How to Make Homemade Chicken Strips 3 Ways

Chicken strips, also known as chicken tenders, chicken fingers, chicken fillets, or chicken goujons, are always a family-friendly dinner option. But why is it that we often choose to forego the homemade option and opt for fast-food or freezer-aisle chicken strips instead?

Making chicken strips from scratch is so easy, anyone can do it. All you need is a good batter and/or breading, and you're halfway to homemade chicken strips. Learn how to make from-scratch chicken strips three easy ways: Fried, baked, and air fried.

How to Make Chicken Strips 3 Ways

How to Make Fried Chicken Strips

For classic, fried chicken strips we're going to be using this Fried Chicken Tenders recipe from Allrecipes Community Member Charlotte. Refer to the original recipe to learn how to make a spicy horseradish sauce for dipping!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups Italian-style seasoned bread crumbs
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 2 tablespoons water
• 24 chicken tenderloins
• 2 quarts oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Place flour in a shallow bowl. Place breadcrumbs, ground black pepper, and cayenne pepper in another shallow bowl. Mix together. Place eggs and water in another small bowl.
2. One piece at a time, coat the chicken in flour, then in the egg mixture, and then in the breadcrumbs. Set aside.
3. Heat oil in a deep fryer to 375 degrees F. If you don't have a deep fryer, you may also heat oil in a large skillet and use a pot thermometer to measure the temperature.
4. Fry the chicken in small batches for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove the chicken and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

How to Make Chicken Strips in the Oven

For a healthier, and more hands-off approach to making chicken strips, baking is the way to go. Easy Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe Creator Tarryn says, "A wholesome twist on the classic favorite chicken tenders...I personally would prefer these baked over fried any day!"

Ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 ¼ cups panko bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken tenders

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or wax paper and spray with cooking spray.
2. Place a beaten egg in a shallow dish. Place bread crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper into a large, zip-top freezer bag and mix well.
3. Dip two chicken strips into the egg and place into the bread crumb mixture. Shake to coat. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining strips.
4. Spray each chicken tender with cooking spray two times.
5. Bake tenders in the oven for 7 minutes, flip, and bake 7 minutes more. Remove from the oven
6. Set an oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler.
7. Broil tenders in the preheated oven for extra crunch, about 2 minutes more.

How to Make Chicken Strips in the Air Fryer

Get the deliciously crisp, air-fried chicken tenders without all the grease. This simple, four-ingredient Crumbed Chicken Tenderloins recipe is from Allrecipes Community Member Launa. Don't have an air fryer? Check out our picks for the best air fryers on the market.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg
• ½ cup dry bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 8 chicken tenderloins

Instructions:

1. Preheat an air fryer to 350 degrees F.
2. Whisk one egg in a small bowl.
3. Mix bread crumbs and oil together in another bowl until the mixture becomes loose and crumbly.
4. Dip each chicken tenderloin into the bowl of egg; shake off any residual egg. Dip chicken into the crumb mixture, making sure it is evenly and fully covered.
5. Lay chicken tenderloins into the basket of the air fryer. Cook until no longer pink in the center, about 12 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).