Crispy Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce Recipe

Here’s a crispy chicken tenders recipe that’s golden on the outside, juicy inside, and comes with a creamy, tangy dipping sauce to match.

🍗 Crispy Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce

Ingredients:

For the Chicken Tenders:

• 1½ lbs (680g) chicken tenders or boneless chicken breasts cut into strips

• 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)

• 1 tsp salt

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp paprika

• 1½ cups (180g) all-purpose flour

• 1 cup (100g) panko breadcrumbs (for extra crunch)

• 2 eggs

• Vegetable oil, for frying

For the Dipping Sauce (Honey Mustard Style):

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• 1½ tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tbsp honey

• 1 tsp lemon juice

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Marinate the Chicken:
   In a bowl, combine chicken, buttermilk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Let sit for 30 minutes (or refrigerate for up to 4 hours).

2. Set up Breading Station:

   • Bowl 1: Flour

   • Bowl 2: Beaten eggs

   • Bowl 3: Panko breadcrumbs

3. Coat the Tenders:
   Dredge chicken in flour, dip in egg, then coat in panko. Press to stick well.

4. Fry:
   Heat 1–2 inches of oil in a skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches for 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.

5. Make the Dipping Sauce:
   Stir together all sauce ingredients until smooth. Adjust sweetness or tang to taste.

6. Serve hot with dipping sauce on the side!

Would you like a baked or air-fryer version of this recipe?