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popeyes chicken tenders recipe

Popeyes Chicken Tenders Copycat Recipe

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Prep Time 35 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp hot sauce
  • 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup cornstarch
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp fine salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dried oregano
  • Neutral oil for frying

Method
 

  1. Whisk together the buttermilk and hot sauce in a large bowl, add the chicken tenders, and soak for at least 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 8 hours in the fridge.
  2. Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, black pepper, and oregano in a shallow dish until evenly combined.
  3. Lift each tender from the buttermilk, press firmly into the flour mixture, dip back into the buttermilk, then press into the flour a second time. Rest the coated tenders on a wire rack for 5 minutes.
  4. Heat 2 inches of neutral oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry the tenders in batches of 3 to 4 for 4 to 5 minutes per side until deep amber and cooked through to 165°F (74°C). Return oil to temperature between batches.
  5. Transfer to a wire rack for 2 minutes, sprinkle with a pinch of salt, and serve immediately with dipping sauce.

Notes

These are best eaten straight out of the fryer while the crust is still crackling. If you're feeding a crowd and need to hold them, keep the cooked tenders on a wire rack in a 250°F (120°C) oven for up to 20 minutes — any longer and the meat starts to dry out. The soak time is flexible, but don't go under 30 minutes or the coating won't have anything to grip.