Best Chicken Tenders Ever

Chicken Tenders are my favorite food in the whole world and I’m not ashamed of it! Well, overcooked chicken tenders are, actually, but I realize I’m an odd duck so don’t worry, as written these tenders come out perfectly done and juicy.

There are a few steps, but they’re very well worth it and overall it’s not a very complicated thing to make. This recipe works well with nuggets and bone-in chicken, you’ll just need to adjust the cooking time. I have a few fried chicken recipes here already you might wanna go for instead, tho.

Best Chicken Tenders Ever Ingredients

Feel free to jump to the full recipe, but here are useful notes about the ingredients you will need to make this Best Chicken Tenders Ever recipe:

• Chicken tenderloins or strips: On an average day I’m gonna use boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into thin slices, but if they were on sale or whatever I’ll use tenderloins. Check out my method for removing the tendons here.
• Egg: We use eggs to thicken the buttermilk dredge. It helps create the crunchy craggies that I’m such a big fan of but can be left out of this recipe without too much of a difference. If you have time tho, don’t skip it. Or try it both ways and see what you prefer!
• All-purpose flour, cornstarch, baking powder: If you use self-rising flour that’s totally fine of course – I use it for my Simple Fried Chicken recipe purposefully – but you can omit the baking powder. The baking powder and cornstarch add lift to the exterior.
• Buttermilk: It’ll tenderize – too much if you leave it too long. I don’t recommend marinating boneless chicken – especially small pieces – in buttermilk for more than 6-8 hours.
• Hot sauce: Not enough to make it spicy, just enough to really get in there and flavor the meat. I’m a Texas Pete girl as you probably already know. Use your favorite or whatever you have on hand.
• Seasoned salt: I’m a Lawry’s girl. Use what you want. Not plain salt tho, that’s boring! At least season it. Homemade seasoned salt, look at that!
• Powdered sugar: I know, sounds weird. There is no sweetness to these, but it does round out the flavor and temper the spice if you’re sensitive. I assume that if you’re reading this you’ve been with me a while so just trust me and go with it. If you’re new and we don’t have that rapport yet, you should still trust me! But, you can omit this if you like.
• Paprika, granulated garlic, cayenne pepper, cracked pepper: You’re gonna liberally season your flour with these. Use more if you look closely at the flour and can’t actually see the
• Oil: I like peanut oil for the high smoke point and the fact that it’s reusable without picking up the flavor of whatever you fried before. It’s pricey tho, so vegetable/canola oil or Crisco work just fine.

How to Make Best Chicken Tenders Ever 

Full instructions are included in the recipe below, but here is a basic overview of what you’ll need to do, along with some important tidbits to help you make the most of this Best Chicken Tenders Ever recipe:

• Season your chicken. The recipe calls for about a teaspoon of seasoned salt for all of the chicken. and cover it with one cup of buttermilk and the hot sauce. You can use more seasoned salt if you like  Stir it up so all the chicken is coated. No tender left behind! Soak in the fridge for at least half an hour, but no longer than overnight. You don’t want chicken that tastes like buttermilk.
• Prepare to dredge. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs and the remaining buttermilk. In another bowl – or a large bag – whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and remaining spices. Remove the chicken from the fridge about 15 minutes before you’re ready to batter them. Remove the tenders from the bowl one by one, allowing excess to drip off before lightly dredging in the flour mixture. You don’t want or need a thick coating, just a dusting really.
• Do the dredging. Dip the tender into the egg/buttermilk mixture, then back into the flour. Now this second time, coat the tender well, pressing the flour into the chicken to help it adhere. This is how you develop what I call ‘crunchy craggies’. Set the coated tenders on a plate or baking sheet to rest while you coat all of the tenders. Try to leave a little space between them so they can air out evenly, but that’s not mandatory.
• Get to frying. Heat your oil to 365°F. Use an oil thermometer if you need it. Allow the chicken to rest at room temperature while the oil preheats. Fry the chicken in small batches – do not crowd the pan! – for about 7-10 minutes each, turning halfway through if needed. Tenders generally float when the inside is cooked through, but a thermometer is the only way to be 100% sure. Drain on a wire rack over a baking sheet. If you drain them on paper towels I will hunt you down!

What To Serve With Best Chicken Tenders Ever

OK so what DOESN’T go with chicken strips, I mean really? They’re the best and they go with everything; I’m not interested in any arguments saying otherwise so keep them! 😅

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