Chicken tenders are a tasty appetiser that can be served as a snack or as part of a whole meal. They are also known as chicken goujons or chicken fingers.
Chicken tenders are specifically made with chicken tenderloins. Tenderloins are muscles found between the breast and the breastbone in chicken. It is more delicate and smaller than a chicken breast.
However, you may not always be able to get chicken from the butcher stores, so chicken breasts are a suitable substitute.
You need to be careful that you cut the chicken as even as possible. This will help to cook the chicken evenly.
You need to season the flour properly with spices. This is essential for flavourful and tasty chicken tenders.
Spices of several kinds can be used. Paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper are all good options.
I like mine to be a bit on the spicy side, so I add paprika. Once you have decided what spice mix you want to use then add the spices into the flour and then coat the chicken strips in it.
Chicken tenders are often deep-fried, so I usually do deep fry them. For deep frying chicken the temperature of the oil is very important.
If the temperature is too high, the coating will burn before the chicken is fully cooked. If the oil is too cold, the chicken will not cook evenly.
A kitchen thermometer is the best way to monitor the temperature of the oil. The temperature of the oil should be kept at around 250°F (120°C) when frying chicken.
If you don’t have a kitchen thermometer, there are various other ways to monitor the temperature.
Using a wooden spoon or chopstick is an easy way to check. Dip the handle into the oil once it has been warmed.
If the oil begins to steadily bubble, it is hot enough to fry in. If the oil bubbles violently, it is too hot and needs to cool down. If there are few bubbles, the mixture needs to be cooked more.
I like to provide healthy alternatives to my deep-fried recipes because deep frying is not the healthiest of cooking techniques. With this recipe you can also bake the chicken tenders as well.
Baked chicken tenders are a much healthier alternative. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) before baking the chicken tenders.
Bake the chicken strips on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes, or until they are golden brown and crispy.
For a winning combination serve these chicken tenders with my homemade honey mustard sauce.
Check out these recipes
Here are some more recipes for you to enjoy! If you like them don’t forget to rate and leave a comment.
If you have any recipe suggestions, please do not hesitate to ask me. A great way to stay in contact with me is through Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. Don’t forget to tag me @cookwithnabeela in your recipe photos!
Hi, I’m Nabeela and I love to cook! I want to share with you my favourite, delicious family-friendly recipes. I want to inspire you to create fantastic food for your family every day.
Subscribe to us to always stay in touch with us and get the latest news
about our company and all of our activities!