This easy Fried Chicken Tenders recipe is marinated in homemade buttermilk, dredged in seasoned flour, then deep fried to a crispy golden brown. The garlic and seasonings make this fried chicken strips recipe irresistible.
These pan-fried chicken strips use boneless skinless chicken breasts but you can also use boneless skinless chicken tenderloins.
This small batch recipe for two makes a great lunch, dinner, or impressive romantic date night meal.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauces. These homemade chicken tenders also go great with this Mashed Potato Casserole, or this Easy Chicken Gravy, or this Creamy Coleslaw.
The chicken tenderloin is more tender than the breast meat, as long as you don’t overcook it. When it comes to cooking meat fast, it’s the choice. The tenderloins are strips of muscle that run along the inside of each breast half, closest to the bone. Both the breast meat and the tenderloins work great in this recipe.
Fry until the chicken is cooked through about 5-8 minutes, and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
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How to make homemade chicken tenders
Cut the chicken breast into 8 tenders of even size.
Whisk the milk, vinegar, and egg together in a mixing bowl until smooth. The milk and vinegar make homemade buttermilk.
Place the chicken strips in the homemade buttermilk mixture, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Combine the flour and crushed crackers with the salt, pepper (or cayenne pepper), paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large mixing bowl.
Heat the oil in an electric skillet or large high-sided frying pan, about 2 – 3 inches deep, to 350 degrees F.
Remove each chicken tender from the buttermilk marinade and allow the milk to drip off for a second, then coat chicken in the cracker crumb mixture. Repeat with the remaining chicken tenders.
Fry in the preheated skillet until the breading is golden brown on the outside, the chicken is cooked through about 5 – 8 minutes, and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Turn them over halfway through frying.
Drain on a paper towel-lined plate or wire rack over a baking sheet before serving.
You may also enjoy
- Pan Fried Chicken Parmesan
- Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich
- Easy Fried Chicken without Buttermilk
- Fried Chicken Bacon Sandwich
Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 8 ounces boneless chicken breast (or tenderloins)
- ½ cup milk
- 2 teaspoon vinegar
- 1 egg
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ cup saltine crackers (crushed fine)
- ½ teaspoon season salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper (or cayenne pepper)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- Canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breast into 8 tenders of even size.
- Whisk the milk, vinegar, and egg together in a mixing bowl until smooth. The milk and vinegar make homemade buttermilk.
- Place the chicken strips in the homemade buttermilk mixture, cover, and refrigerate 30 minutes.
- Combine the flour and crushed crackers with the salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder in a large mixing bowl.
- Heat the oil in an electric skillet or large saucepan, about 2 – 3 inches deep, to 350 degrees F.
- Remove each chicken tender from the buttermilk marinade and allow the milk to drip off for a second, then press into the cracker crumb mixture to coat. Repeat with the remaining chicken tenders.
- Fry in the preheated skillet until the breading is golden brown on the outside, and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 – 8 minutes, and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. Turn them over half way through frying.
- Drain on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.
Video
Notes
- These pan-fried chicken strips use boneless skinless chicken breasts, but you can also use boneless skinless chicken tenderloins.
Nutrition
Hi and welcome. I’m Zona and I have a passion for recipes. I share recipes, tips, tricks, and resources to help you cook for two. Eat, drink, and enjoy!
Johanna
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
This was really good! I only had Ritz crackers so I used those. Would definitely make again. Just enough for 2-3 servings. Thanks for the recipe!
Zona
Tuesday 9th of February 2021
Hi Johanna, Ritz crackers sound like a great substitution in this recipe, great idea! Thank you for your comment and I'm glad you enjoyed these chicken tenders :)
Janet
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
Can you air fry this recipe?
Zona
Tuesday 15th of December 2020
Hi Janet, I have not tried making these in an air fryer but I believe it should work fine. After coating in the cracker crumb mixture, I would spray both sides of the chicken generously with oil. Preheat air fryer to 400F. Cook the chicken 5 to 6 minutes on each side, until the chicken is cooked through and crispy and golden on the outside. Let me know if it works out for you.