a few other simple ingredients and you have amazingly delicious chicken tenders.

At first glance, you may be thinking to yourself, “That’s a lot of mustard. Isn’t this super spicy?” Well, it definitely has a little kick, but it’s not that strong. I have served it to many different people (kids included) and it has always been popular!

Second, boneless skinless chicken breasts (or chicken tenderloins) are a fantastic protein option for anyone focused on eating a healthy diet. They are lean, delicious, easy to cook, and full of protein.

Diabetes Friendly Almond Crusted Chicken Strips Recipe

Chicken tenderloins need minimal prep before cooking since they have little to no fat to trim off. You just toss them in an easy and healthy sauce or marinade and bake. This is exactly what we’ll do in this recipe!

I love how simple this dish is to throw together! The mustard sauce is simple to prep, and chicken tenders are very easy to bake as long as you keep an eye on them.

Step 3: Pat dry the chicken and add to the mustard sauce. Toss to coat each piece of chicken with the mustard marinade.

Diabetes Friendly Recipe: Chicken Tenders With Spicy Tomatoes And Black Beans

To check the doneness of the chicken tenders, cut one halfway through. If the juices are clear and the meat is white, it’s ready!

For this recipe, you can use either whole chicken breast that you cut into tenders or the smaller chicken tenderloins (often just called chicken tenders on the packaging). Chicken tenderloin is just as lean and nutritious as chicken breast, so it’s a great option if you can get it.

The exact baking time depends on the size of your chicken tenders so you should check a few times to see if they are fully cooked. You never want to eat undercooked chicken, but the tenders will get dry if you overcook them.

Maple Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe With Waffles: The Perfect Southern Dinner Or Brunch

To tell if the tenderloins are done, cut into one at the halfway point (where the tenderloin is the thickest). If the juice runs clear and the meat is white, not pink, then your tenderloins are ready.

A foolproof way to check for doneness is by using an instant-read meat thermometer. The USDA recommends that chicken be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165˚F at the thickest part of the meat.

This baked chicken tenders recipe has a very simple mustard-based sauce. Though the marinade is simple to make, the flavors are full and complex. Best of all, there is no need for added oil or sugar.

Crispy Barbecue Chicken Tenders Recipe: How To Make It

With these delicious and versatile flavors, you really can’t go wrong! But if you wanted to add more variety, check out these suggestions:

I love serving these chicken tenders over a bed of steamed low-carb vegetables and cauliflower rice so the rice can soak up more of the mustard sauce. I also enjoy tossing leftovers in some leafy greens and using the mustard sauce as a tasty salad dressing.

Other ways to enjoy baked chicken tenders are in a lettuce wrap or simply with a side of veggies for a quick and healthy meal.

Diabetic Lemon Chicken Recipe

But what I love most about this recipe is that these tenders are a great source of protein. A 4-ounce serving of baked chicken tenders has a whopping 28.5 grams of protein and only 2.1 grams of net carbs.

According to CDC and professional chefs across the world, you should not wash raw chicken before cooking it. Washing chicken can actually spread more germs and increase the risk of cross-contamination. Cooking chicken thoroughly will kill any bacteria, so washing it is not necessary.

Chicken tenders often have a tendon or what some refer to as a vein that runs all the way across the tenderloin. Though it’s a bit tough when cooked, the tendon is edible, so it’s up to you if you want to remove it.  

Healthy Chicken Tenders Recipes

Boneless and skinless chicken does not need a lot of time in the oven. At 425˚F, chicken tenders should take no longer than 15-20 minutes, especially covered with aluminum foil. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the tenderloins. The best way to check for doneness is to insert instant read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken and when it reads 165˚F, your chicken is done.

I love finding more and more tasty ways to incorporate chicken as a lean and healthy protein. If you do too, here are a few more recipes I know you’ll love:

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Lemon Chicken With Rosemary And Garlic

Chicken food safety: To check the doneness of the chicken tenders, cut into one at the thickest part of the tenderloin. If the juice runs clear and the meat is white, not pink, then your tenderloins are fully cooked. Alternatively, you can use an instant-read meat thermometer and insert it into the thickest part. Once it registers 165˚ F , the chicken is done.

Serving suggestions: You can serve the chicken by itself, or consider serving it with something to soak up the mustard sauce, such as rice or leafy greens.We know how frustrating it is to eat with dietary restrictions. Fortunately, chicken is a lean type of meat that’s high in protein, so there are many diabetic chicken out there to choose from. That said, these diabetic baked chicken tenders are very safe for people who need to be wary of their blood sugar level. No need to compromise flavor and let go of your favorite dish when you can cook it in a healthy and delicious way.

Most people think that any diabetic meal would lack taste, but not these baked chicken tenders. It’s seasoned with spices like paprika and Italian seasoning. The parmesan cheese also adds flavor to the crushed cereal coating. Since we’re baking it, it will also have less oil and fat. Try this baked chicken recipe for diabetics and serve it with a side dish of green beans with feta .

Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders

This diabetic baked chicken has earthy and herby flavors from Italian seasoning and a hint of spice from the paprika. It’s tender on the inside and made crispy on the outside with a crushed cereal coating.

The best meats for diabetics are those considered lean meat which has close to no grams of fat and the least calories among other meat options. Some examples are poultry like chicken and turkey, fish such as cod and tuna, shellfish like clams, crab, lobster, and shrimp, and game meat such as duck and venison.

Chicken is rich in protein and protein, in general, is not harmful to people with diabetes because it doesn’t contribute to the rise in blood sugar levels. The amount of protein that diabetics and non-diabetics can consume is almost the same. But the recommended daily amount of protein intake is 5½ ounces. This could be half a serving of roasted chicken breast or a piece of baked chicken thigh.

Is Chicken Good For People With Diabetes? Sugar.fit

If you’re looking for some healthy chicken breast to serve to your health-conscious loved ones, then this baked chicken breast for diabetics can be one of those. It’s crispy, moist, and well-seasoned with herbs, spices, and Parmesan cheese.