Golden Chicken Tenders (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Marinade
01 -
2 lbs chicken tenders
02 -
1 cup of buttermilk
03 -
1 1/2 tsp of salt
04 -
1/4 tsp cayenne
05 -
1/4 tsp garlic powder
06 -
1/4 tsp of paprika
→ Breading
07 -
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
08 -
1 1/2 cups flour
09 -
3 tbsp of buttermilk
10 -
1 heaping tsp of salt
11 -
3/4 tsp garlic powder
12 -
3/4 tsp pepper
13 -
3/4 tsp paprika
→ Cooking Oil
14 -
3–4 cups of vegetable oil for frying
# Instructions:
01 -
Put chicken tenders in a large zip-top bag. Add buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and salt. Seal, then use your hand to squish the bag until the chicken's all coated. Place the bag in a bowl to avoid spills and pop it in the fridge for a few hours or overnight for extra flavor.
02 -
Grab a big bowl and mix the flour, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, salt, and baking powder. After everything's blended, drizzle in the buttermilk and stir with a fork. This helps form little clumps, which are great for making it extra crispy.
03 -
Cover a baking sheet with foil to save cleanup time. Pull the chicken from the soak, a few pieces at a time, and toss them in the coating mix. Press the crumbs onto each piece to make them stick. A pro tip: try one hand for wet pieces and the other for the flour to avoid messy hands.
04 -
Spread paper towels over another baking sheet. Pour oil into a pot until it's about 3/4-inch high. Heat it on medium-high until shiny, like 350°F. To test, toss in a small bread piece – it should sizzle. Carefully use tongs to add a batch of chicken to the oil without overpacking it. Cook one side until golden, then flip. Remember, pieces might look lighter in oil than on a plate! Lay each cooked piece on the towels and finish the rest.
05 -
Time to eat! These crunchy, juicy tenders taste awesome with any dip you love.
# Notes:
01 -
People love this! The chicken marinates in a seasoned buttermilk mix and gets fried into crispy, golden goodness.
02 -
Frying hides how browned your chicken is. Pull one out and check on paper towels to see the true color!
03 -
Freeze leftovers for a quick meal later. Just bake at 350°F on a rack set over a sheet till crispy, flipping halfway through.