Cheese-Stuffed Baked Chicken Tenders
Juicy chicken tenders filled with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, baked until golden and irresistible. This American-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs chicken tenders, mozzarella cheese sticks, grated Parmesan cheese for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 4, cut into 4-inch strips mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2, beaten large eggs
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- as needed cooking spray
Sheet pans that don’t warp in a hot oven → Best Sheet Pans in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide
Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →
Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F and lightly grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Step 2: Carefully butterfly each of the 1 lb chicken tenders by slicing horizontally without cutting all the way through.
- Step 3: Insert one mozzarella cheese stick strip into the center of each butterflied chicken tender, then fold the chicken back around the cheese, securing with toothpicks if needed.
- Step 4: In a shallow dish, mix 1 cup panko bread crumbs, 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
- Step 5: Place 1/2 cup all-purpose flour in a separate dish and 2 beaten eggs in another.
- Step 6: Dredge each stuffed chicken tender first in flour, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat evenly with the Parmesan-panko mixture.
- Step 7: Arrange the tenders on the prepared baking sheet, spray lightly with cooking spray, and bake for 20-25 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden and crisp.
- Step 8: Let rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.








