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–+ servings
crispy chicken tenders with a golden BBQ mustard sauce as a dipping sauce

Crispy Chicken Tenders

By: Alyona Demyanchuk
These Crispy Chicken Tenders are hand-breaded with the perfect blend of spices and made with a secret ingredient then fried until golden brown! Learn the secret in how to make chicken tenders like the Restaurants!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 24 chicken tenders
Course: Chicken, Main Dish
Cuisine: American

Equipment

  • pot or dutch oven

Ingredients

Crispy Chicken Tenders:

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • 2 2/3 Soybean oil for frying

Breading:

  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1 Tbsp garlic salt
  • 2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 2 Tbsp brown sugar

Wet Batter:

  • 1 cup cornstarch
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 2 eggs

Instructions

How to Make Crispy Chicken Tenders:

  • Cut each chicken breast into 4-6 strips. Prepare the breading and batter into two separate bowls.
    dry homemade breading for fried chicken and a bowl of wet batter for fried chicken strips being dredged and dipped in both before frying
  • Dip each piece of chicken into the breading then into the wet batter and then into the breading again. Shake off excess flour and repeat with the other chicken pieces.
  • In a large pot or dutch oven heat oil to 350°F. Fry chicken in small batches for 6 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
    homemade crispy chicken being fried in a large pot with soybean oil

Notes

Notes: can use canola or vegetable oil. 
  • Quick-Meat Tenderizer: let chicken strips sit in 1 tsp of baking soda and 2 Tbsp of white vinegar for 10 minutes. Then rinse and pat dry to proceed with the recipe. 
  • Coat Chicken in your favorite wing sauce!
  • To Make-Ahead: Keep tenders warm in a 250°F until serving for chicken wings to stay crispy. Toss with the wing sauce before serving if desired.
  • If your breading looks flat give it another dip in the slurry and flour.
  • Add a tablespoon of hot sauce to the cornstarch slurry for extra flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Crispy Chicken Tenders
Serving Size
 
1 chicken tender
Amount per Serving
Calories
114
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
2
g
3
%
Saturated Fat
 
1
g
6
%
Cholesterol
 
38
mg
13
%
Sodium
 
439
mg
19
%
Potassium
 
175
mg
5
%
Carbohydrates
 
15
g
5
%
Fiber
 
1
g
4
%
Sugar
 
1
g
1
%
Protein
 
9
g
18
%
Vitamin A
 
96
IU
2
%
Vitamin C
 
1
mg
1
%
Calcium
 
15
mg
2
%
Iron
 
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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