WW Recipe of the Day: Pickle Juice Crispy Chicken Tenders
I'm all about eating healthier, but I'm also a firm believer in not wasting precious calories on food you don't like. Usually there is a way to take your favorite dish and lighten it up, without losing all the flavors and textures you love.
I'm a fan of "before" and "afters" from everything to house remodels, to makeovers, haircuts, weight loss, or even recipes. Nothing happens overnight and without work, but look at the amazing transformation in the end.
At Simple Nourished Living, Martha has become a master at doing just that. Some of my favorite posts are when she takes recipes from others and creates a Weight Watcher friendly version. The fat and calories have been reduced, but the same great flavors remain.
WW Friendly Crispy Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders
I think this recipe is along those lines. The pickle juice makes a perfect low-fat marinade for chicken. This lighter version lets me enjoy all the crispy crunchy goodness without any guilt.
Crispy Dill Pickles
When I looked out my window and saw this balloon, I knew I was on the right track!
Chick-fil-A Hot Air Balloon
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Recipe for Crispy Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders?
According to my calculations, each serving has 217 calories and:
4 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
2 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
2 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
5 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
How to Make Pickle Juice Crispy Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Gather and prepare all ingredients
Step 2: Place the chicken tenderloins in a gallon freezer bag and add the pickle juice. Marinate 8 hours, or overnight. (I made up some extra tenders and tossed them in the freezer.)
Step 3: When you're ready to bake the chicken tenders, preheat the oven to 425F degrees. Lightly grease a baking sheet (affiliate link) and set aside.
Step 4: Drain the chicken and pat dry.
Step 5: Add the egg and water to a bowl and whisk to combine.
Step 6: In a second bowl, add the breadcrumbs (I used almond flour), crushed cereal (I used purple corn flakes) and seasoning. Stir to combine.
Mixing crispy chicken tender coating
Step 7: Dip the chicken in the egg wash first and shake off any excess. Then add the chicken to the cereal mixture and pat to coat.
Preparing pickle juice chicken tenders for cooking
Step 8: Place coated tenders on prepared baking sheet (affiliate link). Spray lightly with cooking spray and bake for 8 minutes. Remove the pan and turn the chicken over, continue to bake for 7-10 minutes, or until thoroughly cooked and golden.
Crispy Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders
Step 9: Air Fryer (affiliate link) Cooking Instructions - preheat air fryer (affiliate link) to 400F degrees. Add coated chicken tenders to air fryer (affiliate link) basket and cook for 5-6 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until done.
Crispy Pickle Juice Chicken Breast Tenders Recipe Notes
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs, if desired.
- Substitute nut flour in place of breadcrumbs to keep the recipe gluten-free.
- Add a couple dashes of hot sauce to the beaten egg if you like it spicy.
- Buy fresh chicken in bulk, then freeze portions in the pickle juice. Just thaw and cook.
Plate of crispy pickle juice chicken tenders
Crispy Chicken Tender Serving Suggestions
- Serve tenders with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Makes a nice topping to just about any salad.
- KFC favorite, serve with mashed potatoes and corn.
- Enjoy chicken tenders alongside baked beans and your favorite slaw.
- Add to a biscuit for a southern style breakfast sandwich.
Ways to Use Chicken Tender Leftovers
- Enjoy them cold.
- Reheat in the oven, chop them up and add to a wrap.
- Toss them in your favorite casserole.
- Use as topping for a BBQ chicken pizza.
- Add to a buffalo chicken dip.
- Make chicken nachos or a quesadilla.
- Add to a broccoli and cheese stuffed baked potato.
Are You Ready To Firmly Plant Yourself
On The Path To Lasting Weight Loss Success?
If you've made these oven-baked or air fried Crispy Chicken Tenders, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.
Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1-¼ pounds chicken breast tenderloins
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup cornflakes, crushed
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Put chicken tenderloins in a gallon freezer bag. Add the pickle juice. Marinate 8 hours, or overnight.
- When ready to cook, preheat oven to 425F degrees and lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Alternatively, preheat air fryer to 400F degrees.
- Drain the chicken and pat dry.
- Add egg and water to a medium bowl and whisk to combine.
- Add bread crumbs, crushed cereal (I used purple cornflakes) and seasoning to a second bowl.
- Dip the tenderloins in the egg wash and shake off any excess.
- Then add the chicken to the crumb mixture and pat to coat.
Oven Baking Insctuctions:
- Place coated chicken tenders on prepared baking sheet and spray with cooking spray
- Bake for 8 minutes.
- Remove the pan and turn the chicken tenders. Continue baking for 7-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Air Fryer Instructions:
- Add coated tenderloins to preheated air fryer and cook for 5-6 minutes.
- Turn the chicken and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until done.
Recipe Notes
Recipe source: Pickle-Brined Baked Chicken Tenders from SkinnyTaste
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
If you like this recipe for Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders, you might also like
- Low-Fat Instant Pot Chicken Wings
- Grilled Spicy Chicken Thighs
- Crock Pot Caribbean Jerk Chicken
- Easy Chicken Satay
Brenda is a licensed esthetician and former small business owner after completing over 15 years of service with the United States military.
She is an essential oil enthusiast and avid home cooking for her husband and their two dogs.
Brenda and her family spend most of their time in the American Southwest, but they also love hitting the road for adventure.
One of her new passions is creating easy, healthy family-friendly freezer meals which can be prepared at home and frozen, and then cooked while traveling the country in their travel trailer.
She looks forward to sharing everything she learns with you here on Simple Nourished Living.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Brenda
This sounds good! My question is, what happens to the pickles once you dump the juice out of them? Do you wait until your out of pickles and save the juice to use? For me that would be quite some time!?
Martha McKinnon
I don't know what happens to pickles once you dup the juice out of them. The only thing I've ever done is use the excess juice that is not need to cover the pickles. Hope this helps! ~Martha
Eveline Simons
I don't have Air fryer, is there another method I could use?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Eveline, There are directions for cooking in the oven in the recipe as well! ~Martha
Marge
When I saw this recipe, I jumped to try it! Since I'm a pickle lover and commonly have several different kinds refrigerated at all times, I was anxious to see how they would taste. They were good - I used the juice of mixed hot pickles and the results were great. I also used the oven bake method of cooking.
Karen M Micheletti
Can I omit the cereal or substitute something else with out carbs or low in carbs
Martha McKinnon
Hi Karen, I've only made the recipe as written. You can omit the cereal if you like. Low carb alternatives to the cereal would include crushed nuts and/or pork rinds. Hope this helps. ~Martha
Suzann
What is the sodium count?
Heather Anderson
Amazing i loved them
Erica
This sounds delicious as I love pickles but never know what to do with all the juice once they're gone.
Do you think I could sub. rice krispies for the corn flakes? I have so many rice krispies right now, haha. Thanks.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Erica, I think crushed rice krispies would work as a substitute for cornflakes. ~Martha
Erica
Thanks! I'll give it a try.
Teresa Boyd
very tender and delicious