Description
These chicken tenders are everything you crave—crispy, golden, and packed with flavor. Marinated in buttermilk, seasoned to perfection, and coated in a panko-flour mix for unbeatable crunch, they’re the kind of meal that disappears fast. Whether you fry, bake, or air fry them, the result is juicy chicken with a crunchy coating that puts takeout to shame. Great for kids and adults alike, this is the ultimate comfort food recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenderloins, cut into strips
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup cornstarch
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¼ tsp cayenne (optional)
- Oil for frying or cooking spray
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Add chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Set up a dredging station: in one bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. In another, place panko.
- Dredge marinated chicken in the flour mix, dip back into buttermilk, then coat with panko breadcrumbs.
- For frying: Heat oil to 350°F and fry chicken in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown.
- For baking: Preheat oven to 425°F, place tenders on a lined sheet, spray with oil, and bake 18–20 minutes.
- For air frying: Preheat to 400°F, spray tenders with oil, and cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For extra crunch, double coat the chicken.
- Add grated Parmesan to the panko for a flavor boost.
- Letting the tenders rest before cooking helps the coating stay on better.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy immediately.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Main
- Method: Frying, Baking, or Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 90mg