Jul 09 2026
RestaurantsCotham's In the CityChicken Tender Salad Recipe

Chicken Tender Salad Recipe

Time50m
Serves4

Make Chicken Tender Salad Recipe in just 50m. Get the full recipe with step-by-step instructions at pekinthechef.com.

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Ingredients

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Chicken & Breading

Method

Marinating & Breading

  1. 1

    Marinate chicken

    In a bowl, whisk buttermilk with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Add chicken tenders, coating well. Cover and refrigerate for 20-30 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to tenderize.

  2. 2

    Prepare breadcrumb coating

    In a shallow dish, combine panko breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese with a pinch of salt.

  3. 3

    Bread the chicken

    Remove each tender from the marinade, letting excess drip off. Dredge in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere on all sides.

  4. 4

    Bake the chicken

    Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Arrange breaded tenders on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush or spray lightly with olive oil. Bake 15-18 minutes, turning once, until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Salad Prep

  1. 5

    Prepare vegetables

    Wash and dry greens. Tear greens into bite-sized pieces. Slice cucumber, halve cherry tomatoes, dice avocado, and thinly slice red onion. If using corn, thaw or cook briefly until warm.

  2. 6

    Assemble salad base

    In a large salad bowl, place greens. Top with tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, red onion, corn, and optional shredded cheese.

Dressing & Assembly

  1. 7

    Make dressing

    Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, optional garlic powder, salt, and pepper until emulsified.

  2. 8

    Dress, assemble, and serve

    Toss the greens with dressing just before serving. Slice the chicken tenders and place on top of the salad. Sprinkle optional cheese if desired and serve immediately.

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