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These easy turkey tenders are low in fat but big on crunch! They’re made with lean, tender, juicy turkey and are perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce.

Turkey Tenders on a plate with dipping sauce

I don’t often crave fried or unhealthy foods. But something about watching football always makes me start dreaming about pizza, wings, and all those other greasy classics.

That’s when I know I need to make a batch of my low-fat turkey tenders! With hot, juicy turkey on the inside and a crispy, crunchy coating on the outside, they’re perfect to satisfy my game day cravings.

Don’t worry, these aren’t just another healthy food pretending to be as good as the real thing. They actually ARE! Even kids can’t get enough of them.

So whether you need something tasty for game day or just want a fun and delicious meal, make sure to whip up a batch of these delicious turkey nuggets!

How to make turkey tenders

This recipe uses a combination of shallow-frying and oven-baking for just the right amount of crunch without you spending forever over the stove.

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 425°F.

Step 2: Halve the turkey tenderloin lengthwise, then slice it into 2-inch pieces. You should end up with about 20 pieces.

Step 3: Place the flour on a medium-sized plate and the egg substitute in a shallow dish or pasta bowl. On another plate, combine the panko, Parmesan, and garlic pepper.

Step 4: Dredge each piece of turkey in the flour, dip it into the egg substitute, then dredge it in the panko mixture.

Step 5: Heat the oil in a nonstick frying pan.

Step 6: Add a few of the turkey pieces to the pan at a time. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, then transfer to a broiler pan.

Step 7: Once all the turkey pieces are on the broiler pan, place in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.

Step 8: Flip each piece of turkey, then bake another 5 minutes.

Allow the turkey nuggets to cool slightly, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce!

What to serve with turkey nuggets

These tenders are absolutely delicious all on their own. But when it comes to crispy nuggets, I just love eating them with a dipping sauce!

Classic condiments are always a great option. If you’re grabbing something from the store, look for low-sodium mustard, low-fat ranch, or sugar-free barbeque sauce.

You could also try my quick and easy tomato ketchup made in the slow cooker, or get a little fancier with my white wine mustard. Even 5-minute lime-avocado sauce would be delicious!

Storage

These turkey tenders are best served hot out of the oven. That’s when they will be their crispiest and juciest!

If you do have any leftovers, they can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure to allow them to fully cool before you store them so the condensation doesn’t make the crispy exterior soggy.

Close-up of three turkey nuggets

Other delicious turkey recipes

Turkey is a great lean protein to incorporate into your diet. And there are so many different ways to cook with it! If you’re looking for more turkey inspiration, here are a few recipes I know you’ll love:

You can also check out this collection of healthy diabetes-friendly dinner recipes for even more inspiration.

When you’ve tried this dish, please don’t forget to let me know how you liked it and rate the recipe in the comments below!

Turkey Tenders

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These easy turkey tenders are low in fat but big on crunch! They're made with lean, tender, juicy turkey and are perfect for dipping in your favorite sauce.
Author: Diabetic Foodie
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients 

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 425°F.
  • Halve the turkey tenderloin lengthwise, then slice it into 2-inch pieces. You should end up with about 20 pieces.
    1 pound turkey tenderloin
  • Place the flour on a medium-sized plate and the egg substitute in a shallow dish or pasta bowl. On another plate, combine the panko, Parmesan, and garlic pepper.
    ¼ cup all-purpose flour, ⅓ cup egg substitute, ¾ cup panko, 2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese, ½ teaspoon garlic pepper
  • Dredge each piece of turkey in the flour, dip it into the egg substitute, then dredge it in the panko mixture.
  • Heat the oil in a nonstick frying pan.
    1 tablespoon canola oil
  • Add a few of the turkey pieces to the pan at a time. Cook for about 2 minutes on each side, then transfer to a broiler pan.
  • Once all the turkey pieces are on the broiler pan, place in the oven and bake for 5 minutes.
  • Flip each piece of turkey, then bake another 5 minutes.

Notes

This recipe is for 4 servings. If you cut the turkey into 20 pieces, each serving will be 5 pieces.
Leftovers can be stored covered in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

Nutrition Info Per Serving

Nutrition Facts
Turkey Tenders
Amount per Serving
Calories
225
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
5.1
g
8
%
Saturated Fat
 
0.6
g
3
%
Trans Fat
 
0
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
2.2
g
Cholesterol
 
72.2
mg
24
%
Sodium
 
197.2
mg
8
%
Potassium
 
37.8
mg
1
%
Carbohydrates
 
11.2
g
4
%
Fiber
 
0.5
g
2
%
Sugar
 
0.3
g
0
%
Protein
 
32.5
g
65
%
Net carbs
 
10.7
g
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.