Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner

Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders are a family favorite dinner idea. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy tenders every time. The golden, sweet coating and juicy chicken inside will make your whole family happy. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Honey Glazed Carrots and Green Beans and How to Make Vibrant Pink Sushi Rice with Beet Juice.

What You'll Need for Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1/2 tsp lemon juice)
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• Optional: Honey mustard dipping sauce
• Optional: Chopped green onions

How to Make Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner

1. Step 1: In a shallow dish, combine brown sugar, flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Step 2: In another dish, pour in buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice).
3. Step 3: Dip each chicken tender into the buttermilk, then coat it in the flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
4. Step 4: Heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
5. Step 5: Carefully place the coated chicken tenders in the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.
6. Step 6: Transfer the cooked tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining tenders.
7. Step 7: Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Storing & Reheating Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: You can prepare the chicken tenders ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Freezing Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner

Freeze cooked tenders for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Note that this may make the tenders soggy.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder to the flour mixture.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the buttermilk with milk and add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice to mimic the acidity.
• Make-ahead: You can prepare the chicken tenders ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken tenders are burning before they're cooked through, reduce the heat and flip them more frequently.

Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner

⏱

Prep

15 mins

🍳

Cook

10 mins

⏳

Total

25 mins

🍽

Serves

4 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free, Dairy-free

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Seasonings

• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup buttermilk (or milk with 1/2 tsp lemon juice)
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Optional Toppings

• Honey mustard dipping sauce
• Chopped green onions

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a shallow dish, combine brown sugar, flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, baking powder, and baking soda.
2. Step 2: In another dish, pour in buttermilk (or milk with lemon juice).
3. Step 3: Dip each chicken tender into the buttermilk, then coat it in the flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
4. Step 4: Heat about 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C).
5. Step 5: Carefully place the coated chicken tenders in the hot oil, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.
6. Step 6: Transfer the cooked tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining tenders.
7. Step 7: Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Notes

• Chef tip: For extra flavor, add 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder to the flour mixture.
• Best substitution: You can substitute the buttermilk with milk and add 1/2 teaspoon of lemon juice to mimic the acidity.
• Make-ahead: You can prepare the chicken tenders ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve more people.
• Troubleshooting: If your chicken tenders are burning before they're cooked through, reduce the heat and flip them more frequently.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Freezer: Freeze cooked tenders for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 375°F (190°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for about 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Note that this may make the tenders soggy.
• Make ahead: You can prepare the chicken tenders ahead of time and store them in the refrigerator until ready to cook.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 350
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 12g
• Carbs: 30g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 18g
• Sodium: 500mg
• Cholesterol: 70mg
• Sat. Fat: 2g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Brown Sugar Chicken Tenders for Dinner and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!