The dish in your image looks like crispy honey butter chicken tenders, beautifully golden and juicy, likely served with a creamy dipping sauce like honey mustard or ranch.
Here’s a recipe to recreate them at home:
🍯 Crispy Honey Butter Chicken Tenders
🧺 Ingredients:
For the Chicken Tenders:
- 1½ lbs chicken tenders (or chicken breasts cut into strips)
- 1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
For the Breading:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch (for extra crunch)
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne (optional for a kick)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Oil for frying (vegetable, canola, or peanut oil)
For the Honey Butter Sauce:
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (optional for a sweet-heat version)
- Pinch of salt
Optional Dipping Sauce:
- Honey mustard or ranch dressing
🔪 Instructions:
1. Marinate the Chicken
- In a bowl, combine chicken tenders with buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour (or overnight for more flavor).
2. Prepare the Breading
- In a large shallow bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne.
3. Bread the Chicken
- Remove chicken from the marinade.
- Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing the coating onto the chicken to ensure it sticks well.
- Place on a wire rack and let it sit for 10 minutes (this helps the coating adhere better when frying).
4. Fry the Chicken
- Heat about 2 inches of oil in a heavy pan to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken in batches for 4–6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
5. Make the Honey Butter Sauce
- In a small saucepan, melt the butter, then stir in honey, hot sauce (if using), and a pinch of salt.
- Let it simmer for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
6. Toss or Drizzle
- Toss the chicken tenders in the honey butter sauce or drizzle it over the top just before serving.
🍽️ Serve With:
- Fries, coleslaw, or waffles for a Southern twist
- Dipping sauces: Honey mustard, ranch, or spicy mayo
Would you like a baked or air fryer version of this recipe as well?