Crispy Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce

Here’s a crowd-pleasing recipe for Crispy Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce 🐔✨ – golden, crunchy outside and juicy inside!

🍗 Crispy Chicken Tenders

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ lbs (700 g) chicken tenders (or chicken breasts cut into strips)

• 1 cup buttermilk (or plain yogurt thinned with a little milk)

• 1 tsp garlic powder

• 1 tsp onion powder

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp black pepper

• 1 tsp salt

Breading:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (for extra crunch)

• ½ cup regular breadcrumbs

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

For Frying:

• Oil for deep frying (vegetable or canola)

Instructions:

1. Marinate the Chicken:

   • In a bowl, mix buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.

   • Add chicken tenders, cover, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (up to overnight for juicier chicken).

2. Prepare Breading:

   • Mix flour, panko, breadcrumbs, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish.

3. Coat the Chicken:

   • Remove chicken from buttermilk. Dredge each piece in breading mixture, pressing gently to help crumbs stick.

4. Fry Until Crispy:

   • Heat oil in a skillet or deep fryer to 350°F (175°C).

   • Fry chicken in batches for 5–6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

   • Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.

5. Serve Hot:

   • Perfect with dipping sauces (see below).

🥣 Dipping Sauce Options

1. Honey Mustard:

   • ¼ cup mayonnaise

   • 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

   • 1 tbsp honey

   • ½ tsp lemon juice

2. Garlic Ranch Dip:

   • ¼ cup sour cream

   • 2 tbsp mayo

   • ½ tsp garlic powder

   • ½ tsp dried dill

   • Salt & pepper, to taste

3. Spicy Sriracha Mayo:

   • ¼ cup mayonnaise

   • 1–2 tbsp Sriracha (adjust heat)

   • ½ tsp lime juice

🔥 Tips for Extra Crispiness:

• Double-dip: after breading, dip tenders back in buttermilk, then into breading again.

• For an oven-baked version, bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes, flipping halfway. Spray with oil for extra crunch.