Description
These homemade fried chicken tenders are unbelievably crispy and juicy, coated in a seasoned flour mixture and fried in a cast iron skillet for a perfectly crunchy exterior and tender interior.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch strips or 2 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 eggs, beaten
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1 carrot (to keep oil clean and test temperature)
- Dipping sauces such as ketchup, barbecue sauce, or honey mustard
Instructions
- Step: Set up drenching stations with eggs whisked in a shallow bowl and sheet pans with wire racks.
- Step: Rinse and pat chicken dry, cut into 1-inch strips, pound with a meat mallet if necessary, and mix with salt to coat.
- Step: In a large bowl, combine flour, ground black pepper, salt, cayenne pepper, ground paprika, dried thyme, dried oregano, and onion powder.
- Step: Dip one piece of chicken into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, and finally back into the flour mixture, then set on a wire rack.
- Step: Repeat the process for all remaining chicken strips.
- Step: Heat 2-3 inches of vegetable oil in a large cast iron skillet or Dutch oven; add a carrot and wait until it sizzles before carefully adding the tenders.
- Step: Fry tenders for 3 minutes per side or until the crust is golden brown.
- Step: Remove cooked chicken with a slotted spoon to a wire rack to drain.
- Step: Serve and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
Storing: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or in the freezer for several weeks. Reheating: Reheat at 400°F for 5–10 minutes or until heated through.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 strip
- Calories: 97 kcal
- Sugar: 0.1 g
- Sodium: 248 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Trans Fat: 0.01 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 46 mg
Keywords: fried chicken tenders, buttermilk-free, crispy chicken strips, dairy-free fried chicken, homemade chicken strips