Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders

Disclosure: This post is sponsored in partnership with Canadian Turkey. As always, all opinions are our own.

Summer is my favourite season of the year! Everything slows down and the daily routine of the school year has flown out the window. Life is less structured and way more relaxed. Even when we’re not officially on “vacation”, for me, the entire summer feels somewhat like one big holiday…a holiday that I am always sad to see come to an end.

However, the reality is, with the end of summer around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about getting myself and my family back-to-school ready!  Making the transition from relaxed days, later bedtimes, sleeping in and weekend fun to schedules, routines, and healthy habits can be a challenge for busy families.  Come September, tips, and tricks that help you get organized are essential, so you can deal with getting kids ready for busy weekdays packed with school, activities, sports, and homework.  

On top of the to-do list?  Getting prepped for back-to-school breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks!  In addition to regular meal demands, many parents have to juggle picky eaters, dietary restrictions, and a variety of eating schedules, all while making sure meal choices deliver good quality nutrition.  With these everyday challenges, anything you can do to make your meal decisions easier and healthier is a big win, starting with meal planning.  Why not think turkey?  Choosing healthy, nutritious foods like Canadian turkey makes your job super-easy!

Turkey is a protein-packed staple that can be the anchor of any meal – breakfast, lunch, snacks or dinner.  It works to fuel your family with essential protein and nutrients.  Turkey packs a big punch with each 100-gram serving providing about 30 grams of high-quality lean protein. Turkey is also packed with nutrients like vitamin B12, selenium, and zinc.

You can easily put Canadian turkey on your plate every day and feel good knowing that you are feeding your family healthy and nutritious food that will get everyone through their days filled with energy and good-for-you fuel!  

This recipe for Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders make a perfect weekday lunch or dinner staple.  These finger-friendly treats make a nutritious and delicious meal that kids can self-serve with their favourite dipping sauce.  Pack them in lunches or have them on hand for a quick but satisfying snack. Turkey thighs make these moist, tender and full of big flavor, and you can feel good knowing they’re oven-baked and packed with protein!  You can also batch cook these ahead of time and freeze in meal-size portions to have on hand for quick school lunches and busy weeknight dinners.  

I am sharing this delicious recipe for Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders. A really helpful downloadable, 5 TIPS TO MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EASY WITH CANADIAN TURKEY, as well as, a fabulous giveaway for a $75.00 prepaid Visa gift card.

Just keep scrolling down to see more.

5 TIPS TO MAKE BACK-TO-SCHOOL EASY WITH CANADIAN TURKEY

1.  Batch It!

Turkey is the perfect choice for batch cooking.  Plan for recipes that are easy to scale and cook extra turkey to provide planned leftovers, so you can cook once and eat twice!  

2.  Get Healthy!

Turkey is a great source of protein, important minerals, and nutrients.  Power-up your plate without having to compromise on flavour with this tasty ingredient.

3.  Keep It Simple!

Turkey can be cooked ahead of time and freezes well, so you can have an easy meal on hand during rushed weeknights and busy weekends.

4.  Versatility Plus!

Turkey adapts to all of your favourite flavour profiles and spice combinations, and with so many cuts to choose from you can find choices that please the whole family. Turkey is a delicious option for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  You can serve it hot or cold, and it tastes great the next day, too!

5.  Boost It!

Add turkey to your favourite dishes for an instant protein boost!  Salads, soups, pasta sauces and casseroles all benefit from the added nutrients turkey contributes.

You can easily download these great tips by simply clicking on the highlighted text – 5 TIPS TO MAKE BACK TO SCHOOL EASY WITH CANADIAN TURKEY.

PIN IT –  Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders

Print Recipe

4.84 from 12 votes

Big-Crunch Oven-Baked Turkey Tenders

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Turkey Tenders:

• (2) 1 lb boneless, skinless turkey thighs
  
  
• 1 tsp EACH - garlic powder, sweet paprika, powdered mustard
  
  
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 egg, 2 egg whites, lightly beaten
• 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  
  
• 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
  
  
• Salt and pepper to taste
  
  

  Roasted Red Pepper Cream Cheese Dip: 

• 1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, drained
  
  
• 2 tbsp cream cheese
  
  
• 2 tbsp Greek yogurt
  
  
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
  
  
• 1 tbsp chopped green onions
  
  
• 1 tbsp olive oil
  
  
• Salt and pepper to taste
  
  

Instructions

Turkey Tenders

• Slice turkey into 1 cm slices.  If thicker, pound to about 1 cm thickness.  
  
  
• Season the tenders with garlic powder, paprika, mustard powder and salt and pepper to taste.
  
  
• Prepare your breading station with three shallow bowls.  Place flour in one bowl, egqs in another bowl, and breadcrumbs and cheese in another bowl. Season all with a pinch of salt and pepper.

  
  
  
• Set the oven to broil.
  
  
• Take each slice of turkey and dredge in flour.  Dip in egg and then coat with breadcrumb mixture on both sides, pressing breadcrumbs to adhere well.
  
  
• Place oven rack in the middle of the oven.  Broil, for 6-8 minutes per side, until turkey is no longer pink and cooked through.  Flip once during cooking, when the breadcrumbs are browned.  (Timing may vary depending on size and shape of fingers). Let cool slightly before serving.
  
  

Dipping Sauce

• For the dipping sauce, blend together peppers, cheese, yogurt, parsley, onions, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.  

  
  
  
• Serve turkey tenders with dipping sauce on the side.
  
  

TIP: These tenders taste great the next day and make a fabulous lunch.  Turkey breast works well in this recipe too.  Change up your dipping sauce with your kid’s favourites; honey mustard, ranch, hummus and BBQ all work well and can be packed up for lunch or snacks.

If you looking for additional tips, recipes and HOW TO’s, follow the #TurkeyMakesItEasy hashtag and visit canadianturkey.ca for all your cooking inspiration. The recipe section is filled with delicious recipes for full meals, snacks, appetizers, and kids’ favourites.  And there are videos, tips and how to’s that provide everything you need to know to get tasty, nutritious and versatile turkey on your table every day!

GIVEAWAY TIME

WIN –  $75 prepaid Visa gift card for one lucky reader to help you get back-to-school ready with Canadian turkey!

DATES – Giveaway closes at 11:59 PM AT on September 6, 2019

ELIGIBILITY – Open to residents of Canada 18+.

TO ENTER – Using the Giveaway Tools form below, simply follow the instructions, complete the mandatory entries, (which unlock the optional entries), plus any or all the optional entries for your chance to win this prize.

Best of luck everyone!