Chili Lime Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
Chili Lime Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
Ingredients
For the Chili Lime Chicken Tenders
- 2 chicken breast, cut into tenders
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 cup milk
For the Homemade Ranch
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon milk
For the Breading
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
For the Chili Lime Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili flakes
For Frying and Garnish
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Cut the chicken breasts into tender-sized strips. Place the chicken tenders in a medium bowl.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
To the chicken, add 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon chili flakes, and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. Pour 1 cup milk over the chicken. Mix everything together thoroughly to ensure the chicken is well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
While the chicken marinates, prepare the homemade ranch. In a separate bowl, add the mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, and 1 tablespoon dried parsley. Pour in 1 tablespoon milk. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined and smooth. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Prepare the breading for the chicken. Pour 2 cups of all-purpose flour into a shallow tray or dish. Add 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, and 1 tablespoon salt to the flour. Use a fork to mix the dry ingredients together until evenly distributed.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Remove the marinated chicken tenders from the refrigerator. Take each chicken tender and dredge it thoroughly in the flour mixture, ensuring it is completely coated. Gently shake off any excess flour and place the breaded tenders on a plate.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer, heat 4 cups of vegetable oil to 350°F. Carefully place the breaded chicken tenders into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry in batches if necessary.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 7
Deep-fry the chicken tenders for 5-7 minutes, or until they are crispy, golden brown, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the cooked tenders from the oil and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 7 min
- 8
While the chicken is frying, prepare the chili lime coating sauce. In a bowl, combine the 1/4 cup melted butter with 1/4 cup hot sauce. Add 1 tablespoon chili flakes to the mixture. Stir the sauce until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Once all the chicken tenders are fried, transfer them into a clean, large bowl. Pour the prepared chili lime sauce over the fried tenders and toss gently to coat them completely and evenly.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Garnish the coated chicken tenders with 1 teaspoon of dried parsley. Serve the chili lime chicken tenders hot with the homemade ranch on the side for dipping.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Chili Lime Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
For the Chili Lime Chicken Tenders
- 2 chicken breast, cut into tenders
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 cup milk
For the Homemade Ranch
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1 tablespoon milk
For the Breading
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon salt
For the Chili Lime Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon chili flakes
For Frying and Garnish
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Cut the chicken breasts into tender-sized strips. Place the chicken tenders in a medium bowl.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
To the chicken, add 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon chili flakes, and 1 tablespoon garlic powder. Pour 1 cup milk over the chicken. Mix everything together thoroughly to ensure the chicken is well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate to marinate for at least 30 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
While the chicken marinates, prepare the homemade ranch. In a separate bowl, add the mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon onion powder, and 1 tablespoon dried parsley. Pour in 1 tablespoon milk. Mix all the ingredients thoroughly until well combined and smooth. Set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Prepare the breading for the chicken. Pour 2 cups of all-purpose flour into a shallow tray or dish. Add 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 tablespoon paprika, and 1 tablespoon salt to the flour. Use a fork to mix the dry ingredients together until evenly distributed.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Remove the marinated chicken tenders from the refrigerator. Take each chicken tender and dredge it thoroughly in the flour mixture, ensuring it is completely coated. Gently shake off any excess flour and place the breaded tenders on a plate.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer, heat 4 cups of vegetable oil to 350°F. Carefully place the breaded chicken tenders into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry in batches if necessary.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 7
Deep-fry the chicken tenders for 5-7 minutes, or until they are crispy, golden brown, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the cooked tenders from the oil and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil.
⏱️ 7 min - 8
While the chicken is frying, prepare the chili lime coating sauce. In a bowl, combine the 1/4 cup melted butter with 1/4 cup hot sauce. Add 1 tablespoon chili flakes to the mixture. Stir the sauce until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Once all the chicken tenders are fried, transfer them into a clean, large bowl. Pour the prepared chili lime sauce over the fried tenders and toss gently to coat them completely and evenly.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Garnish the coated chicken tenders with 1 teaspoon of dried parsley. Serve the chili lime chicken tenders hot with the homemade ranch on the side for dipping.
⏱️ 1 min