Everyone loves fried chicken tenders. They’re an easy and economical dinner that are also great for kids and work just as well with French fries or a salad.
Our fried chicken tenders recipe requires just a few ingredients and a surprisingly little amount of time. You just might never reach for a bag of frozen chicken tenders again.
Ingredients for Fried Chicken Tenders
- Chicken tenderloins: You can use fresh or frozen (unbreaded) tenders, but if using frozen, make sure they’re fully thawed before you start the recipe.
- Buttermilk: Buttermilk keeps the chicken moist and tender as it cooks. If you don’t have it on hand, you can quickly make buttermilk from scratch.
- Flour: Well-seasoned all-purpose flour is the main dry ingredient for the chicken’s coating. That’s all you need for flavor in our fried chicken tenders recipe.
- Seasonings: Keep it simple. Garlic powder, salt, pepper and paprika is all it really takes to flavor the flour for the chicken’s coating.
- Oil: A neutral cooking oil with a high smoke point is what you want for frying chicken tenders. The best oils for frying include canola, vegetable and peanut.
Directions
Step 1: Make separate bowls of wet and dry mixtures
In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg and buttermilk together. In a separate shallow bowl, stir together the flour, garlic powder, pepper, salt and paprika.
Step 2: Dip and coat the chicken tenders
Set up an assembly line of the wet and dry mixtures, along with the chicken tenders. One by one, dip the chicken tenders in the egg mixture, then the flour mixture, gently patting the flour into the tender so it sticks.
Editor’s Tip: Make sure to press the chicken firmly into the flour, and if there are any clumps, leave them! Those flour clumps make tasty flakes in the fried chicken tenders. Another one of our favorite fried chicken tips: double dredge!
Step 3: Fry the chicken tenders
In an electric skillet, cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven, heat the oil to 375°F. Fry the chicken tenders, a few pieces at a time, for two to three minutes on each side or until the meat is no longer pink. Drain on paper towels, then sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
Editor’s Tip: This deep-frying temperature chart lays out a lot of basics about frying up your favorite foods. When cooking chicken, make sure the internal temperature registers at least 165° to ensure it’s safe to eat.
Recipe Variations
- Spice it up: Add different herbs and seasonings to the flour. Some great picks could be dried thyme, Old Bay, smoked paprika or a pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Use bread crumbs: These seasoned chicken strips call for bread crumbs instead of flour, and a bit of mustard mixed with the egg for dipping. They have lots of flavor!
- Make air-fryer chicken tenders: Skip the deep fryer and give our air-fryer chicken tenders recipe a shot.
How to Store Fried Chicken Tenders
Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container for up to three days in the refrigerator (and here’s how long cooked chicken lasts in the fridge). There are lots of ways to reheat fried chicken, including in an air fryer, oven or toaster oven.
How to Freeze Fried Chicken Tenders
To freeze fried chicken tenders, let the tenders cool, then freeze them on a baking sheet for about two hours. Move the tenders to a freezer-safe resealable bag or an airtight container, and store in the freezer for up to two months. Reheat in a 350° oven until warmed through and crispy, 20 to 25 minutes.
Fried Chicken Tenders Tips
How do you get the breading to stick to fried chicken tenders?
To get breading to stick to fried chicken tenders, make sure the meat is dry before you dip and dredge it. Also, pat the coating into the tenders, and let them rest for a few minutes before frying them. Here are more breaded chicken tips to help make the best fried chicken tenders.
How do you get crispy chicken tenders?
For crispy chicken tenders with a perfectly golden-brown coating, make sure the oil is heated to 375° before adding the chicken. That way the chicken starts cooking immediately, and it won’t absorb too much oil. Also, don’t crowd the pan. Cook the tenders in batches, and make sure the oil returns to temperature before adding more.
What can you serve with fried chicken tenders?
You can serve dips and sauces with fried chicken tenders, along with any favorite side dishes for fried chicken. Think about what you like at your fave restaurant: fries, coleslaw, salad. For sauces, barbecue, honey mustard, ranch, blue cheese or sriracha mayo are just a few homemade condiment recipes you can serve with chicken tenders.
