Ultimate Guide to Homemade Chicken Tenders

Whether they are seasoned and seared or coated and crispy, homemade chicken tenders are a popular menu choice both at restaurants and at home, as well as a versatile one. While they can be simply served with a dipping sauce, chicken tenders are also a great ingredient in many other dishes. In this guide, you’ll find helpful information on the following topics:

● Cooking methods for homemade chicken tenders

● Recommendations and recipes for dipping sauces

● Additional ways to use homemade chicken tenders

Keep reading to learn more about cooking methods, dipping sauces, and other ways to use homemade chicken tenders, as well as the chicken tender offerings available at the Freddy’s near you!

How to Cook Homemade Chicken Tenders

Deep-frying chicken tenders is a common cooking method, especially at restaurants, as achieving chicken tenders with a crispy, golden crust is perhaps the most familiar preparation of these chicken pieces. However, you don’t have to have a deep fryer at home or heat up oil on the stovetop in order to make delicious chicken tenders. (If you are interested in how to deep fry at home, you might consider checking out these instructions from Simply Recipes.) In fact, there are a variety of other cooking methods that you can use to make craveable homemade chicken tenders including the crispy variety! Below, learn more about the many other ways you might choose to prepare them.

1. Oven: In your oven, you can make homemade chicken tenders with or without coating. If you are looking for fairly quick chicken tenders without coating, check out the seasoned chicken tender recipe from The Big Man’s World. Step-by-step cooking guidance with visuals is provided as well as tips, such as the importance of using a meat thermometer to check for doneness, and alternate spice mix recommendations. For a potentially healthier and less messy preparation of crispy coated tenders, baking these chicken pieces may also be the way to go. With tips for achieving that perfectly golden color and crunchy texture, as well as enjoying a cleaner approach to the process, you may want to check out this well-reviewed recipe from RecipeTin Eats.

2. Air Fryer: If you have an air fryer at home, this piece of equipment has become a popular choice for making tasty homemade tenders (not to mention tater tots, grilled cheese sandwiches and many other items!). In this recipe from Air Fryer Eats, a potentially surprising ingredient is the key to ensuring that the breading mixture stays on during cooking. Plus, if you’ve just recently acquired an air fryer and want to convert your favorite oven recipe for homemade chicken tenders to the air fryer, you’ll also find a helpful tool for such conversions on this website. Given the increased air circulation in this piece of equipment, using an air fryer is also ideal for preparing frozen breaded chicken tenders for use in your homemade chicken tender dishes, as explained at 40 Aprons.

3. Stovetop: While you can prepare crispy chicken tenders by deep frying them on the stovetop, you can also simply steam or sear them in a pan. The latter method can result in juicy homemade chicken tenders that also have a little bit of a caramel crust on the outside, as in this recipe from Allrecipes. In terms of cook time, steaming the tenders may take a little longer than pan-frying or pan-searing them.

4. Grill (or grill pan): As reinforced in the recipe for grilled tenders at Well Plated by Erin, careful attention to your grill and preheating it completely helps ensure that your homemade chicken tenders stay moist and have some beautiful grill marks. You’ll also discover another helpful strategy in this recipe for how to prepare your chicken prior to grilling, which is intended to further support a juicy and delicious batch of homemade chicken tenders.

Delicious Dipping Sauces for Homemade Chicken Tenders

Without the preferred toppings or sauces, dishes like homemade burgers or chicken tenders may seem incomplete. That’s why people often keep extra packets or containers of their favorite sauces or restaurant condiments, like Freddy’s Famous Jalapeño Fry Sauce®, in their refrigerators or pantries. Since a plate of crispy chicken tenders with a delicious dipping sauce is perhaps the most popular way to enjoy these chicken pieces, making homemade versions of favorite dips as well as the chicken tenders is one way to bring an extra special touch to this appetizing meal idea. You may even find that you like your batch of homemade sauce better than the prepared versions from your grocery store, since you’ll be able to adjust seasonings and more during their creation! Here are a few of the most popular dipping sauces to consider preparing and pairing with your homemade chicken tenders:

Honey mustard sauce: The combination of honey and mustard offers a little sweetness and a little tartness that pairs well with chicken. In addition to being used in the marinade for homemade chicken tenders, a honey mustard sauce can be served as a dip for the chicken. Some recipes for this type of sauce incorporate yogurt or mayonnaise to make it creamier, such as this one from The Novice Chef, while others may opt to skip such ingredients in favor of a lighter and often tangier variation.

Lemon garlic sauce: Lemon and garlic are often used to flavor chicken, whether in a dried form for a spice blend or fresh in a marinade. This combination also works well in a dipping sauce for crispy chicken tenders. For a creamy contrast to fried tenders, you may enjoy a recipe like this one for an aioli from Our Zesty Life.

Ranch dressing: If you haven’t tried making your own ranch dressing yet, then preparing one to accompany your homemade chicken tenders may be the perfect opportunity to do so. Consider checking out a well-reviewed recipe like this one from Barefeet in the Kitchen to help you in your efforts.

Barbecue sauce: While you may be able to find many different barbecue sauces on the shelves of your local grocery store, this recipe from Natasha’s Kitchen illustrates how easy it is to make your own (and save some money in the process!). Don’t miss the note about freezing the sauce in case you have more than you currently need or just want to do some batch cooking for later use.

Blue cheese sauce: When it comes to homemade buffalo chicken tenders in particular, a blue cheese dip may be the preferred accompaniment. As illustrated in one take on this dip from Fifteen Spatulas, this flavorful dip can also come together very quickly, though time to let the flavors meld is often recommended.

Other Ways to Use Homemade Chicken Tenders

While crunchy chicken tenders and a dipping sauce are one of the most beloved ways to enjoy these chicken pieces, they also work well in a wide variety of other dishes, as illustrated in this recipe collection from Taste of Home. Although other cuts like chicken breast may be used similarly, the size and shape of chicken tenders as well as their potentially shorter cook time (depending on the preparation) may make them a preferable choice for your dining needs. (If you are debating between chicken breasts and chicken tenders for your chosen recipe, check out this guide from Martha Stewart, which also explains how to swap in chicken breasts for chicken tenders if needed.) The following list provides other ways to enjoy homemade chicken tenders with some of their favored flavor pairings.

Put chicken tenders in pasta. Chicken tenders are a great choice for adding extra protein to your pasta dish. In a recipe like this one from Joyous Apron, a lemon and garlic sauce, noodles and chicken tenders are finished with a sprinkle of parmesan for a delicious meal idea.

Use homemade chicken tenders in a wrap. Whether you have fried or lightly browned tenders, either preparation can be used to make a tasty wrap. For example, consider combining tenders marinated in barbecue sauce with a creamy cabbage slaw or keep it simple with ranch dressing, chicken tenders and a few of your preferred vegetables.

Flip the dip. Instead of buffalo chicken tenders being dunked into a blue cheese sauce, a dip like this one from Allrecipes combines many of these ingredients into one similarly flavored dip. Another idea that takes inspiration from this crispy tender preparation and sauce pairing is this hearty and flavorful casserole from Southern Living.

Add homemade chicken tenders to a salad. Prepare chicken tenders specifically for a salad or use up leftovers in this quick and easy meal idea. If you love your tenders with honey mustard, then you might be interested in this recipe from The Kitchn.

Put them in fajitas. Chicken tenders can be cooked quickly, so they are a great choice whenever you need a fast meal idea. As illustrated in this recipe for sheet pan fajitas from Allrecipes, they can also be prepared simultaneously with other meal ingredients. That way, dinner can be done in a short amount of time and with relatively little cleanup!

Bring the homemade chicken tenders to brunch. In this recipe from Butter Be Ready, chicken tenders are soaked in a buttermilk mixture, coated and fried before being added to homemade buttermilk waffles. If you are looking for an impressive dish including homemade chicken tenders to serve at a celebratory brunch, then a dish like this one may be a great choice!

Chicken Tenders and Other Chicken Dishes at Freddy’s

From the wide range of flavor pairings to the various ways in which to prepare and serve homemade chicken tenders, it’s no surprise that they are a favorite dish of diners of all ages. At Freddy’s, we care about our guests’ preferences and experiences, which is one reason that we include chicken tenders on our menu. For tasty chicken tenders near you and other chicken dishes to enjoy at one of our hundreds of restaurants, at home, or at another location of your choice, here are some of the chicken options available at your local Freddy’s:

3 or 5 Piece Chicken Tenders

Whether you prefer the simplicity of tenders and a flavorful dip or want to include them with your favorite side and frozen custard treat, you can customize your chosen chicken tender selection in a variety of ways prior to ordering for dine-in, carry-out or delivery. We offer both 3 piece and 5 piece chicken tenders as part of our combo meals and on their own. Our crispy tenders are also available in the Kid’s Tender Combo!

Chicken Tender Catering

Reduce the cooking needs and kitchen cleanup for your next party and focus on sharing in the fun by placing a catering order at Freddy’s. In addition to burger bar catering and sundae bar catering, our catering menu also includes delicious trays of scrumptious chicken tenders. Whether you serve them as an appetizer or make them the main dish on your buffet, each chicken tender tray includes 25 mouthwatering tenders, as well as ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, honey mustard and one of our specialty sauces – Freddy’s Famous Fry Sauce®.

Crispy or Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich

In addition to our crispy chicken tender meals, you’ll also find mouthwatering chicken sandwiches with tender chicken breast on our menu. As with chicken tenders, there are many different recipes for homemade chicken club sandwiches. However, after a long day or just to treat yourself, why not let us make you a Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich Combo or a Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich with crispy fries and a frozen custard treat? That way, you don’t have to worry about thawing your chicken tenders or anything else for dinner tonight. If you like a little heat with your homemade chicken tenders or in general, then consider the Spicy Chicken Sandwich in which tender, golden brown chicken breast is topped with crunchy pickles and Freddy’s Extra Spicy Jalapeño Fry Sauce®.

Are homemade chicken tenders the favorite meal of someone you love? While you may not be able to make these savory morsels for them in person, you can show that individual that you are thinking of them with a Freddy’s Gift Card. Then, even though you may not be able to share a meal together, you’ll know that they get to treat themselves to delicious chicken tenders or one of many other tasty menu selections at their local Freddy’s!