Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (2024)

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Now you can make Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders at home. This easy copycat recipe is a crowd pleaser and perfect for dipping into your favorite sauce.

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (1)

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe:

The Chicken Tenders at Chick-Fil-A is one my favorite items at get at this popular fast food restaurant. This copycat recipe gives the same flavorful and juicy chicken that we love.

We prepare the chicken by seasoning it with easy ingredients. The chicken is then dipped in flour and egg to give a breading coating to fry in a skillet.

Making this copycat recipe saves me time and money and my kids love that I can make their favorite chicken at home.

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (2)

Ingredients:

  • Boneless Chicken Chicken Tenders
  • Dill Pickle Juice
  • Egg
  • Milk
  • All Purpose Flour
  • Powdered Sugar
  • Paprika
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Pepper
  • Salt
  • Peanut Oil or Canola Oil for Frying

How to Make Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Strips:

  • Marinate Chicken in Pickle Juice – Combine the chicken and pickle juice in a medium size bowl. Cover and refrigerate to marinate the chicken in the pickle juice for 30 minutes to 60 minutes (or overnight).
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (3)
  • Drain Pickle Juice – Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and drain off the pickle juice.
  • Whisk Milk and Egg together – In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Then pour this mixture over the chicken.
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (4)
  • Add seasoning to zip lock bag – Then in a large ziplock bag, add the flour, sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Seal the bag and shake to combine all the ingredients. For added flavor, you can add a teaspoon of onion powder or garlic powder.
  • Add Chicken to Bag – Drain the excess milk mixture off the chicken and place the chicken in the ziplock bag with the flour mixture.
  • Seal and Shake Bag – Seal the bag and then shake to thoroughly coat the chicken pieces in the flour mixture.
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (5)
  • Heat Oil – Then heat the peanut oil or canola oil in a large pan over medium heat or in a fryer.
  • Cook Chicken – Working in batches, add the chicken to the hot oil and cook until the chicken is golden brown and crispy (approximately 3-5 minutes).
  • Place Chicken on Plate – Once cooked, move the chicken to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.
  • Serve and Enjoy – Serve immediately while warm with your favorite dipping sauces!
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How to Fry Chick-Fil-A Tenders:

Peanut oil or Canola oil is best for frying chicken tenders. You need a cast iron skillet or fryer.

Once you heat the oil to medium heat, the tenders go in and take just 3 to 5 minutes to cook.

Another way to cook these chicken tenders, is to air fryer them. It easy to do and less clean up.

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What to Serve with Chicken Tenders:

  • Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce Recipe
  • Homemade Chick-Fil-A Sauce Recipe
  • Chick-Fil-A Fruit Cup
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (8)

How to know when Chicken Tenders are done:

When making these chick-n-strips it is important to use a meat thermometer. This ensures that your chicken is done. Insert the thermometer in the chicken and it should have a reading of 165 degrees when chicken is done.

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Chicken Tender Tips:

  • Pickle Juice – Don’t skip the step soaking the chicken in the pickle juice. It gives the sandwich a lot of flavor. It also helps to make the chicken very tender and moist.
  • Fry Chicken – Once the chicken has been breaded, go ahead and fry it. If you wait, the chicken will be soggy and not the right texture.
  • Serve Immediately – The chicken is best served right away while hot. It will taste the most authentic and be the most crispy.

What is the Best Chicken to Use:

We used chicken tenders for this recipe but you can also use chicken breasts and slice it into strips as well.

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How to Store Leftovers:

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

Print Recipe here for Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders:

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (11)

Review

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Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders

4.99 from 223 votes

Now you can make Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders at home. This copycat recipe is a crowd pleaser and perfect for dipping into your favorite sauce.

Prep Time 45 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Servings 4

Cuisine American

Course Main Course

Calories 574

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Combine the chicken and pickle juice in a medium size bowl. Cover and refrigerate to marinate the chicken in the pickle juice for 30-60 minutes (or overnight).

  • Remove the chicken from the refrigerator and drain off the pickle juice.

  • In a small bowl, whisk together the milk and egg. Then pour this mixture over the chicken.

  • Then in a large ziplock bag, add the flour, sugar, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper. Seal the bag and shake to combine all the ingredients.

  • Drain the excess milk mixture off the chicken and place the chicken in the ziplock bag with the flour mixture. Seal the bag and then shake to thoroughly coat the chicken pieces in the flour mixture.

  • Then heat the peanut oil or canola oil in a large pan over medium heat or in a fryer.

  • Working in batches, add the chicken to the hot oil and cook until the chicken is golden brown and crispy (approximately 3-5 minutes). Once cooked, move the chicken to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up the excess oil.

  • Serve immediately while warm with your favorite dipping sauces!

Recipe Notes

Refrigerate the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

We used chicken tenders for this recipe but you can also use chicken breasts and slice it into strips as well.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 574kcal, Carbohydrates 34g, Protein 55g, Fat 23g, Saturated Fat 5g, Polyunsaturated Fat 6g, Monounsaturated Fat 9g, Trans Fat 1g, Cholesterol 193mg, Sodium 1772mg, Potassium 1018mg, Fiber 1g, Sugar 5g, Vitamin A 891IU, Vitamin C 3mg, Calcium 102mg, Iron 3mg

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More Copycat Chick-Fil-A Recipes:

  • Chick-Fil-A Spicy Nuggets
  • Copycat Chick-Fil-A Chicken Biscuit
  • Chick-Fil-A Spicy Southwest Salad Recipe
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (12)

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About the Author

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (21)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How does Chick-fil-A make their chicken so tender? ›

But don't just take it from me — this is the (not-so-secret) secret that's fueled the love affair so many people have with Chick-fil-A. It's the pickle brine! Well before being fried to perfection, the chicken breasts are brined with pickle juice for super-juicy, tender meat. People go wild for this chicken.

What are the ingredients in Chick-fil-A chicken tenders? ›

Made from the most tender part of the chicken breast, our Spicy Chick-n-Strips™ are seasoned with a spicy blend of peppers, hand-breaded and cooked to perfection in 100% refined peanut oil. They are mouthwatering and generously portioned.

What is Chick-fil-A breading made of? ›

After we brined the chicken in milk, egg, and pickle juice, we set about making the flour mixture used to dredge the chicken. We knew from Chick-fil-A's ingredients list that the mixture contained flour, salt, sugar, MSG, nonfat milk powder, baking powder, and paprika.

Why do Chick-fil-A tenders taste different? ›

The difference between Chick-fil-A's nuggets and strips is the marinade. After Reddit user u/SizzlingSloth asked if Chick-fil-A's strips and nuggets have different marinades, La_Casa_Nueva, who claimed to be a Chick-fil-A manager, explained that the company does indeed use different marinades for its strips and nuggets ...

What is the secret ingredient in Chick-Fil-A chicken? ›

That ingredient is monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG.

What does Chick-fil-A marinate their chicken in? ›

There are two crucial ingredients chick-fil-a uses that most recipes dont have- pickle juice and sugar. They also use MSG- but its also ok without it if you dont like it. Just cut up the breasts into chunks and follow recipe for nuggets.

What is the breading on chicken tenders made of? ›

Prepare the breading station: Place flour in a shallow bowl. Place eggs and water in a second shallow bowl. Place bread crumbs in a third shallow bowl, and mix in ground black pepper and cayenne pepper. Coat chicken in flour, then eggs, and then bread crumbs, one piece at a time, and set aside.

Is Chick-fil-A breaded or fried? ›

Our original recipe for almost 60 years. A boneless breast of chicken seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded, pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil and served on a toasted, buttery bun with dill pickle chips.

Does Chick-fil-A use sugar in their chicken? ›

Ingredients: Chargrilled chicken breast filets containing up to 18% solution of water, seasoning (sugar, salt, dextrose, garlic powder, onion powder, maltodextrin, autolyzed yeast extract, spice, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, flavor, paprika [color]), seasoning (salt, sugar, spices, and paprika), butter ...

Is there pickle juice in Chick-fil-A breading? ›

You won't find any pickle brine in his recipe, but you will see powdered sugar in the breading, which is even more key to the chicken's signature flavor than the pickles on top. You can, of course, use pickle juice as a marinade or brine for chicken.

Does Chick-fil-A use MSG in their breading? ›

MSG Is More Common in Your Food Than You Probably Realize. The new chicken sandwiches at McDonald's, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A all contain the MSG flavor enhancement chemical.

Does Chick-fil-A use milk in their breading? ›

Heads Up! The breaded nuggets and strips at Chick-fil-A do contain milk. When ordering, the menu defaults to milk for the beverage. Make sure to edit it and select a dairy-free drink.

What is the most unhealthy side at Chick-fil-A? ›

In terms of the least healthy side dish at Chick-fil-A, Wheeler says that this honor goes to the mac and cheese, which has more calories than the fries. “It had 29 grams of fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 1,190 milligrams of sodium, and only three grams of fiber,” Wheeler says.

Did Chick-fil-A change their chicken in 2024? ›

Chick-Fil-A said it will begin shifting to the new policy in the spring of 2024. A company spokesman added that the move reflects company concerns about its ability to acquire sufficient supplies of antibiotic-free chicken.

What's in Chick-fil-A chicken tenders? ›

Made from the most tender part of the chicken breast, our Spicy Chick-n-Strips™ are seasoned with a spicy blend of peppers, hand-breaded and cooked to perfection in 100% refined peanut oil. They are mouthwatering and generously portioned.

How is Chick-fil-A so moist? ›

So, the Chick-fil-A engineering team invented it. The patented high-tech grill cooks the chicken quickly and keeps it moist by locking in flavour. How? With a hydraulic system to lift the lid and lower it – but gently so it doesn't put too much pressure on the chicken and lose its juices.

What does soaking chicken in pickle juice do? ›

Fast food chains are using pickle juice in their chicken brine which packs a punch of flavor and helps gives the chicken that incredible flavor and tenderness. So today, I'll walk you through how to make a fantastic pickle juice & buttermilk-brined fried chicken sandwich.

What does Chick-fil-A use to cook their chicken in? ›

Ever since our founder Truett Cathy created the Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich, we've been cooking our hand-breaded chicken exclusively in fully refined, heat-processed peanut oil.

How to make chicken very soft and tender? ›

How you prep the chicken is also as important as how you cook it. Cooking method is only half of the answer. Brining the meat in a salty/sugary/acidic solution will go a long way in adding flavor and making the meat moist and tender. Brining + slow cooking = tenderest meat.

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