Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

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The breading on these spicy chicken tenders is perfectly PrimaFoodie-approved, meaning it's gluten-free and filled with nutrients. The cayenne packs a heat punch, which you can dial up or down depending on your desired spice level. And if you love hot sauce, this one is as delicious on its own and is perfect for adding flavor to any regular meal. 

This recipe yields 4 - 5 servings.

Ingredients 

3-4 large chicken breasts cut into 2/3-inch thick sticks
1 egg
1 tablespoon mayonnaise ayo
1 ½ tablespoon dijon mustard
1 tablespoon lemon juice
¾ cup almond flour
½ cup blanched almonds ground in a coarse mixture (or you can use more almond flour)
½ teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon sea salt alt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ teaspoon garlic powder

Nashville Hot Sauce:
1/2 cup unsalted butter
3 tablespoons cayenne pepper
3 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 
1 tablespoon honey 

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with lightly oiled parchment paper. Set aside.

  2. In a large bowl, whisk all the liquid ingredients. Dip the chicken tenderloins in the egg mixture and let rest for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the almond coating.

  3. Place the almonds in a grinder or small food processor and pulse in 5-second bursts until it forms a coarse crumb.

  4. In a bowl, whisk coarse almonds, almond flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pick up the chicken tenderloins one at a time and place them in the bowl with almond flour coating. Sprinkle coating and press down to allow the coating to stick. 

  5. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes then flip and bake for another 7-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Remove promptly to prevent dry chicken tenders. 

  6. Add all the Nashville hot sauce ingredients to a saucepan. Stir over low heat until combined. Mixture may not be completely smooth and that's okay. Coat tenders in the sauce or serve sauce on the side. Enjoy!

Tips

**You can air fry leftover chicken tenders and toss on top of fresh green salads or into tacos, a sandwich, a wrap, or use as the base of chicken salad.