Description
Crispy Chick-fil-a Style Chicken Tenders deliver Southern comfort with a golden, crunchy exterior and juicy interior. Homemade goodness makes you feel like a kitchen champion with restaurant-quality results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) boneless chicken tenders
- 1 cup (240 ml) dill pickle juice
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup (240 ml) milk
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp confectioner’s sugar
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 tsps cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- ¼ cup (60 ml) peanut oil or canola oil for frying
Instructions
- Marination: Submerge chicken tenders completely in pickle juice within a sealed container, refrigerating for 30 minutes to overnight to enhance flavor depth and tenderness.
- Preparation: Whisk egg and milk together, creating a smooth liquid coating mixture for the chicken.
- Seasoning: Combine flour, sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and ground black pepper in a resealable plastic bag, shaking thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Coating: Dip pickle juice-marinated chicken tenders into milk-egg blend, then transfer to seasoned flour bag, ensuring comprehensive coverage by gently manipulating each piece.
- Frying: Heat peanut or canola oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium temperature, carefully positioning chicken tenders without overcrowding the pan.
- Cooking: Fry tenders for 3-4 minutes per side, achieving a rich golden-brown exterior while maintaining internal moisture and tenderness.
- Finishing: Transfer crispy tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil, then serve immediately with preferred dipping sauces for optimal flavor experience.
Notes
- Pickle Juice Tenderizing: Marinating chicken in pickle juice adds unique tangy flavor and helps break down proteins, creating incredibly juicy meat.
- Seasoning Balance: Mix flour seasonings thoroughly to ensure every bite delivers consistent, mouth-watering flavor across all chicken tenders.
- Oil Temperature Control: Maintain consistent medium heat around 350°F to achieve golden-brown exterior without burning or undercooking chicken.
- Draining Technique: Allow excess oil to drain completely on paper towels to preserve crispy coating and prevent greasy texture.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes (including marination)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 464
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 635 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 82 mg