Cooking guide: Mastering crispy homemade chicken tenders (buttermilk optional)

Who doesn’t love chicken tenders?! Well, outside of vegetarians and, possibly, those who have only eaten soggy varieties that missed the mark.

For many home chefs and their kids, homemade chicken tenders just feel right. They hit that rare sweet spot of being fun for the whole family and tasty to enjoy. Kids love to eat them, and cooks love the hands-on, dip-and-dredge process.

Plus you can easily make this dish even better by adding a Parmesan crust or a next-level dipping sauce, like chipotle honey mustard. No matter how you prep them — fry, bake, or air-fry — crispy chicken tenders can satisfy the whole family.

Learn to make chicken tenders like a pro with this cooking guide. I’ll cover the main prep methods, customization options, recipes to try, and pairings to consider.

Crispy chicken tender prep overview

There is no one right way to cook chicken tenders. Your favorite will be a matter of preference and health considerations.

Deep fry

This is the best way to get a crunch. Fry the tenders in batches for 4 to 6 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. The oil should be at 350°F or 175°C. Don’t crowd the pan and keep the oil hot — it’s the key to staying crispy and not greasy.

To keep that perfect crust, drain the tenders on a wire rack instead of paper towels.

Air fry

Air fryers make things crunchy without the mess of oil. Give your breaded tenders a light mist of cooking spray, oil the basket, and cook them at 400°F or 200°C for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

Oven-baked

Baking produces a lighter tender, but it can be hard to get the crunch just right. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, brush or spray on oil, then add your chicken tenders. Bake them at 425°F or 220°C for 15 to 18 minutes, flipping them once.

For a golden finish, turn on the broiler for the last minute or two.

If you prefer an unbreaded chicken tender, see: How to cook unbreaded chicken tenders in the Instant Pot or How to cook unbreaded chicken tenders on the stove.

Chicken tender prep tips

A few pointers will help you produce consistently delicious and crispy tenders.

Three-step breading

Set up a three-step breading station with flour, eggs and milk or buttermilk, and breadcrumbs. If you don’t want to use buttermilk, add a splash of milk and hot sauce to the egg mix.

For extra crunch, double-dip: Flour the chicken, dip it in egg again, and then do the breadcrumb step again.

Hot oil

Temperature is the most important thing when frying or air-frying. If the oil isn’t hot enough, the breading will be soggy. When oil is too hot, it burns the outside and leaves the inside raw (ick).

Quick seasoning

As soon as the baked tenders come out of the oven, toss them gently with salt and a pat of butter, or a sauce of your choosing. You can do the same with fried tenders that have drained on a rack for a minute or two. The breading absorbs a lot of flavor when the tenders are still hot.

Customization options

You can make chicken tenders your own by swapping in new ingredients to your flour coating, breading, or egg wash. You can also have nearly endless options for dipping sauces. Here are some ideas.

Flour coating upgrades:

• Garlic powder
• Paprika
• Black pepper
• Italian dried seasoning
• Curry powder
• Chili powder
• Ranch seasoning

Fun breading twists to try include:

• Crushed cornflakes
• Crushed Doritos or potato chips
• Crushed pretzels
• Panko
• Seasoned breadcrumbs
• Parmesan cheese
• Shredded coconut
• Cheddar cheese

Instead of an egg-and-milk mixture, these substitutes can work:

• Buttermilk
• Hot sauce and egg
• Honey, mustard, and egg
• Watered down Greek yogurt

Dipping sauces may be the place where you let your creativity shine. Options to consider are:

• White, gold, or traditional barbecue sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Buffalo sauce
• Chipotle mayo
• Sriracha honey
• Spicy ketchup
• Cilantro-lime crema
• Yogurt dill
• Honey garlic
• Teriyaki
• Blue cheese dressing

Recipes to try now

• Cheddar bacon chicken tenders. Baked tenders with bacon bits and shredded cheddar cheese.
• Coconut chicken tenders. A crunchy tropical twist with Panko and shredded coconut for more texture.
• Honey pepper chicken strips. Chicken strips with a honey-pepper glaze that are sweet and spicy and great for dipping.
• Ranch chicken strips. With ranch seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and cornflakes for a crunchy, tasty crust.
• Breaded chicken tenders. A classic dish with a simple breading and honey mustard sauce on the side.
• KFC Georgia gold chicken. Copies KFC’s fried chicken tenders that are covered in a tangy honey mustard BBQ sauce.

What to serve with chicken tenders

You can’t go wrong with the classics:

• Tater tots or fries
• Coleslaw
• Mac and cheese
• Roasted corn on the cob
• Crisp green salad
• Sauteed or roasted green beans

What to drink with chicken tenders

Yes, even chicken tenders deserve a good pairing.

• Sparkling lemonade
• Ice-cold root beer
• Lager
• Light IPA
• Prosecco — the bubbles cut through the fry perfectly.
• Sweet tea or mango iced tea for spicier sauces

Chicken tenders the whole family will love

Add crispy homemade chicken tenders to your go-to recipe collection. Learn the basics and you can take them anywhere flavor-wise.

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