
Chicken Tenders
Najat
Photo by Najat
These homemade chicken tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready to beat anything from the freezer aisle. A yogurt marinade keeps the chicken tender while a cornstarch-heavy coating delivers that light, golden crust that stays crispy. Top them with a sweet and spicy sticky sauce and you’ve got a recipe that’s hard to stop eating.
Easy chicken tender recipe
All you need is a frying pan and a few pantry staples. The batter comes together in minutes and the chicken fries up golden and crisp in a single layer — no deep fryer, no complicated equipment, no stress. Marinate for 30 minutes if you’re in a hurry, or leave it overnight for even more flavor and tenderness.
How do you make chicken tenders crispy?
The answer is cornstarch. This recipe uses a 2:1 ratio of cornstarch to flour in the coating, which creates a lighter, crispier crust than flour alone. Press the coating firmly onto each piece of chicken before frying, make sure your oil is hot enough (175°C / 347°F), and fry in small batches.
Ingredients
CHICKEN MIX
FLOUR MIX
STICKY SAUCE
Tips
Marinate the chicken for at least 30 minutes for extra flavor and tenderness. If you have more time, let it marinate in the fridge for a few hours.
Fry in batches if the pan gets too full. Overcrowding lowers the oil temperature and makes the tenders less crispy.
Add the sticky sauce just before serving to keep the coating crispy.
Like it extra spicy? Add more cayenne pepper or chili sauce to the sticky sauce.
Serve immediately with fries, rice, salad, or a fresh garlic sauce.
Instructions

Prepare all ingredients before making the chicken tenders.

Place the yogurt, egg, water, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder in a deep bowl. Mix until smooth. Add the chicken and coat each strip completely in the marinade. Let it marinate for at least 30 minutes for extra flavor.

Place the cornstarch, flour, onion powder, black pepper, and salt in a bowl and mix well. Coat the marinated chicken pieces one by one in the flour mixture.

Place the chicken tenders on a sheet of baking paper and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Heat a layer of sunflower oil in a frying pan over medium heat (175°C / 347°F). Fry the chicken tenders until golden brown on both sides. Drain on paper towels.


STICKY SAUCE | OPTIONAL
Add the sweet soy sauce, hot chili sauce, honey, and water to a pan. Heat over low heat and stir until you get a smooth sticky sauce.

Brush the sticky sauce over the warm chicken tenders until fully coated.

Veelgestelde vragen
How do you get chicken tenders extra crispy?
By coating the chicken in the flour mixture and pressing it firmly onto the chicken, you get an extra crispy layer. Also, fry in hot oil over medium heat.
Can I marinate chicken tenders in advance?
Yes, you can marinate the chicken a few hours in advance (or an entire night, make sure to store covered in the fridge). This enhances the flavor and increases tenderness.
Which sauce goes well with chicken tenders?
Sticky sauce, garlic sauce, chili sauce, barbecue sauce, and honey mustard sauce all pair very well with chicken tenders.
Which oil is best for chicken tenders?
Sunflower oil or another neutral oil is ideal because it can withstand high temperatures.
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