↑

Delicious Little Bites

Loving Life One Bite at a Time

  • About
    • Disclosure Statement
    • Work With Me
    • Contact Me
  • Recipe Index
  • Low Carb
  • Gluten Free
  • Vegetarian
  • Desserts
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Chicken / Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Published May 15, 2023 by Lauren Vavala

Thanks for sharing!

Buffalo chicken tenders being dipped into ranch dressing with text overlay.
Buffalo chicken tenders with text overlay.
Buffalo chicken tenders with text overlay.
Buffalo chicken tenders with text overlay.
Buffalo chicken tenders being dipped into ranch dressing with text overlay.

This easy recipe for Buffalo Chicken Tenders comes together in just 30 minutes. Crispy, fried chicken tenders are coated with buffalo sauce for the perfect crunchy, spicy flavor. These tenders are perfect as an appetizer or as the main dish.

Buffalo chicken tenders stacked on a white plate with a white bowl of ranch dressing.

This post contains affiliate links. See our Disclosure Statement for more information.

This recipe for Buffalo Chicken Tenders is made the same way as my Pan-fried Chicken Tenders recipe, but finishes the chicken off with a coating of your favorite buffalo sauce.

All you need is 30 minutes, a handful of pantry staples and buffalo sauce. A little ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping never hurts either!

This quick dish comes together quickly and leaves you with a delicious plate of spicy chicken strips.

The batter is easy to prepare with a couple of eggs and seasoned flour for dredging. Then all you need to do is give them a quick toss or brush over with the sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

This is a quick, 30-minute meal and the recipe is very simple to follow.

All you need is a handful of pantry staples and your favorite buffalo sauce.

Buffalo chicken is a very popular flavor so this recipe is sure to please everyone who loves this spicy combination.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Ingredients

Ingredients needed to make buffalo chicken tenders on a marble background with text overlay.

  • 1 pound chicken tenders
  • 1 cup all purpose flour: you can use gluten free all purpose flour, if needed. You can also use panko or breadcrumbs.
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup buffalo sauce: I use Frank’s Red Hot, but you can use any brand you like.

The entire recipe and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

Mix together the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika in a shallow dish or bowl and whisk the eggs in a second bowl.

Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.

Create!

A chicken tender in a shallow rectangular container and a second chicken tender in whisked eggs in a shallow rectangular container.

Coat each chicken strip in flour, then dip into the egg, let the excess drip off and dip back into the flour. Place the coated chicken strips on a plate.

Chef’s Tip: if you would rather use breadcrumbs or panko, after dipping the tenders in the egg, coat them in breadcrumbs or panko that has been added to a third shallow dish or bowl.

Five breaded chicken tenders frying in oil in a large black skillet.

Heat oil on medium until hot and glistening. You need just enough oil to reach half the height of the tenders.

Once the oil is hot, add the tenders. Cook 4-5 minutes or until golden brown, flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center.

Chicken is done cooking when the internal temperature reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portion.

Transfer the chicken tenders to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt.

Present!

A buffalo chicken tender being dipped into ranch dressing that's in a white bowl on a white plate with more buffalo chicken tenders.

Brush the chicken tenders with the buffalo sauce immediately before serving.

Chef’s Tip: you want to wait to coat the chicken with the buffalo sauce until immediately before serving to prevent the breading from getting soggy.

Serve with a side of dipping sauce like ranch or blue cheese dressing, if desired.

Tips and Techniques

  • Ensure the chicken is dry before breading. This will help the breading stick to the chicken better.
  • If you’d rather bread the chicken with breadcrumbs or panko, after dipping them in the egg, add them to a shallow dish of breadcrumbs or panko to coat.
  • Do not add the chicken strips to the oil until it is very hot, but not smoking. This will help your chicken to be very crispy and not soggy.
  • Wait to coat the chicken tenders in the buffalo sauce until immediately before serving to prevent the breading from getting soggy.
  • Store leftover chicken strips tightly covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven to re-crisp the breading. Consume within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

How Do You Keep The Breading On Chicken?

Pat the chicken dry before coating it in flour and then egg. You can either do another coating of flour or breadcrumbs.

Ensure that the oil it hot before adding the chicken. If the oil is not hot enough, the breading will soak it up before it can crisp, leaving you with soggy breading that can fall off.

What Do You Serve With Buffalo Chicken Tenders?

Buffalo chicken tenders pair well with a side of dipping sauce like ranch or blue cheese dressing.

For side dishes, try them with french fries, a side salad, or roasted broccoli.

More Buffalo Chicken Recipes

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Lunch is easy, healthy, and delicious when you make these Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps. With only 5 net carbs per serving, they are low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free.
Get The Recipe
Close up of a Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wrap on a white plate with more wraps blurred in the background with a cutting board, cucumber slices, blue cheese, and a blue and white towel.
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Hand Pies
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Hand Pies are a fun, easy way to enjoy this popular flavor. This savory hand pies recipe can be served as an appetizer, snack, or the main meal. 
Get The Recipe
A buffalo chicken hand pie broken in half and stacked on top of itself to show the contents inside
Buffalo Chicken Burgers
This easy recipe for Buffalo Chicken Burgers is super versatile and a healthy alternative to traditional hamburgers. These flavorful, spicy patties are low carb, keto friendly, and gluten free. The simplicity in preparing this delicious entree will have you craving another zesty Buffalo Chicken slider soon.
Get The Recipe
A hand holding a buffalo chicken burger

Love this Buffalo Chicken Tenders Recipe? Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook for more.

If you try this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would please leave a comment and star rating. Thanks!

A buffalo chicken tender being dipped into ranch dressing that's in a white bowl on a white plate with more buffalo chicken tenders.
Print

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

This easy recipe for Buffalo Chicken Tenders comes together in just 30 minutes. Crispy fried chicken tenders are coated with buffalo sauce for the perfect crunchy, spicy flavor. These tenders are perfect as an appetizer or as the main dish.
Course Appetizer, Main Dish
Cuisine American, Chicken
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
Total Time 25 minutes minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 280kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour (gluten free, if needed)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 pound chicken tenders
  • oil for frying (vegetable or canola oil is recommended)
  • 1/2 cup buffalo sauce

Instructions

  • Place the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika in a shallow dish or bowl and mix well. Whisk the eggs together in a second bowl.
    1 cup all purpose flour, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 2 eggs
  • Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
    1 pound chicken tenders
  • Coat each chicken strip in flour, then dip into the egg, let the excess drip off and dip back into the flour. Place the coated chicken strips on a plate.
  • Heat oil on medium until hot and glistening. You need just enough oil to reach half the height of the tenders.
    oil for frying
  • Once the oil is hot, add the tenders. Cook 4-5 minutes or until golden brown, flip and cook an additional 3-4 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. The internal temperature should reach 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portion.
  • Transfer the chicken tenders to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt.
  • Brush the chicken tenders with the buffalo sauce immediately before serving.
    1/2 cup buffalo sauce
  • Serve with a side of dipping sauce like ranch or blue cheese dressing, if desired.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • Ensure the chicken is dry before breading. This will help the breading stick to the chicken better.
  • If you’d rather bread the chicken with breadcrumbs or panko, after dipping them in the egg, add them to a shallow dish of breadcrumbs or panko to coat.
  • Do not add the chicken strips to the oil until it is very hot, but not smoking. This will help your chicken to be very crispy and not soggy.
  • Wait to coat the chicken tenders in the buffalo sauce until immediately before serving to prevent the breading from getting soggy.
  • Store leftover chicken strips tightly covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven to re-crisp the breading. Consume within 3-4 days.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary. Nutritional information takes into account using all of the flour and egg. It does not take into account the oil since this will vary greatly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 1375mg | Potassium: 510mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Vitamin A: 400IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

Related Posts

Close up of a wonton chicken taco.
Applebee’s Chicken Wonton Tacos Copycat Recipe
Close up of a plate with chicken kofta pita.
Chicken Kofta
Overhead of Ranch Chicken Meatballs on a white plate with a white bowl of ranch dressing over a wood background with gold star toothpicks and a spoon around the plate
Ranch Chicken Meatballs
Buffalo Chicken Meatballs (keto + gluten free)
Overhead of half a plate of Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Cups on a white background with a cutting board, cucumber slices and blue cheese around it.
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Filed Under: Appetizers, Chicken, Main Dish, Recipes

Comments

  1. Jamie says

    May 28, 2023 at 12:58 pm

    Wow! Another chicken recipe that looks absolutely delicious and very yummy! The texture and juiciness of this dish make it so enticing and tempting! I just love chicken dishes! It’s easy to make and cook!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

as seen on


Copyright ©2023, Delicious Little Bites. All Rights Reserved.