Crispy Homemade Chicken Tenders Recipe You’ll Love

Homemade Fried Chicken Tenders are juicy, tender strips of chicken breast soaked in buttermilk and coated in seasoned flour for a crunchy, flavorful finish. There’s nothing quite like biting into a crisp, golden tender with a juicy center—especially when it’s made at home.

The key to perfectly crispy outside and juicy inside is keeping the oil at the right temperature while frying—aim for around 350°F (175°C) so the coating browns evenly without drying out the meat.

For this recipe we keep the seasoning simple and delicious, but you can easily add extra spices—cayenne, smoked paprika, or a pinch of dried herbs—to add another flavor layer if you like.

The tenders pair wonderfully with a variety of dips. If you want something bright and buttery, try a lemon and garlic butter sauce for dipping.

This recipe is quick to prepare, making it ideal for a weeknight dinner, potlucks, or parties. Add your favorite dipping sauces and lemon wedges for serving—these tenders are always a crowd-pleaser. Enjoy!

Instructions

1. Place the chicken tenderloins in a resealable bag or container and pour in the buttermilk. Seal and refrigerate for at least 2 hours to marinate.

2. In a shallow container, whisk together the flour, a pinch of salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne (if using). Mix until evenly combined.

3. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs with the milk.

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

5. Remove a tender from the buttermilk and dredge it in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess.

6. Dip the floured tender into the egg mixture, then coat it again in the flour for a double crust. Place coated tenders on a plate while you finish the rest.

7. Fry a few tenders at a time in the hot oil for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.

8. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces and lemon wedges.

Enjoy these Homemade Fried Chicken Tenders fresh from the fryer—crispy on the outside and juicy inside.

We’d love your feedback! If you tried this recipe or made any changes, tell us in the comments. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!

Recipe Card

Homemade Fried Chicken Tenders

Yield:
24

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
5 minutes

Total Time:
15 minutes

Juicy chicken tenderloins marinated in buttermilk and double-dredged in seasoned flour for a crisp, golden finish. Easy to make and perfect for parties or weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

• 24 chicken tenderloins
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper or paprika (optional)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup milk

Instructions

1. Combine the chicken and buttermilk in a bag or container and refrigerate for 2 hours.
2. Mix the flour with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, seasoned salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper in a shallow dish.
3. Beat the eggs and milk together in a bowl.
4. Heat oil to 350°F (175°C).
5. Dredge each tender in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
6. Dip in the egg mixture, then dredge again in the flour for a double coating. Set aside.
7. Fry a few tenders at a time for about 5 minutes or until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
8. Serve hot with your favorite sauces.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 24
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 133
Total Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 55mg
Sodium: 120mg
Carbohydrates: 10g
Protein: 17g

Nutrition information is approximate.