Chicken, Entrees, Recipes

The Best Paleo Chicken Tenders with Maple-Mustard Dipping Sauce

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These gluten-free and dairy-free Chicken Tenders with Maple-Mustard Dipping Sauce are the best paleo chicken tenders recipe you will find! You won’t be able to tell these are gluten-free!

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I am seriously excited to share this recipe with you all.  These are the best paleo chicken tenders I have had yet! I almost couldn’t believe these were gluten-free, and I made them! These gluten-free and dairy-free Chicken Tenders with Maple-Mustard Dipping Sauce are the best paleo chicken tenders recipe that tastes just like the classic version!

I used to make fried chicken all the time before I went paleo. So yummy, yet so harsh on my stomach.  After I transitioned to a more paleo way of eating and eliminated gluten from my diet I gave up on the classic dish.  I did try a gluten-free recipe made with almond flour and coconut flour, but it just wasn’t the same.  Earlier in the week, I had some leftover Cassava flour from my last Thrive Market haul that I wanted to use, and decided that since cassava flour proved to be such a perfect gluten-free alternative in my Strawberry Waffles, I wanted to see if it would perform the same way for fried chicken tenders.

The Best Paleo Fried Chicken Tenders you will ever make!

Guys, these were so great! They tasted just like the ones I used to make, only these are much healthier! No processed white flour or industrial oils here, just pure cassava flour and avocado oil.  But I swear, these taste just like your classic chicken tenders! These are definitely the best paleo chicken tenders I have had yet, and my husband agreed 100%!

The Best Gluten-free Chicken Tenders

My husband and I couldn’t stop commenting on how yummy these were, and he told me “You need to post this!” Cassava flour keeps proving itself to be my favorite gluten-free flour and I absolutely love cooking with it. It’s the best!  We both couldn’t believe by the taste that these were gluten-free.

The Maple-Mustard Dipping Sauce was the perfect finish to these gluten free chicken tenders.  Although these tasted great on their own, the maple mustard added a nice sweet and tangy finish that complemented the chicken tenders nicely.  I can’t tell you enough how delicious these paleo chicken tenders were and how excited I am to share these with you!

Perfect, Crispy Paleo Chicken Tenders

The Best Gluten-Free Chicken Tender
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

These gluten-free and dairy-free Chicken Tenders with Maple-Mustard Dipping Sauce are the best paleo chicken tenders recipe you will find! You won't be able to tell these are gluten-free!

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: paleo chicken tenders, the best gluten free chicken tenders
Servings: 8
Ingredients
  • 2 lbs chicken breasts cut into strips
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup cassava flour
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/3 cup avocado oil can also use coconut oil
For the Maple Mustard
  • 1/4 cup dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp onion powder
  • 1/4 tsp paprika
Instructions
  1. Add the eggs to a bowl and whisk.  In a separate bowl, add the cassava flour, salt, pepper, paprika and cayenne and mix well.

  2. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.


  3. Dip each chicken strip into the eggs and coat evenly, then coat with the flour mixture. 

  4. Place the coated tenders into the skillet and fry for 5 minutes on each side, until they are a golden-brown and there is no pink. Drain on paper towels.

  5. Add the ingredients for the sauce into a bowl and whisk until thoroughly combined.

  6. Serve the chicken tenders with the maple-mustard dipping sauce and enjoy!

The Best Paleo Chicken Tenders you will ever make!

11 Comments

  1. These look so yummy!! What would you recommend in place of eggs? I’m allergic and can’t have any eggs or dairy

    • Hi Jenna! The egg helps the batter stick to the chicken, but you might be able to use a bit of oil or coconut milk. I have also read that some have used vegan mayonnaise or mustard in place of eggs. It might alter the taste a bit but I bet it would be good!

  2. Cassava flour is something I haven’t tried yet. I am trying to eliminate processed flours from my diet. This recipe is one I may need to try!

  3. Thanks for this recipe. I was just looking for something like this!

  4. omg these looks so good! I’m ALWAYS on the lookout for more gluten & dairy free recipes!

  5. These looks great! That dipping sauce sounds delish too.

  6. I gotta try this recipe! I haven’t had that flour before but I am all about trying new foods that ads a healthy spin to my favorite foods. Do you like frying better with coconut oil or avocado oil?

    • Hi Sharon! Cassava flour is awesome, I’d definitely recommend it! As for coconut vs avocado oil, I love cooking with both, it mostly depends on the recipe I’m cooking. I can taste the slight coconut flavor when I cook with coconut oil, which I like, but in some recipes I prefer the light neutral taste of avocado oil. Most things I fry I prefer to use avocado oil, but I use coconut oil when I fry coconut shrimp! 🙂

  7. I’ve seen cassava flour at Whole Foods but haven’t tried it yet. I need to try this, I love fried chicken but can’t eat gluten anymore

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