Chicken Tenders with Dipping Sauce

by

⏱ Time

  • Prep: 15 minutes
  • Cook: 12–15 minutes
  • Total: ~30 minutes

🧂 Ingredients

For the Chicken Tenders

  • 1 lb (450 g) chicken tenders (or chicken breast cut into strips)
  • 1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup breadcrumbs or panko (extra crispy)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 1 egg
  • Cooking spray or oil

For the Dipping Sauce (Classic Honey Mustard)

  • ¼ cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 2 tbsp yellow or Dijon mustard
  • ½ tsp lemon juice
  • Salt & pepper to taste

🔥 Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

  • Place chicken tenders in a bowl
  • Pour in buttermilk, add a pinch of salt
  • Cover and marinate 15–30 minutes (longer = juicier)

Step 2: Prepare the Coating

  • In Bowl 1: mix flour, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne
  • In Bowl 2: whisk egg

Step 3: Bread the Chicken

  • Remove chicken from buttermilk
  • Dip into egg
  • Coat fully in seasoned flour mixture
  • Press gently so coating sticks well

Step 4: Cook the Chicken

Air Fryer Method (Best & Healthier):

  • Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C)
  • Spray basket lightly with oil
  • Place tenders in a single layer
  • Spray tops lightly
  • Cook 6–7 minutes, flip, then cook 6–7 minutes more until golden and crispy

OR Pan-Fry Method:

  • Heat oil over medium heat
  • Fry tenders 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through
  • Drain on paper towels

Step 5: Make the Dipping Sauce

  • Mix mayonnaise, honey, mustard, lemon juice
  • Season with salt & pepper
  • Chill 5 minutes for best flavor

🌟 Optional Sauce Variations

  • Garlic Ranch: Ranch + minced garlic
  • Spicy Mayo: Mayo + sriracha + lime juice
  • BBQ Honey Dip: BBQ sauce + honey
  • Cheese Dip: Melted cheddar + splash of milk

🍽 Serving Ideas

  • French fries or potato wedges
  • Coleslaw
  • Corn on the cob
  • Fresh salad

If you’d like, I can also:

  • Turn this into a kid-friendly version
  • Make it extra crunchy KFC-style
  • Write it for your recipe website or social media

Just tell me 👍

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