I absolutely love making Giada’s Matcha Chicken Tenders with Soy Citrus Sauce when I’m craving something crispy, crunchy, and full of flavor. The matcha gives the chicken a beautiful, earthy flavor, and the panko adds a satisfying crunch with every bite.

The soy citrus sauce is the perfect balance of tangy, sweet, and savory. This dish is so easy to whip up, and the best part is it’s comforting and fresh at the same time.

Serve these chicken tenders with a side of veggies or rice for a full meal. You can even make the sauce ahead of time—it only gets better as the flavors meld together.

Recipe Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 1 tbsp of soy sauce
• ½ tsp of orange zest
• ¼ cup of fresh orange juice (from 1 to 2 oranges)
• 1 tsp of toasted sesame oil
• 1 tsp of rice wine vinegar
• 1 tsp of agave syrup

For the Chicken:

• 1 ½ cups of panko bread crumbs
• 2 tsp of matcha powder
• ½ cup of all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp of kosher salt
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 lb of chicken tenders

How To Make Giada Matcha Chicken Tenders with Soy Citrus

1. Prepare the Oven: Preheat your oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. Make the Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, orange zest, orange juice, sesame oil, rice vinegar, and agave syrup. Set it aside to let the flavors combine while you work on the chicken.
3. Prepare the Chicken Coating: In a shallow dish, combine the panko bread crumbs and matcha powder. In another dish, mix the flour with ½ tsp of kosher salt. In a third bowl, beat the eggs until smooth.
4. Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken tender into the seasoned flour, then the beaten eggs, and finally coat it with the matcha panko mixture. Repeat with all the chicken tenders.
5. Bake the Chicken: Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they’re spaced apart. Bake for 10 minutes or until golden and fully cooked through.
6. Finish and Serve: Once baked, sprinkle the remaining ½ tsp of kosher salt over the chicken tenders. Serve them immediately with the soy citrus dipping sauce on the side.

Recipe Tips

• Adjusting the Crunch Factor: If you want extra crunch, try double coating the chicken by dipping it into the egg and panko mixture twice. This gives an even thicker, crunchier texture for each bite.
• Using Bone-In Chicken: If you prefer bone-in chicken, like chicken drumsticks, they can be used instead of tenders. Just keep in mind that cooking time will be longer, around 20-25 minutes, depending on the size.
• Spicing It Up: Add some heat to the soy citrus sauce by mixing in a pinch of red pepper flakes or a small amount of chili paste. This adds a nice kick without overpowering the flavor.
• Making the Sauce Ahead: The soy citrus sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead of time. Storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator lets the flavors blend and intensify for a richer taste.
• Substituting Matcha Powder: If you don’t have matcha powder, you can use green tea powder as a substitute. Though it won’t have the same bold flavor, it will still give a nice green color and a mild flavor.

Recipe FAQs and Variations

Check out More Recipes:

• Giada Roman-Style Fettuccine with Chicken
• Giada Stuffed Chicken Parmesan
• Giada Chicken Saltimbocca