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Pan Fried Chicken Strips

These easy Pan Fried Chicken Strips are marinated in homemade buttermilk and dredged in seasoned flour, then deep fried to crispy golden brown. The garlic and seasonings make this fried chicken strips recipe irresistible.

This recipe uses 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.

a graphic of easy fried chicken tenders on parchment paper
Pan Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe

Serve with your favorite dipping sauces. These chicken fingers also go great with this Mashed Potato Casserole, or this Easy Chicken Gravy, or this Creamy Coleslaw.

Are chicken tenderloins more tender than breasts?

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.

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How to pan fry chicken tenders

Cut the chicken breast into 8 tenders of even size.

chicken breast cut into chicken tender slices

Whisk the milk, vinegar, and egg together in a mixing bowl until smooth. The milk and vinegar make homemade buttermilk.

homemade buttermilk and egg whisked in a bowl

Place the chicken strips in the homemade buttermilk mixture, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

chicken strips soaking in homemade buttermilk and egg mixture

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 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 press into the cracker crumb mixture to coat. Repeat with the remaining chicken tenders.

a chicken finger coated in flour and seasonings

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.

chicken fingers being deep fried

Drain on a paper towel-lined plate before serving.

fried chicken tenders sprinkled with parsley
Pan Fried Chicken Strips

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fried chicken tenders sprinkled with parsley

Pan Fried Chicken Strips

These easy Pan Fried Chicken Strips are marinated in homemade buttermilk and dredged in seasoned flour, then deep fried to crispy golden brown. The garlic and seasonings make this fried chicken strips recipe irresistible. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces, mashed potatoes and gravy, and coleslaw.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Chicken-Poultry
Cuisine American
Servings 8 Chicken Strips
Calories 106 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 oz 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 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

Nutrition

Serving: 1Calories: 106kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 8gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 213mgPotassium: 151mgFiber: 0.3gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 125IUVitamin C: 0.4mgCalcium: 26mgIron: 1mg
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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!

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5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




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.