Chicken Tenders With Buttermilk Ranch Dipping Sauce Recipes

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• To marinate the chicken: In a large sealable bag, combine the chicken tenders with the remaining marinade ingredients. Seal the bag tightly and massage the chicken until it is evenly coated with buttermilk and seasoning. Place in a bowl (in case of leakage) and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
• To make the breading: In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Whisk until well blended, then add the buttermilk and stir with a fork until the mixture is evenly clumpy.
• Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy cleanup. Remove the chicken tenders from the marinade a few at a time and toss into the breading mixture. Be sure to press the chicken firmly into the breading so clumps adhere to the meat. (It's a messy job: use one hand to remove the wet tenders from the bag and the other to toss in the breading.) Set breaded tenders on the prepared baking sheet.
• To fry the chicken: Line another baking sheet with a few layers of paper towels and set next to the stove. Add oil to a large, high-sided pot until the level reaches about ¾-inch. Heat over medium-high heat until oil is shimmering (about 350°). (If a cube of bread sizzles when you drop it in, it's ready.) Using tongs, place several chicken tenders in the hot oil without crowding the pan. Cook until golden brown on the bottom side, a few minutes, then flip and cook until the second side is also golden, a few minutes more. Set the cooked tenders on the paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain. Fry remaining tenders in batches adjusting the heat as necessary (if the tenders are browning too fast, lower the heat). Serve hot.
• Note: I find that it's hard to tell how golden the chicken is when it's immersed in the oil. It may only look lightly golden, but it's actually a perfect fried chicken golden brown. If you're unsure, simply pull a tender out of the oil and rest it on the paper towels to see the true color.
• Note: Nutritional information was calculated assuming that approximately ¼ cup of the oil is absorbed into the chicken tenders when frying.
• Freezer-Friendly Instructions: The cooked chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, put the frozen tenders on a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and warm in a 350°F (175°C) oven until heated through and crisp, about 25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

CHICKEN TENDERS WITH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• In 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, mix buttermilk, garlic powder and egg. Add chicken, tossing to coat. Cover; refrigerate 2 to 4 hours.
• In glass pie plate, mix flour, salt, baking powder and red pepper. In another pie plate, place bread crumbs. Remove chicken pieces from buttermilk; coat with flour mixture. Dip chicken in buttermilk mixture again; coat evenly with bread crumbs.
• In deep fryer or 3-quart heavy saucepan, heat oil to 350°F. Fry chicken in hot oil 3 to 5 minutes or until brown. Drain on paper towels.
• Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix mayonnaise, ketchup, lemon-pepper seasoning and Worcestershire sauce. Serve chicken with sauce.

RANCH CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Place butter in 9x13-inch baking dish and let melt in the preheating oven.
• Slice chicken breast against the grain into thin strips.
• Place ranch dressing mix in a small bowl. Whisk egg and milk together in a second bowl. Place bread crumbs in a third bowl.
• Dredge each chicken strip in ranch dressing mix, then coat in egg mixture and cover with bread crumbs; arrange in the prepared baking dish.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Gently turn chicken pieces over and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 15 minutes longer.
• Allow to rest 5 minutes before serving.

AWESOME PRETZEL CHICKEN TENDERS WITH SPICY HONEY DIJON SAUCE

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine basil, oregano, granulated garlic, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes. Place buttermilk and half the spice mix into a double-lined resealable plastic bag. Add chicken and massage bag until well coated. Refrigerate 6 to 12 hours. Reserve remaining spice mix.
• Place almonds in plastic bag. Break up with rolling pin or mallet (flat side) until mixture looks part rough chopped part crumbs. Remove almonds and place into shallow bowl. Put pretzels in same bag and mash with mallet or rolling pin until it looks like a mixture of large breadcrumbs and powder. Add to almonds mix to combine.
• In a large fry pan, pour canola oil until it measures about 1 1/2 -inches high in pan. Heat over high, until oil is hot, but not smoking, temperature, 350 degrees.
• Remove tenders from buttermilk and dredge in almond-pretzel mixture, pressing mixture into the tenders. Gently add tenders, in batches, to the oil. Be sure not to over crowd the pan. Fry tenders until they are dark golden brown, being careful not to burn, about 5 minutes or until cooked through. Remove and drain on a cookie sheet lined with a wire rack. Serve immediately with Spicy Honey Dijon Sauce or keep warm in a 200 degree F oven.
• In a small food processor, combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to use.

GRILLED BUTTERMILK CHICKEN TENDERS WITH DIPPING SAUCES

Steps:

• In a bowl or resealable plastic bag, season chicken with salt and pepper. Add buttermilk and scallions, massaging to evenly coat chicken. Refrigerate at least 12 hours and up to 1 day.
• Drain chicken; discard scallions. Wrap each tender with a strip of bacon and thread onto skewers, being sure to skewer bacon at top and bottom of each strip.
• Preheat a grill for direct-heat cooking over medium. Brush grates with oil. Add chicken, cover, and cook, turning skewers a few times, until bacon is crisp and chicken is just cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve with tomatoes, cucumbers, and dipping sauces.

BUFFALO CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Whisk all dry ingredients together in a medium mixing bowl.
• Whisk egg, buttermilk, 1/2 tsp pepper and 1/2 tsp garlic in a separate bowl.
• Set up a wire rack to use as a drying station.
• Coat chicken in buttermilk mixture. Then dredge in flour. Repeat.
• Let chicken rest on wire rack for 10 mins. (Helps coating adhere to chicken and not fall off while frying.
• Heat vegetable oil.
• Fry in medium heat for 4-5 mins on each side until golden brown and crispy.
• Drain excess oil.
• Whisk all ingredients in a bowl.
• Chill for 2 hours and store in airtight container.

CHICKEN TENDERS WITH BUTTERMILK RANCH DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• Make the brine: Combine the water, salt, sugar, bay leaf, garlic, pepper and lemon in a large stock pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat and let simmer until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
• When done, remove from the heat, add the ice cubes and stir until the liquid is chilled. Add the buttermilk and pickle juice. Stir well then pour enough brine over the chicken tenders in a large bowl to submerge them. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Make the seasoned flour: Combine the ingredients in a medium bowl and mix well.
• Make the panko breading: Take half of the panko breadcrumbs and pulse in a food processor until fine. Combine with the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Mix well and set aside.
• Make the seasoning: Combine the ingredients in a small bowl, mix well and set aside.
• Prepare the chicken tenders: Remove the chicken tenders from the brine and pat dry. Set up a breading station with the seasoned flour, egg wash and panko breading. Working with 1 or 2 tenders at a time, lightly coat in the seasoned flour, dip in the egg wash, then place in the panko breading. Cover the tender in the breading then firmly press the tender flat with your palm to an even 1/4 inch thick. Flip and press again as needed to achieve even thickness and breading.
• Preheat 3 to 4 inches of oil in a Dutch oven to 350 degrees F. Working in batches, fry the chicken tenders, turning occasionally, until golden brown all over and cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the oil to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Season the tenders evenly all over with the seasoning and serve with the dipping sauce.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients until well combined and creamy in texture. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve, up to 5 days.