Popcorn & Pretzel Chicken Tenders

Name: Popcorn & Pretzel Chicken Tenders
Prep time: 25 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6 servings (1 cup sauce).
Ingredients: 1-1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins; 1 cup buttermilk; 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1 teaspoon salt; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 3/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt; 1/4 cup peach preserves; 1 tablespoon prepared mustard; 4 cups miniature pretzels, crushed; 2 cups air-popped popcorn, crushed; Cooking spray

My daughter, Alivia, thought it would be tasty fun to coat chicken tenders with two of our favorite movie-watching snacks, popcorn and pretzels. Crunchy and crispy, they bring on a lot of smiles when served with a creamy and sweet mustard sauce. —Suzanne Clark, Phoenix, Arizona

Ingredients

1-1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins
1 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
3/4 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
1/4 cup peach preserves
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
4 cups miniature pretzels, crushed
2 cups air-popped popcorn, crushed
Cooking spray

Directions

In a large bowl, combine the first six ingredients; toss to coat. Refrigerate, covered, at least 30 minutes. In a small bowl, mix yogurt, preserves and mustard; refrigerate until serving.
Preheat oven to 400°. In a large shallow dish, combine crushed pretzels and popcorn. Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Dip both sides of chicken in pretzel mixture, patting to help coating adhere. Place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet; spritz with cooking spray.
Bake 20-25 minutes or until coating is golden brown and chicken is no longer pink. Serve with sauce.

Nutrition Facts

1 serving with about 2 tablespoons sauce: 296 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 67mg cholesterol, 636mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 2g fiber), 33g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 starch.

Originally published as Movie Time Chicken Crunch Strips with Creamy Mustard Dipping Sauce in Taste of Home September/October 2013