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Home » Recipes » Dinner Recipes

Baked Sourdough Discard Chicken Tenders

Modified: Apr 4, 2025 · Published: Aug 31, 2020 by Erica Schramek · This post may contain affiliate links. · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Healthier than deep-fried with delicious sourdough flavor, these juicy crispy Baked Sourdough Discard Chicken Tenders are sure to become a family favorite.

Toasting the bread crumbs, dry brining the chicken, and baking at a high temperature are the secrets to a crispy crust and tender juicy meat in this easy recipe.

Sourdough chicken strips on a white plate with fries and red dipping sauce.

If you prefer fried chicken strips I also have a recipe for Fried Sourdough Chicken Strips.

There are so many ways to use up an excess of sourdough discard. Try one of these recipes: Sourdough Discard Crackers, Sourdough Tortillas, Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies, Sourdough Pita Bread, Sourdough Cheese Scones, and Sourdough Oatmeal Pancakes.

Jump to:
  • Why You Will Love This Recipe
  • Recipe Ingredients
  • Step by Step Directions
  • Serving Suggestions
  • Storage, Reheating, and Freezing
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Expert Tips
  • More Sourdough Recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Save This Recipe to Your Email
  • 💬 Comments

Why You Will Love This Recipe

  • These Baked Sourdough Discard Chicken Tenders are a great way to use up extra sourdough discard.
  • These crispy chicken strips taste amazing. Your whole family is sure to ask for seconds.
  • They are quick to make. Most of the time listed in the recipe is for the chicken to brine in the refrigerator.

Recipe Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients to make these juicy Baked Sourdough Discard Chicken Tenders.

Chicken strips in a glass pie plate and salt in a white ceramic dish.

Skinless Chicken Breasts or Chicken Tenderloins: If using chicken breasts you will need to first cut them into 1-inch thick strips.

Tip: For tender juicy chicken, it is important to cut chicken strips across the grain. This makes the chicken fibers shorter so that the chicken tears easier and seems more tender.

Tip: Freeze the chicken breasts for 15-20 minutes to make slicing easier.

Salt: I add at least a pinch of salt to all of my recipes. Salt complements and intensifies the other flavors. For all of my recipes, I use Morton Kosher Salt which packs more densely than Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt. If you are using Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt you will want to double the amount of salt you add.

Bread crumb ingredients on a dark background.

Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are crunchier than regular breadcrumbs.

Parmesan Cheese: Mixing parmesan cheese into the bread crumbs after they have been toasted gives them extra cheesy flavor. For the best flavor use freshly grated parmesan not the stuff found in the green can.

Sourdough batter ingredients in a glass pie plate.

Sourdough Discard: The sourdough discard coats the chicken strips helping the breadcrumbs to stick.

Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds a hint of sweetness and aids in browning.

Dried Herbs and Spices: Dried parsley, sage, thyme, garlic powder, and smoked paprika add extra flavor to these chicken strips.

See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

Are you new to sourdough? I have plenty of information to help you on your sourdough journey.

  • How to Create Your Own Micro Sourdough Starter
  • Scrapings Method for Sourdough Starter
  • How to Dehydrate Sourdough Starter
  • Storing Sourdough Starter in the Refrigerator
  • Storing Sourdough Starter on the Counter
  • Best Containers for Storing Sourdough Starter and Discard
  • How Long Does Sourdough Discard Last?
  • What is the Difference Between Sourdough Starter and Sourdough Discard?
  • Best Gifts for Sourdough Bakers

Step by Step Directions

Raw chicken on a wire rack.

Step 1: Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.

Sprinkle the chicken evenly on both sides with about 1.5 teaspoons of kosher salt.

Place the chicken on a wire rack placed inside of a large baking sheet and refrigerate the chicken uncovered for 6 to 8 hours.

Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 20 minutes before baking. This will allow the chicken to come to room temperature. The room-temperature chicken will cook more evenly.

bread crumbs and melted butter in a sauce pan

Step 2: Melt butter in a frying pan over medium heat.

toasted bread crumbs in a skillet

Step 3: Add breadcrumbs and cook for 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs turn a light golden brown color.

Toasted bread crumbs in a glass pie plate.

Step 4: Transfer the bread crumbs to a shallow bowl, like a pie plate, and stir in the parmesan cheese.

Heat oven to 425°F (220°C).

Place a wire rack on a half-sheet pan.

Sourdough batter in a glass pie plate.

Step 5: Whisk together the sourdough discard, brown sugar, kosher salt, parsley, sage, thyme, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper in a second shallow dish. I like to use a pie plate.

Dip chicken strips into the sourdough batter.

Tip: Placing the breaded chicken tenders on a cooling rack to bake, allows the air to circulate evenly around the chicken, allowing the breading to get crispy on all sides without flipping.

Chicken strips coated in bread crumbs in a glass pie plate.

Step 6: Transfer chicken to the breadcrumb mixture and toss to coat. Pressing down lightly to help the breadcrumbs adhere.

Baked chicken strips on a wire cooling rack.

Step 7: Place the coated tenders on the wire rack and spray lightly with oil. Flip and spray the second side with oil. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C).

Serve with your favorite dipping sauce. Some of my favorites are honey mustard, BBQ sauce, ranch dressing,

Serving Suggestions

I like cutting the chicken strips into bite-sized pieces and serving them on top of this Kale Apple Salad. They can also be served plain or with your favorite dipping sauce.

Sauce Ideas:

  • Honey Mustard
  • Apricot BBQ Sauce
  • Buffalo Wing Sauce
  • Marinara Sauce or Pizza Sauce
  • Ketchup
  • Aioli
  • Ranch
  • Spinach Pesto
  • Chimichurri
  • Sweet Chili Sauce
  • Sweet and Sour Sauce

Need some side dish suggestions? Try this Cacio e Pepe Hash Brown Casserole, these Crispy Twice-Baked Potato Cups, Baked Provel Macaroni and Cheese, Asiago Creamed Spinach, or this Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad.

Storage, Reheating, and Freezing

Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.

To Reheat: Place the chicken tenders in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 15-20 minutes.

To Freeze: Cool the cooked chicken tenders to room temperature and then freeze them in a single layer on a baking sheet. Transfer to a zip-top bag, label with the date and contents, and store for up to three months.

To reheat frozen chicken strips: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and bake on a baking sheet for 15 minutes.

Read this post How to Cook Frozen Chicken Tenders for more information.

Sourdough chicken strips on a white plate with fries and red dipping sauce.

Recipe FAQs

Is dry brining chicken worth it?

Dry brining also known as salting is a great way to ensure moist meat with a little extra flavor without the extra mess associated with wet brining. Dry brining seasons the meat and changes the structure of the proteins to allow them to retain more of their moisture.

When chicken is dry brined the salt draws the juices inside the meat to the surface. The juices dissolve the salt and are then pulled, along with the dissolved salt, back into the meat seasoning the chicken throughout.

Once absorbed the salt breaks down or denatures the tough muscle proteins, like myosin, which allows the chicken to retain more moisture as it cooks.

How do you get the batter to stick to homemade chicken strips?

The batter sticks best when the exterior of the chicken is really dry. This is why we first pat the chicken dry with paper towels and refrigerate it uncovered for several hours. The dry air inside the refrigerator will help dry the exterior of the chicken.

How do you know when the chicken is fully cooked?

The most accurate way to ensure the chicken is fully cooked is to check it with an instant-read probe thermometer. This one from Thermoworks is my favorite. Fully cooked chicken should have an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

Expert Tips

  • Toasting the breadcrumbs before coating the chicken ensures a crispy coating.
  • Spraying the chicken with cooking spray helps to brown and crisp the chicken.
  • There is no need to flip the chicken strips while they bake. Placing the breaded chicken tenders on a wire rack to bake, allows the air to circulate evenly around the chicken, allowing the breading to get crispy on all sides without flipping.
  • If some of the chicken strips are smaller you may want to check them and remove them from the oven early.

More Sourdough Recipes

  • Close up of sourdough scones on a baking tray.
    Sourdough Scones with Sourdough Discard
  • Stack of waffles topped with berries on a white plate.
    Quick and Crispy Sourdough Waffles (Same Day)
  • Three slices of banana bread on a white plate.
    Easy Sourdough Chocolate Banana Bread
  • Three slices of banana bread on a white plate.
    Sourdough Discard Banana Bread

Thanks for Reading!

If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment and rate it below! You can also snap a picture and post it on Facebook or Instagram be sure to tag me @RaspberriesandKohlrabi.

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📖 Recipe

Sourdough chicken strips on a white plate with fries and red dipping sauce.

Baked Sourdough Discard Chicken Tenders

Author: Erica Schramek
Healthier than deep-fried with delicious sourdough flavor, these juicy crispy Baked Sourdough Discard Chicken Tenders are sure to become a family favorite.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 8 hours hrs 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 18 minutes mins
Total Time 8 hours hrs 38 minutes mins
Course Poultry Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 563 kcal
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Equipment

  • Wire Cooling Rack
  • sheet pan
  • shallow dish

Ingredients
 
 

  • 2 pounds chicken tenderloins
  • 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cups panko bread crumbs
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup sourdough starter
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon parsley
  • 1 teaspoon sage
  • 1 teaspoon thyme
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions
 

  • Pat the 2 pounds chicken tenderloins dry with paper towels.
  • Sprinkle the chicken evenly on both sides with 1½ teaspoons kosher salt.
  • Place the chicken on a cooling rack placed inside a sheet pan and refrigerate the chicken uncovered for 6 to 8 hours.
  • Remove the chicken from the refrigerator 20 minutes before frying.
  • Melt 3 tablespoons unsalted butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Add 2 cups panko bread crumbs and cook for 5 minutes until the breadcrumbs turn a light golden brown color.
  • Transfer to a shallow bowl like a pie plate and stir in the ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese.
  • Place a cooling rack on a baking sheet.
  • Whisk together the 1 cup sourdough starter, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt, 1 teaspoon parsley, 1 teaspoon sage, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, and ½ teaspoon ground black pepper in a shallow dish. I like to use a pie plate.
  • Dip the chicken into the batter.
  • Transfer chicken to the breadcrumbs and toss to coat. Pressing down lightly to help the breadcrumbs adhere.
  • Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
  • Place chicken on the baking sheet and spray lightly with oil. Flip and spray the second side with oil. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the internal temperature is 165°F (74°C).

Notes

Toasting the breadcrumbs before coating the chicken ensures a crispy coating.
Spraying the chicken with cooking spray helps to brown and crisp the chicken.
There is no need to flip the chicken strips while they bake. Placing the breaded chicken tenders on a wire rack to bake, allows the air to circulate evenly around the chicken, allowing the breading to get crispy on all sides without flipping.
If some of the chicken strips are smaller you may want to check them and remove them from the oven early.
Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
To Reheat: To reheat the chicken tenders place them in a 350°F (177°C) oven for 15-20 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 563kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 56gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 2341mgPotassium: 944mgFiber: 2gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 535IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 138mgIron: 3mg
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @raspberriesandkohlrabi or tag #raspberriesandkohlrabi!

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Comments

    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. Jennifer Littke says

    March 12, 2024 at 5:06 pm

    5 stars
    Just a comment, since this recipe is using sourdough discard, that might otherwise be discarded, why not use homemade sourdough breadcrumbs instead of panko breadcrumbs? It seems like using homemade sourdough breadcrumbs would add even more sourdough flavor to the chicken, and use up sourdough bread that might otherwise be discarded.

    Reply
    • Erica Schramek says

      May 04, 2024 at 3:29 pm

      That is definitely an option.

      Reply
  2. Teresa Smith says

    July 19, 2023 at 1:11 am

    Hi there! Just discovered your website, as I'm working on my sourdough starter and wish to do things with the discard. So thanks for your good ideas! My question: This Baked Chicken Strips using the Sourdough discard... you state in your notes prior to the recipe below it, to sprinkle with "1 1/2 TABLESPOONS OF SALT" for the dry brine. Then in the recipe it reads "1.5 TEASPOONS". So, since it's a brine, I would guess it's tablespoons, but you tell me which is accurate! Thanks in advance! Teresa

    Reply
    • Erica says

      July 19, 2023 at 12:27 pm

      I believe it should be 1.5 teaspoons. I have updated the recipe. Just to check did you see my note about kosher salt brands? The two main brands of kosher salt measure differently because the granules of salt are different sizes. If you are using Morton Kosher Salt you will want to use 1.5 teaspoons. If you are using Diamond Kosher Salt the granules are larger so you will want to double the amount of salt and use 3 teaspoons.

      Reply

Hi! I'm Erica

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I am a self-taught cook and the writer, recipe developer, food stylist, and photographer behind this blog.

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