Chicken Tenders are golden crispy bites of tender all-white chicken meat. They are simply delicious when fried and eaten plain, or dipped in my copy cat Chick-fil-A sauce. YUM. For a quick lunch add a salad or some of my Sweet Freezer Pickles.
Key Takeaways:
- Golden Crispy Perfection: Chicken tenders are made with tender all-white chicken meat, fried to a golden brown for a delicious crunch.
- Homemade Healthier Option: Making chicken tenders at home allows for healthier, better-tasting results than fast food.
- Simple Ingredients and Tools: Requires only chicken breasts, all-purpose flour, eggs, bread crumbs, and a skillet with oil heated to 350°F.
- Easy Three-Stage Breading: Dredge chicken in flour, then egg, and finish with breadcrumbs before frying for crispy perfection.
- Versatile Serving Ideas: Enjoy chicken tenders plain, with a dip, or as leftovers in sandwiches. Pair with a salad or pickles for a complete meal.
- Adaptable for Nuggets: Cut chicken into smaller pieces for chicken nuggets instead of tenders—ideal for kids or bite-sized snacks.
Overview
Golden, crispy, and irresistibly tender, these homemade Chicken Tenders are made from all-white chicken breast and coated in a perfectly seasoned, crunchy breading. Fried to a deep golden brown, they’re delicious on their own or paired with a creamy copycat Chick-fil-A sauce. This easy, family-friendly recipe uses a simple three-step breading process with flour, eggs, and panko or Italian breadcrumbs, delivering a healthier, better-tasting alternative to fast food. Perfect for quick lunches, dinners, or snacks, these tenders can also be transformed into chicken nuggets for bite-sized fun. Leftovers? They make mouthwatering sandwiches with a tangy sauce on a toasted roll.
When my kids were growing up, my son’s favorite meal was chicken tenders or chicken nuggets. It didn’t take many trips to the local fast food restaurant before realizing that I could make a healthier and better-tasting chicken finger dinner. Back in ancient history (according to my kids). To me, it seems like just yesterday. Anyway, back when they were little, I would get 4 and sometimes 5 chicken fingers out of a chicken breast. Now the chicken breasts are enormous. (Yes even the Organic ones). I will get 6 to 8 chicken fingers from one chicken breast.
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Remember, SIS (simple is smart). Here is my SIS way to make your own healthy and delicious chicken fingers or chicken nuggets. For the chicken nuggets, simply make the pieces of chicken nuggets size and not tenders size.
What Do You Need?
You will need 3 shallow pans for the 3 stage breading and a skillet with about an inch of oil in the bottom that is heated to 350-degrees F. Add all-purpose flour to the first pan. Beat two eggs and add them to the second pan. In the third pan put panko or Italian style bread crumbs.
How To:
1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper or my best ever Chicken Seasoning.
2. Dredge the chicken pieces, first in the flour, then in the eggs, and finally in the bread crumbs.
3. Fry each piece of chicken in the skillet with the hot oil. Fry about 3-4 minutes on each side or until a deep golden brown color. The interior of the chicken tender should read at least 170-degrees F.
4. Drain on a cooling grate or paper towel. Serve hot and crispy plain or with a dip.
What to do with Leftovers:
Leftover tenders make a great sandwich. Reheat them, add some of my Chick-fil-A sauce to a toasted roll. It’s finger-licking good.
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FAQ:
What type of chicken should I use for the best tenders?
Can I bake the chicken tenders instead of frying them?
What oil works best for frying chicken tenders?
How do I ensure the chicken is fully cooked?
What can I do with leftover chicken tenders?
How can I make these tenders gluten-free?
Tender Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2 large boneless, skinless, chicken breasts (575g) cut into chicken-tenders size pieces (6-8 pieces each breast)
- 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 eggs large
- salt and pepper to taste or my homemade chicken seasoning
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into pieces. (about 6-8 pieces a breast)
- Season the pieces with homemade chicken seasoning.
- Beat the eggs and put them in a shallow flat container.
- Put the breadcrumbs and flour in separate shallow containers.
- Dredge each piece of seasoned chicken in the flour, then the egg, and lastly the bread crumbs. (this is called a 3 stage breading process)
- Put about an inch of oil in a skillet and heat the oil to 350°F. Once the oil is hot, add the breaded chicken to the oil and fry until a Golden brown about 3-4 minutes. Turn over and Fry the other side another 3-4 minutes. If you have an instant read thermometer the interior of the chicken tender should be 170°F. Alternatively, you can fry in a deep fryer.
