Easy Homemade Chicken Tenders Recipe

Making homemade chicken tenders can be a fun and easy task for anyone, even if you have limited experience in cooking. It’s a tasty and healthier alternative to buying frozen, pre-cooked chicken strips that are high in sodium and preservatives. With just a few simple ingredients and some basic kitchen equipment, you can have delicious and crispy chicken tenders in no time.

To begin, you’ll need fresh chicken breasts (preferably free-range or organic), all-purpose flour, eggs, bread crumbs, and your favorite spices and seasonings. The key to making quality chicken tenders is to cut the chicken into thin strips and to coat them evenly with the flour, egg, and bread crumbs mixture. Whether you’re serving them as a quick snack, appetizer, or a main dish, these homemade chicken tenders will surely be a hit with your family and friends. So let’s get started on making this delicious dish!

Ingredients

Chicken tenders are a classic favorite for many. What better way to enjoy them than by making them from scratch at the comfort of your own home? Before we dive into the recipe, let’s take a look at the ingredients needed.

1. Chicken breast

The most important ingredient in chicken tenders is, of course, chicken. You will need chicken breast for this recipe. Make sure it’s fresh, skinless, and boneless.

2. Flour

Flour is used to coat the chicken tenders. All-purpose flour is the most common type used for this recipe.

3. Eggs

Eggs are used to help the flour stick to the chicken. You will need two eggs for this recipe.

4. Milk

Milk is added to the eggs to create an egg wash that helps the flour stick to the chicken.

5. Salt and pepper

Salt and pepper are used to season the chicken tenders to taste.

6. Garlic powder

Garlic powder adds a delicious garlic flavor to the chicken tenders. It’s optional, but highly recommended.

7. Paprika

Paprika adds a smoky flavor to the chicken tenders, as well as a nice color. It’s optional, but highly recommended.

8. Cooking oil

You will need cooking oil to fry the chicken tenders. Vegetable or canola oil works best.

9. Dipping sauce

Chicken tenders are usually served with a dipping sauce. You can make your own by mixing mayonnaise, ketchup, and mustard together.

10. Breadcrumbs

Breadcrumbs are used to make the chicken tenders crispy. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs for a crunchier texture.

Instructions

Now that you have all the ingredients, it’s time to make the chicken tenders.

1. Cut the chicken breasts

Start by cutting the chicken breast into thin, even strips. Make sure they are all around the same size so that they cook evenly.

2. Season the chicken

Season the chicken tenders with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix the spices together and rub them onto the chicken evenly.

3. Coat the chicken in flour

In a shallow dish, add the flour and coat the chicken tenders evenly. Shake off any excess flour.

4. Make the egg wash

In another shallow dish, beat the eggs and add the milk. Mix well to create an egg wash.

5. Coat the chicken in the egg wash

Dip the flour-coated chicken tenders into the egg wash, making sure they are fully coated.

6. Coat the chicken in the breadcrumbs

In a third shallow dish, add the breadcrumbs and coat the chicken tenders evenly. Press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken gently.

7. Fry the chicken tenders

Heat the cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, add the chicken tenders and fry for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown.

8. Drain excess oil

Once the chicken tenders are cooked, remove them from the skillet and place them on paper towels to remove any excess oil.

9. Serve with dipping sauce

Serve the chicken tenders hot, with your favorite dipping sauce on the side.

10. Enjoy!

Now that you know how to make homemade chicken tenders, it’s time to enjoy your delicious creation. Whether you’re serving them as an appetizer or a main dish, these chicken tenders are sure to become a family favorite.

The Ingredients You’ll Need

Before you start making your homemade chicken tenders, you’ll need to gather all of the ingredients required to make them. Some ingredients will be easy to find in your pantry, while others may require a quick trip to the grocery store. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

1. Chicken breast – To make homemade chicken tenders, you must have chicken breast at your disposal. Cut the chicken breast into thin strips, which will be the chicken tenders.

2. Flour – Flour will be used to coat the chicken tenders before frying. It helps in creating a crispy outer layer.

3. Eggs – You’ll need eggs to make the egg wash that’ll help the flour stick to the chicken tenders.

4. Breadcrumbs – Breadcrumbs will be used as the final coating of the chicken tenders. It helps in creating a golden-brown, crispy texture.

5. Salt – A little bit of salt will be added to taste to the chicken tenders.

6. Pepper – Black pepper will be used to add a little bit of heat to the chicken tenders.

7. Paprika – Paprika will be used to add a little bit of spice to the chicken tenders.

8. Garlic powder – Just a little bit of garlic powder will be used to add flavor to the chicken tenders.

9. Cooking oil – Cooking oil, preferably vegetable oil, will be used to fry the chicken tenders.

10. Dipping sauce – Finally, to serve your homemade chicken tenders, you’ll need a delicious dipping sauce. Ketchup is the most common sauce to serve with chicken tenders, but you can also use barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch dressing.

Now that you’ve gathered all of the ingredients needed to make delicious homemade chicken tenders, it’s time to move on to the next step – the preparation!

Preparing the Chicken Tenders

Now that you have gathered all your ingredients, it’s time to work on the chicken tenders themselves. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Before preparing the chicken tenders, the oven should be preheated to 425°F. This will ensure that the tenders cook at the right temperature and come out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.

Step 2: Slice the Chicken

Take the chicken breasts, and slice them lengthwise into strips of around 1 inch wide. Ensure that they are roughly the same size so they cook evenly in the oven.

Step 3: Marinating the Chicken Tenders

To make your chicken tenders even more flavorful, marinating is a must. Take a bowl and mix together the buttermilk, salt, and pepper. Soak the chicken tenders in this mixture, and give them enough time to absorb the flavors. You can marinate them overnight for best results, but they will still be delicious even after 30 minutes of marinating.

Step 4: Coating the Chicken Tenders

The next step is to coat the chicken tenders in the breading mixture. Use your preferred breading mixture, but make sure it includes flour, seasoned salt, garlic powder, and paprika. Combine the ingredients together in a separate dish.

Take the marinated chicken tenders and coat both sides with the breading mixture. Make sure that the tenders are fully coated, and then place them on a prepared baking sheet.

Step 5: Bake the Chicken Tenders

Bake the chicken tenders for about 20 minutes or until they are golden brown on both sides. You can check if they are done by cutting into the thickest part of the tender. They should be white and completely cooked through. Serve them immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.

Now that you know how to make homemade chicken tenders, you can impress your family and friends with crispy, delicious tenders that don’t require any deep frying. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, parties, or even meal prepping. Give it a try and enjoy the comfort of home cooking!

Time to Fry Up Some Delicious Homemade Chicken Tenders!

Now you know the secret to making homemade chicken tenders that are crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and oh-so-satisfying to eat. You can now show off your cooking skills to your friends and family, or enjoy them all to yourself. Thank you for taking the time to read this article, and we hope that you enjoyed learning how to make your very own chicken tenders. Don’t forget to visit us again soon for more simple and delicious recipes!