There is nothing like Fried Chicken in the South. The crispy rich skin encasing moist and juicy chicken with flavors like cayenne and paprika screaming at you is, for a Southerner, HOME. I had one of my best friends ask me the other day to blog about something more family friendly. Something with ingredients she has heard of and methods she can do quickly and easily. I am so GLAD she mentioned this to me because I haven’t done a family friendly meal in a long time. I mean, I strive to make every dish easy and accessible to everyone, but sometimes they aren’t necessarily family friendly just really easier than your typical culinary dishes.
So in honor of my BFF Alison (I know your dying right now bc I just mentioned your name!) I would like to present you with my family friendly ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE mouthwatering fried chicken. I chose chicken tenders instead of breasts, legs and thighs because chicken tenders are so inexpensive, they cook faster because of their size and tenders are perfect for additions to salads, pasta, sandwiches and well, simply marvelous dipped in a sweet mustard sauce.
Now we all know that even though I am going the family friendly route I still needed to kick things up a notch. I wanted to add a flavor to the chicken that would give it that special touch. I always use paprika, I always use cajun seasoning and of course salt and pepper but I hardly every use chipotle when cooking with fried foods so I decided to give it a go. The subtle smokiness and mild spicy flavor of chipotle was the perfect touch for a twist on classic chicken tenders. I used chipotle two ways in this dish. First I minced up chipotle peppers in adobe sauce and added them to the buttermilk marinade and then I added chipolte powder to the flour/breading mix.
My double dipped chipotle chicken tenders are easy and loaded with flavor without a lot of special ingredients. Just the right amount of heat and spice! You are going to love this but in the even you aren’t a chipotle loving fan then by all means substitute the chipotle with one of your favorite spices. Whether it is garlic, paprika, lemon pepper or even lime. Chicken tenders make the perfect canvas to experiment with.
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Crispy Chipotle Chicken Fingers
Ingredients:
1.5 pounds of chicken tenders, thawed
1-2 chipotle peppers in adobe sauce, minced
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp pepper
1 TBSP chipotle powder
1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 1/2 tsp cajun seasoning
Directions:
Place the buttermilk, chicken tenders and the minced chipotle peppers in a large glass bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Meanwhile, prepare your breading. Mix together the flour with the remaining seasonings in a large brown or plastic bag. Shake well to distribute evenly and set aside.
Heat your oil in a large dutch oven or deep fryer to 375 degrees. Using tongs, gently lift 3-4 chicken tenders at a time from the buttermilk (shaking to remove excess buttermilk) and place in the bag of flour. Seal the bag and shake for 1-2 minutes until each chicken tender has been thoroughly coated. Place the chicken tenders in the hot oil and cook 4-5 minutes on each side. Drain on a paper towel and repeat the process with the remaining chicken tenders.
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Given that I live so far up north, it is highly likely that I’ve never had really good fried chicken. I can at least tell that the chipotle is the perfect twist! I bet these were addictive!
I am always looking for the perfect recipe for fried chicken. I can never get it right so I am trying your version this week. It I can do it right then the whole family will love me and you!
Just catching up on posts and saw the donut bread pudding. Oh my goodness! I am definitely going to try that one. Alas, a Krispy Kreme came to our area but didn’t last long. These northerners (midwestern, I suppose) just don’t know the joy of seeing that sign lit! The chicken looks delicious. This southern girl loves her friend chicken.
I read your comment about opening the levies in your area. So terrible to have to sacrifice farmland. I do understand about the cities but wish some compromise would work.
Best,
Bonnie
O-M-Goodness!!! They look so good, I can’t stop looking at the photos! These are a definite for this week 🙂
I love frying tenders over breasts. So much easier and this recipe sounds great. The pictures are mouth watering
You can’t go wrong with chicken tenders for a family and I love the use of chipotle in the buttermilk and seasonings. Never thought to do that. Genius girlfriend and this looks just simply amazing
Southern Fried Chicken. Nothing beats it girl and these tenders look straight from a mag they are so pretty and delicious looking. another great one
Wow! Those look perfect! Josh and I are HUGE fans of that chipotle flavor. Hope you had a nice weekend 🙂
I agree with Erica – These look perfect!
Fine, I’ll come over and eat them.
These look scrumptious! Its actually been pretty impossible to find fried chicken here in London and these might be just the ticket.
Love Love Love it! I am a sucker for anything fried let alone chicken with flavors of chipotle! To die for!
How insanely good does that look. I am very impressed by not only the recipe but the pictures! You are getting so awesome at picture taking girl.
Oh YES!! thanks for such a killer recipe – I am going to give my familiy a treat with this!! I’m so hungry just looking at your lovely photos
Have a great day
Mary
Thanks Mary- your too sweet! Hope ya’ll enjoy them as much as we did!
Chicken is by far our favorite meal in this house, not only because we are southern but its just so DANG good! You can’t go wrong with frying up a chicken. I love the flavors you used. Never done them before and can’t wait to try them out.
These look mouth-wateringly DELICIOUS.
(that is all) =)
You never cease to amaze me! These sound so good! 🙂
Back to the real world — our wedding and honeymoon were absolutely amazing! Missed my blog friends! 🙂
So why aren’t you like 300 pounds? I don’t get it. I know you eat what you cook but there is no way you look like that! I am jealous- just a bit but so intrigued by this recipe that I am going to the store tomorrow to get all the ingredients. Wish me luck
I will be right over!!!! I need these in my life.
Come on over girl! Would love to have you! We all need these in our lives! LOL!
Chipotle? really, how did you ever think of that. It sounds amazing and I can’t wait to try it out. Might not add it in both the marinade and seasonings because of the PICKY kids but I am so doing it
So I made fried chicken one time and it the breading was like falling off? I didn’t understand what I did wrong. By the looks of your chicken this did not happen to you- so what is the secret?
Whoa, I just had to wipe up the drool… YUM! I love fried chicken tenders, and the addition of the (double!) chipotle sounds amazing. Yup, I’ve got to try these babies!
They look and sound amazing
These couldn’t look more perfect!
Oh these look so crispy and good. You always have the best recipes. Love coming to your blog!!
WOW! These look amazing!
Oh my goodness! These look absolutely amazing! I wish I could eat fried food i’d make these right now at 8:30 in the morning lol!
xo
These look delish! I’ve never seen homemade chicken fingers look so crispy!!
We are a fried chicken family. My momma always made it and I make it on occasion. These look amazing. We also like spicy in this house, so I will have to give these a try.
This is something my partner would really love. I never deep fry but maybe these could be baked instead? Buttermilk makes everything so tender, this is a great recipe!
These sounds amazing. I think my hubby would love them. I am totally trying out this recipe!
I am printing this recipe post haste. Those chicken tenders look divine. Can absolutely picture them on a salad or paired with some homemade mac and cheese!
I’m going to make a confession. I’m from Louisiana and have never fried chicken. I’ve never had to! There was always fried chicken to be had at my mom’s or my mamaw’s or Southern Classic. Oh how I miss that place! Now that I’m in New Hampshire and have seen this post, I’m going to have to break down and do it. I definitely can’t find any up here…particularly as wonderful as the chicken you have shared here. I’m craving it now! yum!
That looks finger-lickin’ good! I showed these to my chicken-loving son and he’s vowed to try them soon. 🙂
Oh Yum, Yum, Yum!!! Those look amazing!
step aside KFC!
Ah-mazing! This looks so so good!
I made these for dinner last night, and they were OUTSTANDING! I loved the double chipotle–the spice really penetrated the chicken and it had great flavor! I’ll definitely make these again!
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Awesome recipe only thing I changes was salt with pentskys 4s salt