Description
Crack Tenders are ultra-crispy, juicy fried chicken tenders soaked in buttermilk and coated in a seasoned flour blend for a golden crunch. These homemade chicken tenders are perfect for dinner, parties, or game day. Keywords: crack chicken tenders, crispy chicken, homemade chicken tenders, easy fried chicken, comfort food chicken.
Ingredients
1 ½ pounds chicken tenders
1 cup buttermilk
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup cornstarch
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon black pepper
Oil for frying (canola or vegetable)
Instructions
1. In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk and one beaten egg. Add chicken tenders and marinate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
2. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and black pepper.
3. Remove chicken from marinade and coat each piece in the flour mixture. For extra crispiness, dip it back in the buttermilk mixture and coat again in flour.
4. Heat oil in a heavy-bottomed skillet to 350°F. Fry tenders in batches for 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
5. Transfer fried tenders to a wire rack to cool slightly. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
Always let the tenders rest on a wire rack after frying to keep them crispy.
Double dipping in flour is what gives that signature crackly coating.
Make sure oil stays around 350°F for even cooking and no soggy breading.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 2–3 tenders)
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg