Chipotle Chicken Tenders Recipe: How to Make Crispy and Spicy Tenders at Home

chipotle peppers

🥗Healthier: smoked paprika

💰Cheaper: cayenne pepper

Smoked paprika provides a similar smoky flavor with less heat.

sour cream

🥗Healthier: Greek yogurt

💰Cheaper: plain yogurt

Greek yogurt adds creaminess with fewer calories.

Whisk 2 cups of picked brine and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt in a large bowl until salt dissolves. Add the chicken pieces, cover, and refrigerate for 30 minutes and up to 24 hours. Remove chicken from the brine and pat it dry with paper towels.

Combine 1 cup panko, 1 cup flour, 2 teaspoons granulated onion, 1 teaspoon granulated garlic, 2 teaspoons chipotle powder, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1-1/2 tablespoons powdered sugar, and baking powder in a shallow dish.

Whisk egg whites in a second shallow dish until foamy. Coat half the chicken pieces with the egg whites and dredge in flour mixture, pressing to adhere. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 200 degrees. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Add oil to a large high-sided frying pan until it measures 1 inch deep and heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees.

Fry a few chicken tenders in the hot oil without overcrowding the pan for 3 to 4 minutes on each side until golden brown. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet and place it in the oven to keep them warm. Return oil to 350 degrees and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens