This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
I’ll admit it—I was a little skeptical the first time I heard people were marinating chicken in pickle juice. But after trying it for myself, I understood why the technique has become so popular.
A quick soak in pickle juice helps keep the chicken tender and flavorful, while a crunchy coating of cornflakes and breadcrumbs bakes up beautifully crisp in the oven. They also turn out wonderfully in the air fryer if that’s your preferred cooking method.
These Crispy Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders have become a favorite because they’re easy enough for busy weeknights and pair well with just about anything. Serve them with a simple vegetable side dish, slice them into a salad or wrap, or enjoy them with your favorite dipping sauce.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders
- Crispy without deep frying.
- Tender, juicy chicken every time.
- Easy oven or air fryer recipe.
- Great for meal prep.
- Perfect for salads, wraps, sandwiches, or dipping.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Chicken tenderloins – Or slice boneless chicken breasts into strips.
- Dill pickle juice – The secret ingredient for tender, flavorful chicken.
- Egg + water – Helps the coating stick.
- Cornflakes – Create a wonderfully crisp coating.
- Breadcrumbs – Add structure to the breading.
- Cajun seasoning – Adds a little extra flavor without much heat.
Optional:
- smoked paprika
- garlic powder
- Parmesan cheese
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.
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.
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.
Step 9: Air Fryer Cooking Instructions – preheat air fryer to 400F degrees. Add coated chicken tenders to air fryer basket and cook for 5-6 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook for another 5-6 minutes, or until done.
Tips for Success
- Marinate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.
- Pat the chicken dry before breading so the coating adheres well.
- Spray generously with cooking spray to encourage browning.
- Don’t overcrowd the baking sheet or air fryer basket.
- Use an instant-read thermometer (affiliate link) and cook to 165°F.
Variations
- Gluten-Free – Use gluten-free breadcrumbs and gluten-free cornflakes.
- Spicy – Add cayenne or hot sauce to the egg wash.
- Ranch – Mix ranch seasoning into the coating.
- Parmesan – Add a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan to the breadcrumb mixture.
Serving Suggestions
Serve with:
- honey mustard
- barbecue sauce (affiliate link)
- ranch dressing
- steamed broccoli
- green beans
- coleslaw
- roasted potatoes
- fries or sweet potato fries
- on top of a salad
- tucked into wraps
How to Store Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in a 375°F oven or air fryer for a few minutes to restore their crispness.
How Many Calories and WW Points?
According to my calculations, each serving has 217 calories and 3 WW Points.
To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
5 PointsPlus (Old plan)
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.
Crispy Pickle Juice Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1-1/4 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
- 1 cup dill pickle juice
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 cup cornflakes, crushed
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Put chicken tenderloins in a gallon freezer bag. Add the pickle juice. Marinate for at least 4 hours, or overnight for the best flavor.
- 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.
Notes
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.) 5 PointsPlus (Old plan) Use gluten-free breadcrumbs, if desired. Substitute nut flour in place of breadcrumbs to keep 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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe source: Pickle-Brined Baked Chicken Tenders from SkinnyTaste
FAQs
Why marinate chicken in pickle juice?
The pickle juice helps tenderize the chicken while adding subtle tangy flavor.
Can I use chicken breasts?
Yes. Simply slice them into strips similar in size to chicken tenders.
Can I make these in the air fryer?
Yes. Air fry at 400°F until golden and the chicken reaches 165°F, turning halfway through.
(I’d leave out exact minutes unless you’ve tested them.)
Can I freeze them?
Yes. Freeze cooked tenders for up to 3 months.
Can I prepare them ahead?
Yes. You can marinate the chicken overnight, then bread and bake the next day.
very tender and delicious
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.
Hi Erica, I think crushed rice krispies would work as a substitute for cornflakes. ~Martha
Thanks! I’ll give it a try.
Amazing i loved them
What is the sodium count?
Can I omit the cereal or substitute something else with out carbs or low in carbs
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
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.
I don’t have Air fryer, is there another method I could use?
Hi Eveline, There are directions for cooking in the oven in the recipe as well! ~Martha
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!?
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
I made my own pickle juice. I found a recipe online. I just typed pickle juice recipe into Goggle search.