Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Strips (Homemade Chicken Tenders)
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These Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Strips are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with the savory flavor people love from the restaurant version. The chicken is marinated for tenderness, coated in seasoned breading, and fried until golden brown for classic homemade chicken tenders with a crispy texture.
If you love easy comfort food recipes or restaurant copycat meals, these crispy chicken strips are perfect for weeknight dinners, game day snacks, or casual entertaining.
Serve them with easy party appetizers, dipping sauces, fries, or coleslaw for a meal that tastes just like your favorite fast food order at home.
Key Takeaways
- Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Strips are crispy and juicy, mimicking the restaurant’s famous flavor.
- Marinating the chicken in dill pickle juice and using confectioner’s sugar in the coating enhances taste and tenderness.
- Tips for success include letting the chicken rest after breading and frying in batches to avoid greasy strips.
- You can easily adapt this recipe for sandwiches or nuggets by adjusting the chicken size.
- Serve the chicken strips with fries, coleslaw, or various dipping sauces for a complete meal.
⭐What Makes Chick-fil-A Chicken Different?
The combination of seasoning, breading, and frying technique creates the signature crispy texture people associate with Chick-fil-A style chicken.
Chick-fil-A chicken is known for its tender texture, lightly seasoned breading, and juicy interior. Many copycat recipes use a marinade to help tenderize the chicken before frying.
Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Strips
Rarely do I cook something that both boys like, much less compliment. I think it’s a conspiracy, actually, but they never like the same foods…. until now! Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Strips had both of them raving. Another winner are these easy chicken tender recipe and homemade Southern chicken tenders.
🔥Tips for Crispy Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Strips
Don’t skip the marinade
Marinating helps tenderize the chicken and improves flavor.
Use peanut oil if preferred
Many people use peanut oil for a flavor similar to restaurant chicken.
Let the breaded chicken rest briefly
This helps the coating stick better before frying.
Fry in batches
Overcrowding lowers oil temperature and can make chicken greasy.
🍗What ingredients are in Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Strips?
- chicken tenders
- dill pickle juice (the liquid from dill pickles, no need to buy a jar of juice!)
- egg
- milk
- all-purpose flour
- confectioner’s sugar
- paprika
- salt
- pepper
- dried basil
- garlic powder*
- onion powder*
- celery powder*
- oil for cooking
Check out more copycat recipes here.
🧨Homemade Fried Chicken Tenders Tips
- There are a couple of secrets to these chicken strips. First, they are brined in dill pickle juice. I know, right, that’s totally the big secret!!
- The chicken coating also has a little confectioner’s sugar in it. That’s what gives it that back note of sweetness when you take a bite. It’s not a lot, but it definitely leaves a slightly sweet taste.
- For that super tender chicken that is such a Chick-fil-A characteristic, I pound the chicken with a flat mallet until it’s about 1/4 inch thick. It swells up when cooked and will be the thickness you want. I like to place the meat in a freezer bag, squeeze the air out, and flatten it. Use tongs to remove the chicken. This is the least messy method.
- You can use this same recipe for Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches and Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets. For the nuggets, use 1 pound of chicken breast and cut them into 2-inch chunks.
👉🏼 Chicken should reach 165°F before serving.
❓Frequently Asked Questions
Many copycat recipes use marinade and careful seasoning to create tender texture and savory flavor.
Yes. Slice chicken breasts into strips for similar results.
Yes. Freeze after cooking and reheat in the oven or air fryer.
Honey mustard, ranch, barbecue sauce, and spicy mayo all pair well.
👩🏼🍳Can You Make Chicken Strips in the Air Fryer?
Yes. Air fryers work well for homemade chicken strips and create a crispy texture with less oil.
Spray the breaded chicken lightly with oil and cook in batches for best airflow and browning. Here’s how to convert this recipe to an air fryer! I have more air fryer conversion tips in this post.
I was a little worried this recipe would let me down and not taste the same as the original. However, I thought it was spot-on, and even both boys agreed. That’s huge!
🥗What to Serve with Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Strips
Any combo of these side dishes go wonderfully with fried chicken.
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Copycat Chick-fil-a Chicken Strips
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Ingredients
- 1 -1.5 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 cup dill pickle juice the liquid off dill pickles
- 1 large eggs
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (aka confectioners)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder*
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder*
- 1/2 teaspoon celery powder*
- oil for cooking
Instructions
- Place the chicken tenders in a freezer zip-top bag, add pickle juice and refrigerate at least 4 hours.
- Remove from back and pat chicken dry with a paper towel.
- Add egg and milk to a small bowl and beat.
- Add flour, sugar, paprika, salt, pepper, basil, garlic powder, onion powder and celery powder to another bowl.
- Add oil to a large skillet or saute pan to 1/4 in deep. Heat to medium.
- Dredge chicken in egg mixture then in flour mixture.
- Add chicken to hot oil and cook 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Drain on paper towels and serve hot.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Can you substitute gluten free flour for the flour in this recipe?
Yes, you can.
Can these be cooked in an air fryer? If so, would you please give instructions?
Spray the air fryer tray with olive oil, and as you bread each piece of chicken, place into the air fryer. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer or overlap the chicken pieces. They should be barely touching. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you’ll likely need to cook the chicken in two batches. Once the air fryer is full, spray the tops of the chicken with olive oil.
Air fry at 400 degrees F for 8-10 minutes, or until fully cooked through. Flip the chicken halfway through the cook time.