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October 17, 2019 By Brandy 59 Comments

Home » Recipes » Main Dish Recipes

CRISPIEST Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe (Video)

Filed Under: Main Dish Recipes

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This post was most recently updated on October 1st, 2021

Make restaurant style chicken tenders at home! Can you guess what secret ingredient I use to make the CRISPIEST fried chicken tenders? You probably already have a container of it in your pantry! Crispy, flavorful and fried until perfectly golden brown. You’ll love these tenders! 

how to make the crispiest fried chicken tenders

Watch our step by step video!

If you’ve ever found yourself intimidated by making fried chicken, homemade crispy chicken tenders or chicken nuggets is a great place to start. Chicken tenders fry up much more quickly and cook much more evenly than drumsticks. I’ve tried many different methods over the years and came up with one that my family goes nuts over using a secret ingredient that you probably have in your pantry. Restaurant style chicken tenders made at home! With a family of 7, this is a huge money saver. I can feed our entire family for the price of two combo meals.

plate of fried chicken tenders

The key ingredient in making the CRISPIEST fried chicken is corn starch. I’ve been making fried chicken using corn starch for years, and every time I branch out and try out a recipe that doesn’t call for corn starch, I am disappointed. The coating just isn’t the same!

corn starch makes the crispiest chicken tenders

A simple 50/50 ratio of corn starch and flour works great, and it is something that you probably already have in your pantry. Many view corn starch​ as only an ingredient for baking or making sauces, and it works great for those uses. I use it in my bakery style sugar cookies.

bowl of dipping sauce for chicken tenders

If you’re looking for a crowd pleaser to make for the entire family, whip up a batch of these crispy chicken tenders and serve them with garlic fries, my favorite dipping sauce (scroll down for recipe) and a vegetable platter!

What are chicken tenders?

You might think that a chicken tender is simply a chicken breast cut into strips, but it’s actually a different piece all together. A chicken tenderloin is a small strip of meat located on the chicken breast. True to their name, the tenderloin is more tender than the chicken breast. It also has more flavor. That being said, boneless skinless chicken breasts are packed with vitamins and are more lean. They are more affordable than tenders too. I’ve made this recipe using chicken tenders or sliced up chicken breasts and they both come out delicious. I prefer tenders, but chicken breasts work great too.

How to Make the CRISPIEST Fried Chicken Tenders

Chicken Tender Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. chicken breast tenders

Chicken Soak

  • 3/4 cup dill pickle juice
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg

Chicken Dip

  • 3/4 cup corn starch
  • 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 1/4 teaspoons seasoning salt
  • pinch of cayenne pepper

Additional Ingredients

  • canola oil or vegetable oil for frying
  • dipping sauces

ingredients to make the crispiest chicken tenders corn starch, flour, spices

The first thing you need to do is soak the chicken tenders in pickle juice, milk and an egg. Yes, pickle juice. It adds so much flavor and moisture and the tenders only soak for 30 minutes, so definitely take the time to do that.

When the chicken has about 5 minutes of soaking time left, go ahead and mix the dry ingredients. Corn starch, flour, seasoned salt, paprika, garlic powder and a bit of cayenne pepper.

how to dredge chicken tenders

Place them all in a plastic sealable bag and dip 6 tenders at a time. Seal the bag, give it a good shake and transfer the chicken tenders to a rack. Repeat until all of the tenders have been dipped and shaken.

dipped chicken tenders on rack

I prefer to dip and shake everything at once instead of frying small batches and continually dipping more chicken in the corn starch mixture. This way, I only have to wash my hands once and it makes the frying process even quicker!

frying the crispiest chicken tenders

Frying the Crispiest Chicken Tenders

A good rule of thumb for frying chicken is to keep the oil between 350 and 375 degrees. The temperature of the oil will fluctuate as the cold chicken is added, so just keep an eye on it. The best way to have success deep frying chicken is to monitor the oil using a thermometer. Fry 5-6 tenders at a time. I fry mine in a large pot or cast-iron skillet, but a deep fryer is ideal for regulating the temperature.

Tip: If you don’t have a thermometer (I use an electric thermometer, but a candy thermometer works too), you can test the oil by dipping a bamboo skewer into the oil. Make sure it touches the bottom of the pan. If you immediately see bubbles coming up against the skewer, the oil is ready. Drop the temperature from medium high to medium and do a test batch with one chicken tender. The tenders shouldn’t brown immediately. If they do, the oil is too hot. Lower the oil and wait a few minutes before testing another chicken strip.

homemade crispy chicken tenders that kids love

Just LOOK at that crispy coating!

Once the chicken has cooked for 5-6 minutes and is golden on both sides, remove and place on a platter with paper towels to drain. This recipe makes 16-18 crispy fried chicken tenders, so you can easily fry all of them in 3-4 batches.

dipping fried chicken tender in fry sauce

The Best Dipping Sauce for Chicken Tenders

Ranch, honey mustard sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup—what is your favorite dipping sauce? I actually prefer a tangy version that is similar to fry sauce! So delicious to dip chicken strips in.

Tangy Chicken Tender Dipping Sauce

1/2 c. mayo

2 Tablespoons bbq sauce

splash Worcestershire sauce

1 tsp. pickle juice

Mix ingredients and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Stir before serving.

Crispiest Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe

The Crispiest Fried Chicken Tenders

Make restaurant style chicken tenders at home! Can you guess what secret ingredient I use to make the CRISPIEST fried chicken tenders? You probably already have a container of it in your pantry!
4 from 176 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 40 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 6 minutes minutes
Total Time: 46 minutes minutes
Servings: 16 chicken tenders
Calories: 330kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 lbs. chicken tenders 16 tenders (or chicken breast cut into strips)
  • 3 cup canola oil for frying

Chicken Soak

  • 3/4 cup dill pickle juice
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 egg

Chicken Dip

  • 3/4 cup corn starch
  • 3/4 cup flour
  • 2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 1/4 teaspoon seasoning salt
  • cayenne pepper pinch

Instructions

  • Mix pickle juice, milk and egg in a large bowl. Add chicken tenders and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Mix dry ingredients in a plastic bag.
  • Place tenders in plastic bag, 6 at a time. Seal bag and shake.
  • Remove tenders and place on a rack. Repeat with remaining tenders.
  • Heat oil to 350-375 degrees.
  • Fry tenders, 5 at a time, for 5-6 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Place cooked tenders on a paper towel lined platter.

Notes

Tip: If you don't have a thermometer, you can test the oil by dipping a bamboo skewer into the oil. Make sure it touches the bottom of the pan. If you immediately see bubbles coming up against the skewer, the oil is ready. Drop the temperature from medium high to medium and do a test batch with one chicken tender. The tenders shouldn't brown immediately. If they do, the oil is too hot. Lower the oil and wait a few minutes before testing another chicken tender.

Nutrition

Calories: 330kcal
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc.
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About Brandy

Welcome! I'm Brandy, mother to 5 darling kiddos and a cute black lab named Toby. My husband is in the Coast Guard so we've lived all over the place, turning each house into a home. I love baking, sewing, making cute things with my kids, and sharing what I've learned with all of you!

Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com without any additional cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Stephenie says

    January 14, 2020 at 6:53 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious! Marinade kept it super moist, and such a good idea to use pickle juice 😄 Didnt try the sauce because we’re suckers for buffalo sauce.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      January 15, 2020 at 7:58 am

      So glad you liked it! And the pickle juice adds such great flavor, right?

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    February 25, 2020 at 10:13 am

    Do you use sweet pickle juice or dill pickle juice?

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      February 25, 2020 at 10:21 am

      I like using dill. 🙂

      Reply
      • Don says

        March 5, 2020 at 10:37 am

        Do you make your pickle juice, or pour it off of dill pickles?

        Reply
        • Brandy says

          March 5, 2020 at 11:07 am

          Hi Don! Yep! I pour it off the pickles. There is always pickle juice left in the jar from store bought pickles so I save it for making this recipe.

          Reply
  3. Stephanie says

    February 27, 2020 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    Made these tonight and we Loved them! I marinated the chicken all day. And I found a chick fil a sauce recipe to dip them in 🥰😋 perfection!!!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      February 27, 2020 at 12:11 pm

      Yay! And I’m going to need to find that Chick fil A sauce recipe for dipping!

      Reply
  4. Laurie says

    March 27, 2020 at 10:30 am

    Do you think this would work in an air fryer?

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      March 27, 2020 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Laurie! I’m still new to air frying so I’m not sure what the time/temperature would be for making these. I’m sure you could though!

      Reply
  5. Beth says

    March 29, 2020 at 11:45 am

    I made this last night. Very good and moist. Husband said this is a recipe to do again. It wasn’t KFC crispy, different but good. Guess it was the corn starch.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      March 29, 2020 at 4:53 pm

      Yes, I have yet to figure out KFC, but we do like this recipe! Crispy and has a bit of a tang from the pickles! Glad you guys liked it, too!

      Reply
      • Gail Patterson says

        September 24, 2021 at 2:02 pm

        I think you’ll have to double dip for the extra crispness. I haven’t tried these yet, but the recipe looks like the best I’ve seen. I’ll let you know how double dipping goes!

        Reply
  6. Monica says

    April 21, 2020 at 6:47 pm

    Made these tonight and they were AMAZING!! Boyfriend says they were the best chicken tenders he’s ever eaten in his life. I doctored the sauce just a bit but it was perfection!!!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      April 21, 2020 at 9:06 pm

      Monica, that is AWESOME. I’m so glad they worked out for you and that he loved them so much! They are a favorite over here with our family. We like using the same technique to make nuggets, too!

      Reply
  7. Janillia says

    April 22, 2020 at 5:15 pm

    Maybe try popping the battered chicken strips in the fridge for a bit. Haven’t tried it with this recipe but it has worked for others.

    Reply
  8. Donna says

    April 23, 2020 at 5:10 pm

    5 stars
    Abolutely THE BEST chicken I have ever made!!! My family LOVES it!! I’m so glad I found this recipe on Pinterest!!!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      April 23, 2020 at 8:33 pm

      Oh, I’m so glad! It is our favorite, too!

      Reply
  9. Cydney says

    April 29, 2020 at 11:54 am

    5 stars
    Made this chicken last night for dinner, and it was a HIT! No complaining from the kids at all (which is a big deal in our house)! I also made the tangy sauce, and it was loved all around! My 6 year old refuses any and all condiments but LOVED this sauce. Which brings me to my question- if I made a large batch of this sauce and stored in a condiment bottle, how long do you think it would last?

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      April 29, 2020 at 8:21 pm

      Hi Cydney! This made my day! So we’ve made the sauce and kept it in the refrigerator for about 5 days before we finished it. I haven’t tested it any longer than that. Sorry I’m not more help!

      Reply
  10. Marianne says

    May 21, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    5 stars
    This came out so good. I had heard of brining the chicken but never tried it before. We’ve been trying to get good crunchies on our chicken and finally got them!! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 21, 2020 at 9:08 pm

      This made my day! So glad to hear!!

      Reply
  11. Lisa says

    May 28, 2020 at 10:25 pm

    5 stars
    I’ve been searching for the perfect chicken tender recipe and thus is it! Batter stays in the chicken, very crisp and flavorful.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 28, 2020 at 11:11 pm

      Yay! I’m so glad!

      Reply
  12. Sarah says

    May 31, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    I tried it and it was delicious the best chicken fingers I ever tasted thanks for the recipe and the sauce was delicious too.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      May 31, 2020 at 6:30 pm

      Thank you for letting me know. I’m so glad you like them!

      Reply
  13. beth says

    June 23, 2020 at 9:30 am

    5 stars
    They were so tender and juicy!!!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      June 25, 2020 at 10:54 pm

      Yay! So glad to hear!

      Reply
  14. Sandy says

    June 23, 2020 at 4:23 pm

    Hello which pickle juice do you use? Sweet or dill?

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      June 25, 2020 at 10:54 pm

      Dill

      Reply
  15. Pam6622 says

    July 15, 2020 at 8:10 pm

    This came out deliciously! Coating was crisp, chucked was juicy. I made a honey mustard that was really good with it. Thanks!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      July 15, 2020 at 9:33 pm

      I’m so glad!!

      Reply
  16. Julie says

    July 20, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    5 stars
    Made these tonight and what a hit ! Great batter and oh so tender. My husband and College age son loved these. This will be my go to recipe for sure.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      July 21, 2020 at 9:22 am

      Julie! Thank you for the feedback! So glad they were a hit with the family. They are my kids’ favorie dinner, too!

      Reply
  17. Dina Hampton says

    September 15, 2020 at 8:39 pm

    So good! Best I have ever made.

    Reply
    • Patricia says

      November 22, 2020 at 4:09 pm

      5 stars
      I made these this evening and were awesome..will be making these again and I made the dipping sauce as well

      Reply
      • Brandy says

        November 22, 2020 at 4:50 pm

        Yay! So glad to hear.

        Reply
  18. Kathy Clarkson says

    November 23, 2020 at 11:21 am

    Do you think would work baked? I don’t like fried foods.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      November 23, 2020 at 7:12 pm

      Hi Kathy! I’m not sure that I’d recommend baking these. I’d probably use a recipe with a breadcrumb coating for baked chicken tenders.

      Reply
  19. TB says

    December 10, 2020 at 7:04 pm

    4 stars
    Thank you for this recipe! I made this and my family loved it!
    I’m wondering if instead of frying in oil, if you can use air fry oven? My regular oven has an air fry setting. How would you recommend doing this? Thanks for any advice you could give!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      December 10, 2020 at 11:09 pm

      Hi! In still getting used to air frying and haven’t tried it with this recipe yet, but I need to! Glad you guys liked it!

      Reply
  20. Charissa says

    December 23, 2020 at 1:47 pm

    5 stars
    These are amazing and SO easy to make! I’ve been working from home, so I have the luxury to pop into the kitchen for a quick lunch every day. I was able to make, and eat, these all within my hour lunch break. I will definitely be moving this one to my “Make it Again!” Pinterest board 🙂

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      December 23, 2020 at 2:09 pm

      Yay! So glad that you loved them!

      Reply
  21. Katrina Paul says

    February 1, 2021 at 1:10 am

    Made this tonight- we made the sauce last night and marinaded the chicken overnight. So yummy!

    Reply
  22. Tommy says

    June 25, 2021 at 9:39 pm

    5 stars
    Absolutely the best and simplest fried chicken recipe ever. My family absolutely devours the chicken and has become a go to recipe in our household! Just add some of Churches Chicken sauce and ~muah~ PERFECTION!!!!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      June 27, 2021 at 2:16 pm

      So glad to hear!!

      Reply
  23. Susie says

    August 25, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    5 stars
    These were the best strips I’ve made. Thanks for the recipe

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      August 26, 2021 at 12:10 pm

      So glad to hear! Love it!!

      Reply
  24. Stephanie L Krueger says

    September 13, 2021 at 3:50 pm

    Hi..can these be cooked in an air fryer?

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      September 14, 2021 at 10:20 pm

      Hi Stephanie, I haven’t tried making them in the air fryer, but I’d imagine you totally could.

      Reply
  25. C j nicholson says

    December 31, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    Made these several times using your recipe. We love it!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      December 31, 2021 at 10:16 pm

      I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know!

      Reply
  26. Christina says

    February 11, 2022 at 5:22 am

    These are delicious and I’ve made them 3-4 different times, but I can never get them crispy enough and the batter falls off the chicken! 🥴 We still devour them but I’d love to know if this happens to you or find out what I am doing wrong! 🤦🏼‍♀️

    Reply
  27. Tina says

    March 22, 2022 at 8:10 pm

    5 stars
    Bam awesome loved this recipe

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      March 22, 2022 at 8:42 pm

      Awesome! So glad you liked them!

      Reply
  28. Kristen says

    August 10, 2022 at 11:06 am

    5 stars
    Absolutely loved this recipe! My picky 4 year old also asked for seconds! That NEVER happens!

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      August 11, 2022 at 6:09 pm

      Yay!! I have picky eaters too so that’s a huge win!

      Reply
  29. Maria says

    January 17, 2023 at 6:57 pm

    5 stars
    Thankyou for sharing this recipy. My husband and I loved it. Great flavor.

    Reply
    • Brandy says

      January 17, 2023 at 10:28 pm

      So glad to hear that!

      Reply

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I'm Brandy! I live in Virginia with my husband, 5 kids, black lab, and chickens. I love to craft and bake and share it all with you! MORE ABOUT ME

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