Panko Chicken Tenders with Lemon-Nut Dipping Sauce

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Crispy, buttery, tangy, and cheesy, these panko chicken tenders with lemon-nut dipping sauce are perfect as a main dish or appetizer.

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 large egg
1 cup panko bread crumbs
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying, or as needed
1/2 cup finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/2 cup salted butter
1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
salt and ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1 Combine flour, salt, and pepper with a fork in a bowl. Beat egg in a second bowl. Place panko in a third bowl.
2 Dust chicken tenders with flour mixture to coat. Drench in egg, then in panko until completely coated.
3 Bring oil up to sizzling in a large frying pan. Add tenders and fry until golden brown on the outside, no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear, 3 to 5 minutes per side.
4 Remove tenders to a paper towel-lined plate and sprinkle with Pecorino Romano cheese.
5 Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add walnuts and saute for 1 minute. Transfer walnut-butter mixture to a food processor; add lemon juice and parsley. Pulse or puree to preferred consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Serve sauce with warm tenders.