Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tenders
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Dry Breading Mix
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Wet Breading Mix
- 1 cup prepared dry mix
- 1 egg, large
- 1 cup water
For Frying
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
For the Honey BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
For the Homemade Ranch Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Restaurant-Style seasoning
Instructions
- 1
Place chicken tenders in a large bowl. Season the chicken tenders with 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Mix thoroughly by hand until all pieces are evenly coated with the spices.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
In a separate large bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the dry ingredients. Whisk all dry ingredients together until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 3
Scoop 1 cup of the prepared dry mix into a third bowl. Crack 1 large egg into the bowl with the dry mix. Add 1 cup water to the wet mix ingredients. Whisk until a smooth batter is formed.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a large deep pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. While the oil heats, prepare the chicken for frying.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 5
Dredge each chicken tender using a "dry-wet-dry" method: First, coat the chicken tender completely in the main dry mix (from Step 2). Then, dip the chicken tender into the wet batter (from Step 3), ensuring full coverage. Finally, coat it again in the main dry mix, pressing to create a thick, craggy coating.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Carefully place the dredged chicken tenders into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry for 4-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the fried chicken tenders from the oil using a slotted spoon or spider strainer and place them in a large metal bowl.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 7
In a clean saucepan, combine 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup honey, and 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, until the sauce thickens slightly and all ingredients are well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Pour the prepared honey BBQ sauce over the fried chicken tenders in the metal bowl. Toss the chicken tenders until they are thoroughly coated with the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
For the ranch dipping sauce, squeeze 1/2 cup mayonnaise into a small serving bowl. Add the entire contents of 1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Restaurant-Style seasoning to the mayonnaise. Stir vigorously until the mayonnaise and seasoning are well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 3 min
- 10
Serve the Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders immediately with the homemade ranch dipping sauce on the side.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
For the Chicken Tenders
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
For the Dry Breading Mix
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Wet Breading Mix
- 1 cup prepared dry mix
- 1 egg, large
- 1 cup water
For Frying
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
For the Honey BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar, packed
For the Homemade Ranch Dipping Sauce
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 packet Hidden Valley Ranch Restaurant-Style seasoning
Instructions
- 1
Place chicken tenders in a large bowl. Season the chicken tenders with 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Mix thoroughly by hand until all pieces are evenly coated with the spices.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
In a separate large bowl, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon baking powder. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the dry ingredients. Whisk all dry ingredients together until well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 3
Scoop 1 cup of the prepared dry mix into a third bowl. Crack 1 large egg into the bowl with the dry mix. Add 1 cup water to the wet mix ingredients. Whisk until a smooth batter is formed.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a large deep pan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. While the oil heats, prepare the chicken for frying.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 5
Dredge each chicken tender using a "dry-wet-dry" method: First, coat the chicken tender completely in the main dry mix (from Step 2). Then, dip the chicken tender into the wet batter (from Step 3), ensuring full coverage. Finally, coat it again in the main dry mix, pressing to create a thick, craggy coating.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Carefully place the dredged chicken tenders into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry for 4-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the fried chicken tenders from the oil using a slotted spoon or spider strainer and place them in a large metal bowl.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 7
In a clean saucepan, combine 1/2 cup ketchup, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup honey, and 2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar. Cook over medium heat, stirring continuously with a wooden spoon, until the sauce thickens slightly and all ingredients are well incorporated, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Pour the prepared honey BBQ sauce over the fried chicken tenders in the metal bowl. Toss the chicken tenders until they are thoroughly coated with the sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
For the ranch dipping sauce, squeeze 1/2 cup mayonnaise into a small serving bowl. Add the entire contents of 1 packet of Hidden Valley Ranch Restaurant-Style seasoning to the mayonnaise. Stir vigorously until the mayonnaise and seasoning are well combined and smooth.
⏱️ 3 min - 10
Serve the Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders immediately with the homemade ranch dipping sauce on the side.