🍗 Crispy Chicken Tenders (Extra Crunchy & Juicy)
Golden on the outside, tender inside — perfect for dipping.
🛒 Ingredients (4 servings)
- 1½ lbs chicken tenders (or chicken breasts cut into strips)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 egg
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch (key for extra crispiness)
- 1½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Oil for frying (vegetable, peanut, or canola)
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Marinate
In a bowl, whisk buttermilk and egg. Add chicken and marinate at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight in the fridge).
2️⃣ Make the coating
In another bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
3️⃣ Dredge
Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off.
Press firmly into flour mixture, coating well.
For extra crunch: dip back into buttermilk, then dredge again (double coat).
4️⃣ Fry
Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
Fry in batches 4–6 minutes until deep golden brown and internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C).
Drain on a wire rack (keeps them crisp).
🔥 Oven Version
- Preheat to 425°F (220°C).
- Place coated tenders on a greased rack over a baking sheet.
- Spray lightly with oil.
- Bake 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway.
🌪 Air Fryer Version
- 400°F (200°C) for 10–12 minutes.
- Flip halfway and spray lightly with oil.
🥣 Great Dipping Sauces
- Honey mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Ranch
- Buffalo sauce
If you’d like, I can also give you a spicy Nashville-style version or a Chick-fil-A copycat version.
