When I’m stumped on what to make for dinner, I always turn to these crispy chicken tenders because I know they’ll be a hit! I serve my chicken fingers with roasted broccoli and Instant Pot mashed potatoes for a complete meal.
There’s just something about fried chicken that can’t be beat – that ultra crispy coating with tender juicy chicken is a classic for a reason! I’ve learned to make restaurant style chicken fingers at home, and they’re actually quite easy to prepare. Looking for more great ways to fry chicken? Check out my list of 10 fried chicken recipes!
How do you make chicken fingers?
The first step in this recipe is to marinate the chicken in buttermilk. This tenderizes the chicken and helps the seasoned flour stick to the chicken. The chicken fingers get dipped into the flour mixture, then egg, then the flour again to create an extra thick and crispy exterior. The final step is to fry your chicken tenders until they’re golden brown. Add your favorite dipping sauce on the side, then enjoy!
What are chicken breast tenders?
This recipe calls for chicken breast tenders, also called chicken breast tenderloins. The tender is a flap of meat that sits directly under the main part of the chicken breast. These pieces of chicken are often more tender than standard chicken breast, hence their name. If you can’t find chicken tenders, this recipe will work just as well with strips of boneless skinless chicken breast.
Tips for chicken fingers
You’ll want to use a deep frying thermometer to monitor the temperature of your oil. If the oil is too hot, the coating can burn before the chicken cooks through. If the oil is too cold, the chicken will absorb more oil and become overly greasy. Chicken fingers are best served immediately. If you need to reheat them, you can bake them at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes or until crispy. I typically serve my chicken tenders with ranch. Other great options are ketchup or honey mustard.
Baked chicken fingers
If you prefer to bake your chicken fingers, you can do so by using breadcrumbs as the coating instead of flour. You’ll want to combine 2 cups of panko breadcrumbs with the spices listed in the recipe. Coat each piece of chicken in egg, then roll in the breadcrumb mixture. Place the chicken pieces on a greased sheet pan and coat them with cooking spray. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes or until tenders are golden brown.
These chicken tenders are some of the best I’ve ever had. They make a great kid friendly dinner, or serve them up as a hearty appetizer on game day. Once you try making these tenders for yourself, you won’t be tempted to order them at a restaurant again!
More chicken recipes you’ll love
Bacon Ranch Chicken Foil Packets Chicken Taco Soup Bruschetta Chicken Grilled Chicken Tenders Monterey Chicken
This post was originally published on April 26, 2015 and was updated on November 19, 2019 with new content.
