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

Crispy Chicken Tenders

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 24 chicken tenders
Author: 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!

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:

  • dry homemade breading for fried chicken and a bowl of wet batter for fried chicken strips being dredged and dipped in both before frying
    Cut each chicken breast into 4-6 strips. Prepare the breading and batter into two separate bowls.
  • 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.
  • homemade crispy chicken being fried in a large pot with soybean oil
    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!

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 per serving

Serving: 1chicken tenderCalories: 114kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 9gFat: 2gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 38mgSodium: 439mgPotassium: 175mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 96IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 15mgIron: 1mg