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.

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Tenders Recipe (7)

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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Easy Slow Cooker

Crockpot Chicken Fajita Pasta

Easy Slow Cooker

Crockpot Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

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Crockpot Dr Pepper Chicken

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Crockpot Chicken Adobo

Easy Slow Cooker

Crockpot Butter Chicken

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? ›

You'll still get the benefits of a super-moist, tender, and flavorful chicken — just with a milder taste. 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!

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

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.

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

That ingredient is monosodium glutamate, more commonly known as MSG. While many people think MSG is only found in Chinese (or Americanized Chinese) cuisine, it's prevalent in dozens of all types of food items, including snacks like Doritos and powder mixes like Hidden Valley's ranch dressing.

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.

How long does Chick-fil-A soak their chicken in pickle juice? ›

What's the secret to Chick-fil-a chicken? The secret to that perfect tangy flavor is that it's marinated in pickle juice overnight.

Does Chick-fil-A use pickle juice to marinate their chicken? ›

Despite internet rumors that led me and countless other foodies to think otherwise, several Chick-fil-A-philes (and anonymous employees) have debunked the idea that the key to their chicken bites and chicken sandwiches is a pickle brine.

Are Chick-fil-A strips marinated? ›

Description. "Made from the most tender part of the chicken breast, Chick-n-Strips™ are marinated in special seasonings, hand-breaded and pressure cooked to perfection in 100% refined peanut oil.

What is in the breading at Chick-fil-A? ›

Chick-fil-A's classic chicken sandwich did not contain 55 ingredients. The sandwich typically consisted of a few simple ingredients, including: Chicken breast filet (100% all-white meat chicken) Breading (flour, salt, monosodium glutamate, leavening, spices, sugar, and paprika)

How are Chick-fil-A strips cooked? ›

Tray of Chick-n-Strips™️ which are seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded and pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.

Does Chick-fil-A put sugar in their batter? ›

Ingredients: 100% natural whole breast filet, seasoning (salt, monosodium glutamate, sugar, spices, paprika), seasoned coater (enriched bleached flour, [malted barley flour, niacin, iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid], sugar, salt, monosodium glutamate, nonfat milk, leavening [baking soda, sodium ...

What does pickle brine do to chicken? ›

While brining chicken doesn't make it safe to eat in the same way adding acid to fish to make a ceviche might, much of what happens to the protein on a microscopic level looks awfully familiar. Sodium chloride-rich pickle brine unravels the alpha helix of the chicken protein in a process called denaturing.

What pickles do Chick-fil-A use? ›

But Why Are Its Pickles So Good? It turns out that the pickles Chick-fil-A gets from Bay Valley are a little different from standard pickles. The company selects cucumbers specifically for size and texture, of course, but what really makes the difference is the brine.

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 pickle juice tenderize 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.

Why marinate chicken in olive oil? ›

Oils help the meat retain its moisture while cooking, resulting in a juicier finished product. Acids, whether you're using fruit juice or vinegar, help break down the dense protein, tenderizing the meat. Seasonings, as with any food, boost flavor.

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 is Chick-fil-A grilled chicken so juicy? ›

Using pickle juice to tenderize meat

Pork, turkey and, of course, chicken breast can soak in this zesty brine to pick up a moist texture and some dill flavor from pickling spices.

What does pickle juice do to chicken? ›

Why marinate chicken in pickle juice? 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.

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