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You are here: Home / Chicken / Buttermilk Chicken Tenders Recipe

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders Recipe

Posted by Jessica Pinney on March 22, 2019, last updated October 1, 2020

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I’m a proud, life-long card-carrying member of the chicken tender lover’s club. I remember, even as a teenager, my father getting very frustrated because no matter what restaurant he took us to, I would order a plate of chicken tenders and french fries.

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders on top of a basket of fries.

What can I say? Chicken tenders are delicious and you know what you’re getting. They’re always there for you!

I don’t eat them quite as often these days, but I do still enjoy a good tender from time to time.

It turns out that it’s really easy to make homemade chicken tenders and totally worth it! They come out so crispy and delicious. I can’t think of a better lunch!

Two white baskets filled with French fries and crispy buttermilk chicken tenders.

I wanted my homemade chicken tenders to be coated in the perfect spice. To me, this means notes of pepper, onion, and garlic with a hint of spiciness. I went through several batches until I achieved the balance of taste I was looking for.

Ingredients

  • Raw Chicken Tenders 
  • Flour
  • Buttermilk
  • Spices (salt, garlic, onion, pepper, and cayenne)
  • Oil for frying

How To Make

To make your own buttermilk chicken tenders, start by soaking the tenders in the buttermilk for at least 30 minutes up to 4 hours. 

Next, make the breading by stirring the flour and spices together. The extra crispy, crunchy little bits are made by drizzling a little bit of the buttermilk in the flour and stirring with a fork. 

You can fry these in a cast-iron skillet if you don’t have a deep fryer. I like using the deep fryer when possible because it regulates and maintains the temperature really well.

Buttermilk chicken tender being dipped in ranch dressing.

The best part of chicken tenders is the dipping sauce! What sauces do you like to dip yours in?

Janette prefers dipping hers in ranch, while I like dipping mine in ketchup/mayo mixture or BBQ sauce. You really can’t go wrong!

Other Chicken Recipes

  • Easy Blackened Chicken
  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings
  • The Best Roast Chicken Marinade
  • Cheesy Grilled Buffalo Chicken

More Fried Recipes

  • Chicken Fried Pickles
  • Nashville Hot Fried Chicken WIngs
  • Double Beer Battered Cajun Fries
  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken & Waffle Sandwich
Print

Buttermilk Chicken Tenders

These extra crispy homemade chicken tenders with buttermilk are coated with the perfect seasoning.

  • Author: Jessica Pinney
  • Prep Time: 40 minutes
  • Cook Time: 4 minutes
  • Total Time: 44 minutes
  • Yield: 3 1x
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Fried
  • Cuisine: American
Buttermilk Chicken Tenders Recipe
Print Recipe
★★★★★ 5 from 7 reviews

Ingredients

1lb Chicken Tenders

Buttermilk

1 1/2 Cups Flour

1 tsp Salt

1/2 tsp Black Pepper

1/2 tsp Garlic Powder

1/4 tsp Onion Powder

1/8-1/4 tsp Cayenne 

Oil, for frying

Instructions

Place chicken strips in a medium bowl and pour buttermilk over the top until they are submerged. Place in fridge and allow to soak for at least 30 minutes.

Take another bowl and add the flour and seasonings. Stir with a fork to combine. Now drizzle about 1/4 cup of buttermilk into the flour, stirring lightly with your fork as you add it. (This will create the small clumps of batter that make the chicken tenders extra crispy!)

Heat your deep fryer to 375 F or add 1″ of oil to a cast iron skillet and heat oil to temperature over medium heat.

Once the chicken tenders are done soaking, remove them from the buttermilk mixture and dredge in the flour. Turn them over to thoroughly coat each side.

When oil has come to temperature, add the chicken tenders, frying in batches if necessary. Cook them on each side for about 2 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.

Remove them from the oil and place on a cooling rack over a baking sheet or paper-lined plate.

Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce and french fries.

Nutrition

  • Calories: 250

Did you make this recipe?

Please tag @cookingwithjanica and use #cookingwithjanica on social media. We'd love to see!

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  1. Jess says

    April 9, 2019 at 11:23 am

    Could these be made in the airfryer? And heat temp and time ? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      April 9, 2019 at 12:30 pm

      I have never cooked with an air fryer so I wouldn’t know how to adapt the recipe. Maybe ask in an air fryer Facebook group?

      Reply
      • Samantha says

        July 2, 2020 at 9:00 am

        They are even more tender and good if they soak for hours

        Reply
  2. Pat McEntires says

    October 15, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    Had family over tonight served Buttermilk Fried Chicken Tenders, went over great.. Definitely make them again😊😋

    Reply
  3. Ashley says

    November 30, 2019 at 8:43 pm

    My kids LOVE these! They won’t let me buy the frozen kind anymore after tasting how good these are. LOL!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  4. Tracy says

    December 27, 2019 at 4:15 pm

    This recipe was just what I was looking for — I wanted crunchy chicken tenders on a big green salad with veggies, sunflower seeds, and Ranch dressing. Turned out beautifully! Many thanks from chilly Wisconsin.

    Reply
  5. Shaylynn Bain says

    April 28, 2020 at 4:27 pm

    I’ve seen some recipes where the meat is cooked first then rolled in buttermilk and batter then fried. Work that work for this recipe or is it better to have the meat uncooked and cook it while the batter cooks too.

    Reply
    • Jessica Pinney says

      April 28, 2020 at 9:50 pm

      I am not familiar with that technique. I would recommend following the recipe as written.

      Reply
  6. Gwen says

    June 5, 2020 at 9:46 pm

    I like dipping mine in mashed potatoes and chicken gravy. I’m gonna try your recipe I’ll let you know how it turns out

    Reply
  7. Jenn says

    September 11, 2020 at 2:09 pm

    Delicious!! Just the right amount of spice and crispy! My kiddos loved them. Made them many times now. Thanks for an amazing recipe!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  8. Laura Aronson says

    January 19, 2021 at 10:41 am

    Turned out great! Thanks for a yummy recipe!!!

    Reply
  9. Joanne says

    February 7, 2021 at 3:02 pm

    Could you bake these in the oven instead of frying?

    Reply
  10. Tess Riedle says

    July 29, 2021 at 5:32 am

    my family really enjoys this when I make it. I never fried chicken until doing it this way. I soaked mine for half a day…really good!!

    I like to double dip to keep the batter on better. I also had 3 bone in thighs that I cooked. also really good!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  11. Janice says

    October 7, 2021 at 8:47 am

    Can we cook.and then freeze them

    Reply
  12. Patricia says

    January 2, 2022 at 1:47 pm

    These are so delicious!!!
    Thank you!!

    Reply
  13. Barbara says

    February 8, 2022 at 2:31 pm

    Making this tonight for supper!!! With air Fried potatoes.Can’t wait.

    Reply
  14. Jim says

    April 6, 2022 at 5:38 pm

    Kids loved them (me too). Batter was very tasty but fell off some of the tenders. This issue is pretty common trying to fry chicken at home, any suggestions on how to eliminate?

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  15. Bobby says

    July 21, 2022 at 11:24 am

    The only chicken tender recipe that I use. My family loves them

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  16. Ainsley says

    October 14, 2022 at 1:43 pm

    These were so good!! I added in some pickle juice with the buttermilk. 10/10!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  17. Mitzi Dedman says

    November 9, 2022 at 6:46 am

    Really really good !! The whole family loved them !!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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