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.
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  • 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
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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? ›

What also makes pickle juice such a terrific brine is what it does for the texture of the chicken. Because of the low fat content, chicken breast has the potential to quickly dry out when overcooked. Brining it in this salty solution — even just for an hour — tenderizes the meat, keeping it succulent and super juicy.

What are Chick-fil-A chicken tenders made of? ›

Boneless chicken tenders seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded and pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.

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 use to marinate their chicken? ›

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.

Is Chick-fil-A chicken marinated in pickle juice? ›

Now, let's address the elephant in the room – pickle juice. Yes, it's true that Chick Fil A includes pickle juice in their marinade, but it's not the sole ingredient responsible for the chicken's taste. Pickle juice serves as a flavor enhancer, adding a tangy and slightly acidic note to the chicken.

Does Chick-fil-A batter their own chicken? ›

Many of our menu items are hand-prepared daily, right in our restaurant kitchens. For example, the chicken breast we use to make our sandwiches, strips and nuggets is breaded by hand; it never comes to us as a pre-breaded nugget that needs to be reheated.

Why does Chick-fil-A taste different in 2024? ›

To maintain supply of the high-quality chicken you expect from us, Chick-fil-A will shift from No Antibiotics Ever to No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine starting in the Spring of 2024,” the company said in a statement.

Why do Chick-fil-A tenders taste different than the nuggets? ›

Taste: Nuggets: Chick-fil-A nuggets have a distinct flavor. They are seasoned differently from the chicken strips, providing customers with more variety [1]. Strips: The marinade used for the strips is made by hand using a variety of spices, including pickle juice, which adds a unique taste [2].

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 have a secret recipe? ›

While you may have seen your friends concocting their own recipes from Chick-fil-A® menu items, our restaurants do not have a secret menu. We do everything we can to maintain the highest standards for our regular menu, and we rotate seasonal and limited-time items on and off the menu throughout the year.

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

Ultimately, the Chick-fil-A menu team chose a seasoning with simple ingredients: a blend of sea salt, lemon, garlic and savoury herbs. Once the grilled chicken is cooked, it's placed on a toasted multigrain bun with green leaf lettuce and tomato for the Grilled Chicken Sandwich.

What does soaking chicken in pickle juice do? ›

It breaks down the proteins in the meat, leaving you with chicken that's exceptionally succulent with well-balanced tart, tangy, and savory flavors. This easy chicken pickle recipe involves marinating chicken in pickle juice overnight, then throwing it on the grill until it's moist and lightly charred.

Does Chick-fil-A soak their chicken in peanut oil? ›

Does Chick-fil-A use peanut oil? 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.

Does Chick-fil-A season their chicken? ›

The seasoning mix is the only thing that Chick-fil-A confirms goes into the chicken recipe—besides a milk and egg wash that keeps the breading in place. However, for years the internet has speculated that Chick-fil-A's chicken is marinated in pickle juice to give it its signature flavor.

What sauce does Chick-fil-A use? ›

What Is Chick-Fil-A Sauce Made Out Of? The sauce sold in stores is a combination of their honey mustard, barbecue, and ranch sauces, but you can recreate it to perfection with just five ingredients. Barbecue sauce. Classic tomato-based barbecue sauce gives it that signature smokiness.

How to make chicken very soft and tender? ›

The best tenderizer though, is a salted yogurt marinade. The salt has the same effect as in a regular brine, but the lactic acid in the yogurt further tenderizes the meat. A 15-minute marinade with one cup of yogurt and one teaspoon of salt makes for the most tender chicken breasts imaginable.

What does pickle juice do to chicken? ›

Marinating your chicken in pickle juice is the same as creating a brine for it. The pickle juice helps keep moisture in so it's super tender when cooked and doesn't dry out. It also adds flavor to your meat.

How to make chicken soft like restaurants? ›

For every 250g/8oz chicken breast strips or pieces, toss with 3/4 tsp baking soda (bi-carb) Marinate for 20 minutes. Rinse well under running water, pat with paper towel to remove excess water. Cook per chosen recipe and marvel at the most tender chicken breast you've ever had, just like at Chinese restaurants!!!

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

Taste: Nuggets: Chick-fil-A nuggets have a distinct flavor. They are seasoned differently from the chicken strips, providing customers with more variety [1]. Strips: The marinade used for the strips is made by hand using a variety of spices, including pickle juice, which adds a unique taste [2].

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