Fried Chicken Strips

Fried Chicken Strips are classic comfort food that everyone can agree on! This is my tried and true recipe for the best homemade chicken strips that will beat the drive- thru any day of the week!

Chicken strips are alway one of our favorite weeknight meals and you might think they are a lot of trouble but they are really easy to make at home. 

How to Make Fried Chicken Strips:

1. The best chicken strips are made with chicken tenders. They will turn out to be the juiciest, most tender fried chicken. Chicken breasts will also work if sliced into thin strips. 

2. Mix together flour, seasoning salt and pepper into a shallow bowl or a pie plate works well.

3. You will mix buttermilk and a beaten egg together in another shallow dish.

4. Dredge chicken tenders in flour, then the buttermilk mixture and then back in the flour mixture.

5. Once breaded, place chicken onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet in a single lay

6. Next you will heat your vegetable oil using a fry thermometer in a large skillet. Place a few pieces of chicken at a time in the hot oil, cooking until golden brown and chicken reaches 165° with a digital meat thermometer.

7. Drain cooked chicken on a wire rack that has been placed over a paper towel or brown paper in a baking sheet.

Tips for Crispy Chicken Tenders

• Breading: Dredging the chicken in the flour mixture first will help the batter stick to the chicken. So flour, egg mixture and then flour again, this makes a crispy coating when fried in hot oil.
• Frying Temperature: You want your oil to maintain close to 350°- 375° for optimal frying, using an oil fry thermometer works great. If you are cooking on the stovetop, a cast iron skillet is best to maintain a proper frying temperature, a great option if you don’t have a deep fryer.
• Juicy Chicken: Using a digital meat thermometer. It’s the easiest way to ensure chicken is cooked through but not over cooked for juicy chicken. Total cooking time will vary depending on the size of the chicken tenderloins. 
• Keep the Chicken Crispy: Draining your chicken on a wire rack will keep the chicken from sweating and making the breading soggy when you remove it from the oil.
• Baked Chicken Tenders: This recipe is best when fried, to bake them, spray breaded chicken with olive oil and bake on a rimmed baking sheet at 400° for 15- 20 minutes until chicken reaches 165°. You might also try this Cornflake Chicken if you would like to try air fryer chicken tenders.

Best Side Dishes for Chicken Strips

I love serving up a batch of Fried Chicken Strips with French Fries, Coleslaw, Oven Fried Tater Tots and don’t forget the biscuits! Crispy chicken fillets are also great on top of a salad for a quick meal.

Dipping Sauces for Chicken Fingers

• Dr Pepper Barbecue Sauce is my go-to sauce for chicken strips or try White Barbecue Sauce,it’s a tangy mayo based sauce with horseradish and garlic. 
• Honey Mustard Sauce and Chick Fil A Sauce are so easy to make for homemade chicken tenders and will rival the drive-thru versions.
• Of course there’s always the classic gravy, ranch dressing or a drizzle of honey. 

More Deep Fried Recipes to Try

• My family love this Southern Shrimp and my Chicken Fried Steak Bites with Country Gravy  went viral when I made the video!
• We also love good ol’ Chicken Fried Steak Sandwiches and you the kids can’t get enough of this Easy Popcorn Chicken and when you are craving take out, this Sesame Chicken is amazing!
• If you are serious about fried foods this Chicken Fried Bacon is pretty much the best thing ever. My latest favorite are these crispy fried Easy Onion Strings!

Chicken strips have always been on my favorites list. I think I may have spent several of my childhood years only eating chicken strips and mac and cheese. If you have picky eaters, give this fried chicken strips recipe a try for dinner. They are sure to please and you will have them running to the table!

If you love this Recipe as much as I do, please leave a comment and a five star review, and be sure to help me share on Pinterest!

Print Recipe

4.60 from 27 votes

Fried Chicken Strips

Fried Chicken Strips are classic comfort food that everyone can agree on! This is my tried and true recipe for the best homemade chicken strips that will beat the drive- thru any day of the week!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time40 minutes mins

Course: Main Dishes

Cuisine: American

Keyword: chicken strips, fried chicken, Fried chicken tenders, homemade chicken strips

Servings: 6 Servings

Calories: 876kcal

Author: Milisa

Ingredients

• 3 pounds chicken tenders
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons Lawry’s Season Salt
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 3 cups vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

• Add flour, seasoning salt and pepper to a shallow dish and mix well.
• Add buttermilk and egg to another dish and beat egg into buttermilk.
• Dredge chicken tenders in flour mixture, then into buttermilk mixture and then back through flour mixture. Coating both sides.
• Place on a lined baking sheet in a single layer.
• Add vegetable oil to an iron skillet or other heavy skillet.
• Heat oil to 350°.
• Cook chicken tenders 5-6 at a time, turning to brown on both sides until chicken reaches 165° internally.
• Remove from skillet to a wire rack that has been placed over paper towels or brown paper in a baking sheet.
• Serve immediately with your favorite sauces or gravy.

Nutrition

Calories: 876kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 39g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 28g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g