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Organized Island » Recipes » Main Dishes

Chicken Tenders Fried

Published: Jan 19, 2022 · Modified: Jan 11, 2023 by Raquel · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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A delicious Fried Chicken Tenders recipe served with a tangy sauce.. Made on your stove top, these easy chicken tenders come together in just about 30 minutes after they have had a chance to marinate! 

This chicken tenders fried recipe is like a canes chicken tenders copycat recipe. We have several of the Raising Cane's eateries here in southern California. Be sure to try my Chick Fil A Copycat Nuggets recipe too.

Chicken Tenders Fried

Why You Will Love This Recipe

If you are like me, every once in a while there is nothing like a little fried chicken now and then.

These delicious chicken tenders are made in minutes with simple ingredients and make a great dinner idea or can be served as a lunch or game day appetizer. 

This dish is quite inexpensive to make, chicken tenders are often on sale at the grocery store. 

These are delicious and if you are a Cane's fan, they taste just like them. You can serve then with the tenders sauce or a buffalo sauce or both.

Easy Fried chicken tenders

You can also serve these many different ways. The sauce makes these exceptional! It's a favorite dipping sauce!

Chicken Tenders Canes

Ingredients For Cane's Chicken Tenders Copycat

There are several parts to this recipe - the marinade, the dredge, the wash and the sauce. A homemade seasoning blend is used too but it is all easy to  do.

Chicken Tenders Fried Ingredients

Chicken.  - You can use boneless skinless chicken breasts ore chicken tenderloins. I use whatever is on sale. 

Worcestershire Sauce.

Buttermilk.

Flour.

Cornstarch.

Egg.

Oil. I use vegetable oil or canola oil

Bread Crumbs. You can use store bought or make your own. I prefer bread crumbs over panko crumbs because the bread is a little heartier coating.

Spices - for flavor 

Equipment

  • Dutch oven or stock pot (no need for a deep fryer) You can use a cast iron skillet or electric skillet if you have one.
  • Tongs
  • baking sheet
  • paper towels
  • wire rack

How to Make Crispy Fried Chicken Tenders

Step-by-Step Instructions for Raising Canes Tenders and Sauce

Prepare Seasoning Blend and Marinade

  1. Prepare  the buttermilk and egg mixture.  This becomes the marinade.
  2. Cut chicken if not already cut into tender sizes.
  3. Marinate the chicken strips for a minimum of 2 hours. Use a zipped bag or covered dish.

Prepare Dredge, Wash and Tenders

  1. Prepare the seasoning blend.
  2. Prepare the dredge flour mixture.
  3. Set up a dredging station: flour, buttermilk, flour, wire rack to rest.
  4. Heat oil over medium high heat.
  5. Remove the chicken from the marinade.
  6. Dip chicken into the seasoned flour mixture.
  7. Dip into the dredge (¾ cup buttermilk + 1 tablespoon seasoning blend)
  8. Dip back into the flour mix and coat well.
  9. Place on wire rack for a minimum of 10 minutes to let it absorb.
  10. Check oil.  By this point the oil will be ready for the chicken.
    To test it, drop a little flour over into the oil. When it sizzles the oil is hot enough.
  11. Place tenders slowly in the hot oil in a single layer using tongs.
  12. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until fully cooked.
  13. Set tenders on paper towels to remove excess oil. Repeat fry8ing in small batches.
How To Make Fried Chicken Tenders step 1
How To Make Fried Chicken Tenders step 2

How To Make Fried Chicken Tenders step 3

How To Make Fried Chicken Tenders step 4

Pro Tips and Timesaver Shortcuts

  • You can make the seasoning blend a day or two before.
  • If the oil is too hot it will fry the outside and leave the inside raw. Do not go over a medium-high heat temperature.
  • Canola oil gives it a beautiful brown color and crunch, vegetable oil is also acceptable.
  • The marinade is key and should not be skipped. For a deeper flavor marinade over night.
  • For best results, let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least an hour or two before frying.

Variations, Notes, and Substitutions

  • You can change up the sauce and serve these with honey mustard sauce or ranch dressing. BBQ sauce works well too.
  • You can use the same recipe and process to coat chicken breasts.

Serving and Storage Suggestions

  • Serve these with sauce as an appetizer or meal idea. A fun way is to serve a few sauces with them for a gathering.

Ways to Cook Chicken Tenders

  • pan fry in a cast iron skillet
  • bake in the oven
  • bake in an air fryer

FAQ

Can you Marinate Chicken tenders Too Long?

Yes, uncooked meat can get mushy if marinated too long. The suggested time is 2 - 24 hours.

Can I use this to marinate Chicken Breasts?

Yes, you can.

More Easy Chicken Dinner Recipes

Baked chicken tenders recipe

Glazed Chicken Wings

Baked Salsa Chicken

Thai Chicken Recipe

Chicken Lo Mein

Chicken Tenders Fried

Chicken Tenders (Cane's Copycat Fried)

Raquel Pineira
A delicious Fried Chicken Tenders recipe served with a tangy sauce. Made on your stove top, these easy chicken tenders come together in just about 30 minutes after they have had a chance to marinate! 
4.87 from 37 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
1 hr
Course Appetizer, Easy Dinner Ideas, Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 552 kcal

Equipment

  • Large stock pot or Dutch oven Tongs
  • Wire Rack
  • Paper towels

Ingredients
  

  • 3 chicken breasts cut into strips 4-5 cups Canola Oil

Marinade

  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Flour Mix

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 cup Italian bread crumbs
  • Seasoning blend recipe below

Seasoning Blend

  • 1 tablespoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
  • 1 tablespoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder

Dredge

  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon seasoning blend

Sauce

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • ¼ cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup Worcestershire
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar

Instructions
 

Prepare Marinade

  • In a medium bowl, beat egg.
  • Add buttermilk and to beaten egg mixture. This becomes the marinade.
  • Marinate the chicken strips for a minimum of 2 hours using a ziploc bag or marinade dish,

Prepare Season Flour Mixture

  • Prepare the seasoning blend and set aside.
  • In a separate bowl, combine ¾ cup buttermilk + 1 tablespoon of the prepared seasoning blend.
  • In a separate large bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking soda, bread crumbs, and the remaining seasoning blend.
  • Set up a dredging station for flour mixture and buttermilk mixture. Set up a wire rack to rest chicken.
  • Begin to heat your canola oil over medium high heat.
  • First remove the chicken from the marinade.
  • Dip into the seasoned flour mixture.
  • Dip into the dredge (buttermilk mixture).
  • Dip again into the flour mix and coat well.
  • Place on wire rack for a minimum of 10 minutes. Repeat for all chicken pieces.
  • By this point the oil will be ready for the chicken.
  • To test it, drop a little flour over into the oil. When it sizzles the oil is hot enough.
  • Carefully place tenders in oil using tongs, .
  • Cook for 3-4 minutes per side or until fully cooked and golden brown.

Notes

If the oil is too hot it will fry the outside and leave the inside raw. Do not go over a medium-high heat temperature.
Canola oil gives it a beautiful brown color and crunch, vegetable oil is also acceptable.
The marinade is key and should not be skipped. For a deeper flavor marinade over night.

Nutrition

Calories: 552kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 35gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 10gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 115mgSodium: 2154mgPotassium: 849mgFiber: 4gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 923IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 202mgIron: 5mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Fried Chicken Fingers with dip

I hope you loved this easy fried chicken tenders recipe.

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About Raquel

Southern California mom who blogs about time-saving recipes, entertaining and party ideas.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Tamara

    January 24, 2022 at 7:13 am

    Cassidy sometimes makes these and they are such a hit for all of us!!

    Reply
    • Raquel

      January 24, 2022 at 8:46 am

      I bet they are good!

      Reply
  2. laura

    January 30, 2022 at 4:26 pm

    5 stars
    These chicken tenders are AMAZING!

    Reply
  3. tree trimming project

    October 17, 2022 at 10:18 pm

    5 stars
    Yummy!!! Thanks for posting this

    Reply
  4. Earl C

    January 05, 2023 at 9:15 pm

    3 stars
    I'm having a problem of the coating not sticking on the chicken.

    Also, I also had a problem with med-high heat being too high, and the insides were still raw... (though maybe my tenders were too thick??) so I had to put in the oven at 350 degrees for 7min, after frying the outsides for 1.5 min per side.

    Reply
    • Raquel

      January 06, 2023 at 1:53 pm

      Hi Earl,

      I'm sorry the recipe didn't work out for you but glad you were able to finish them out in the oven. It sounds like the tenders may have been a bit thank. Appreciate the feedback.

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Raquel! I am a self-proclaimed foodie and have enjoyed cooking and baking since I was little. I loved baking cookies with my mother and grandma as a child, and later making dinners for my parents to foster my passion while in high school. I also had a passion for organizing and keeping things tidy.

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