Best breaded baked chicken

 

Ingredients

Breadcrumb

• 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs 
• Oil spray/Pam spray

Batter

• 1 egg
• 1 tbsp mayonnaise
• 1 1/2 tbsp dijon mustard (or other mustard)
• 2 tbsp flour
• 1/2 tsp salt
• Black pepper

Chicken

• lb chicken tenderloins (or breast cut into 2/3" / 1.5cm thick slices, lengthwise)
• Oil spray

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 390F.
• Line baking pan with parchment paper. Spread panko on a baking tray, spray with oil (spray vertically to avoid blowing the panko off the tray), then bake for 3 to 5 minutes until light golden. 
• Place a rack on a baking tray (not critical but bakes more evenly)-spray with PAM.
• Place the Batter ingredients in a bowl and whisk until combined.
• Add the chicken into the Batter and toss to coat.

Crumbing (see video & photo in post)

• Pick up chicken with tongs and place it into the panko bowl or place on sheet.
• Sprinkle surface with breadcrumbs, then press down to adhere. Transfer onto baking tray. Marvel at clean fingers, repeat with remaining chicken.
• Spray lightly with oil, sprinkle with a touch of salt (optional). Bake 15 minutes (medium) or up to 20 minutes if gigantic. Any longer = dried out chicken.
• Remove from oven and serve immediately, with Sauce of choice (Honey Mustard pictured, see Note 2) and sprinkled with fresh parsley, if desired.