Crispy Golden Chicken Tenders (Printable)

Golden breaded chicken strips with crispy coating, ideal for dipping in your favorite sauces.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb chicken breast fillets, cut into strips

→ Marinade

02 - ½ cup buttermilk
03 - 1 teaspoon salt
04 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
05 - ½ teaspoon garlic powder
06 - ½ teaspoon paprika

→ Breading

07 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
08 - 1 teaspoon salt
09 - ½ teaspoon black pepper
10 - ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

→ For Frying

13 - Vegetable oil, for deep frying

→ To Serve

14 - Barbecue sauce
15 - Honey-mustard sauce

# How to Make It:

01 - Whisk buttermilk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika in a bowl. Add chicken strips and marinate for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours refrigerated for enhanced tenderness.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: flour mixed with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika in the first; beaten eggs in the second; panko breadcrumbs in the third.
03 - Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each strip in flour mixture, dip in egg wash, then press firmly into panko breadcrumbs to coat evenly.
04 - Pour 2 inches of vegetable oil into a deep skillet and heat to 350°F.
05 - Fry chicken tenders in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to wire rack or paper towels to drain excess oil.
06 - Arrange hot chicken tenders on serving platter alongside barbecue and honey-mustard sauces for dipping.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The buttermilk marinade makes the chicken impossibly tender and juicy inside
  • Panko breadcrumbs create that extra crunchy coating that stays crispy even after dipping
  • These come together faster than ordering takeout and taste infinitely better
02 -
  • Overcrowding the pan drops the oil temperature and makes soggy chicken, fry in small batches
  • Let the drained chicken rest for two minutes before serving so the coating crisps up completely
03 -
  • Let the breaded chicken rest on a rack for ten minutes before frying to help the coating set
  • Keep a instant read thermometer handy to check that chicken reaches 74 degrees Celsius internally
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