Description
Crispy chicken tenders deliver golden, crunchy perfection with a delightful blend of seasoned breading and tender meat. Guaranteed to satisfy hunger, these crowd-pleasing morsels promise delicious comfort you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 500 grams (1.1 pounds) chicken breast, cut into strips
Breading and Seasoning:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Liquid and Cooking:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Oil for frying
Instructions
- Submerge chicken strips in buttermilk and refrigerate for 30-45 minutes to enhance tenderness and flavor absorption.
- Create a seasoned coating by combining flour with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a wide, shallow container.
- Extract chicken strips from buttermilk, allowing excess liquid to drip away, then thoroughly coat each piece in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Prepare a large skillet with oil, heating to 180C/350F until the surface appears shimmery and rippling, indicating optimal frying temperature.
- Gently introduce chicken strips into the hot oil, maintaining space between pieces to prevent overcrowding and ensure consistent crispiness. Fry for approximately 4-5 minutes per side, rotating once to achieve a deep golden-brown exterior and fully cooked interior.
- Transfer fried chicken tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil and maintain crispness. Allow brief resting period before serving with complementary dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or tangy BBQ.
Notes
- Use buttermilk at room temperature to help chicken absorb more flavor and create a more tender texture.
- Experiment with different spice blends in the flour mixture for unique flavor profiles like adding cayenne for heat or dried herbs for complexity.
- Let chicken rest after coating to help breading adhere better and create a crunchier exterior during frying.
- For gluten-free option, replace wheat flour with cornstarch or gluten-free flour blend to maintain crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg