Our best recipe for delicious and crunchy chicken nuggets and chicken tenders, like the Crispy Chicken Tenders from KFC. Crunchy and crispy chicken tenders recipe for the perfect football TV night. If you can’t make it to Kentucky Fried Chicken before the game, this recipe is a great alternative!
🇩🇪🇺🇸One recipe, two kitchens — grams ⇄ cups, switch right in the card.
Delicious finger food recipe for a perfect football night with our crispy chicken tenders recipe for crunchy chicken nuggets as a KFC copycat version. If you want to make these delicious hot chicken snacks yourself, you don’t need much time and only a few ingredients that you already have in the house. We’ll tell you how we make our crunchy chicken nuggets as delicious as if they were from Kentucky Fried Chicken – only homemade!
Chicken tenders are as American as it gets, and a KFC-style copycat comes down to two things most home versions get wrong: the brine and the double dredge. Buttermilk brining does more than add flavor — its acidity loosens the protein structure so the meat stays juicy through the heat of the fryer.
The coating needs to go on wet, then dry, then wet again, and the flour has to be seasoned far more aggressively than feels reasonable. Let the breaded tenders rest ten minutes before frying so the crust hydrates and grips; skip that and half the coating floats off in the oil. Fry at 340°F, not hotter, or the outside browns before the inside is done.
First clean and dry the chicken breast fillets and cut into strips approx. 5 cm x 1 cm long - now season lightly with salt and pepper on both sides.
Now mix the liquid dip breading by mixing the wheat flour with salt, pepper, egg and water until a slightly sticky mixture is formed. Depending on your preferences, you can also add other spices - we like BBQ spices that are not too hot and spicy.
Add the chicken breast fillet pieces to the mixture and toss until they are completely covered.
Now prepare the dry breading by mixing the wheat flour, lightly crushed cornflakes, cornflour and spices in a bowl.
Fill the deep fryer or a large (wok) pan with oil and preheat to 145 °C.
Dip the chicken breast fillets one by one into the dry breading and keep pressing the mixture down firmly. When all the pieces are breaded, you can now deep-fry them.
Fry the chicken nuggets in 2-3 batches for approx. 5 minutes and then leave to cool slightly on a wire rack or kitchen towel for approx. 5 minutes.
Finally, serve with a suitable dipping sauce and enjoy for football night!
Nutrition per serving
326kcal
5 gFat
37 gCarbs
33 gProtein
1 gSugar
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Crunchy and crispy chicken tenders recipe
Crispy chicken nuggets such as chicken nuggets or crispy chicken tenders are one of our most popular finger foods and, along with french fries, one of our fast food favorites. However, not all chicken nuggets are the same.
There are big differences, and if you’ve never eaten the crispy tenders at KFC and only know the chicken nuggets from McDonalds, you’re missing out. But sometimes there’s no Kentucky Fried Chicken around to enjoy a football night with a bucket full of chicken nuggets – that’s when we make our own crispy chicken tenders recipe.
Homemade delicious, crunchy crispy chicken tenders just like Kentucky Fried Chicken…
What are chicken nuggets?
Chicken nuggets are small, breaded pieces of chicken that are often cut into a distinctive shape and then deep-fried, like the classics at McDonalds. They are known for their crispy outer layer and the juicy, tender meat inside. Chicken nuggets are a classic on children’s menus and are loved by people of all ages. They taste particularly good with sweet and sour sauce.
What are chicken tenders?
In contrast to chicken nuggets, chicken tenders are longer, thinner strips of chicken breast that are also breaded and deep-fried. They are slightly larger than nuggets and often have a more tender texture. Chicken tenders are particularly popular because of their higher meat content and their versatility in sandwiches, wraps or simply on their own with a dip.
Crispy chicken tenders as a KFC copycat
The best crispy chicken pieces are available as Crispy Chicken Tenders or Crispy Chicken Stripes from KFC. That’s why I’ve found the best crispy chicken nuggets or crispy chicken tenders recipe for me, which comes amazingly close to the original taste and crispiness.
The real art lies in the preparation and seasoning. Crispy chicken nuggets and crispy chicken tenders, like those offered by KFC, have a unique flavor and perfect texture that sets them apart.
KFC is known for its secret blend of herbs and spices that add unparalleled flavor to every bite. In addition, each piece is rolled in a special breading that achieves a perfect crispy texture when deep-fried.
This combination of spicy note and crispy texture makes the nuggets or tenders irresistible. In our crispy chicken tenders recipe, we have achieved a very similar texture and the spices always vary a little, depending on your preference.
Make your own chicken tenders
You don’t need many accessories for our crispy chicken tenders recipe. A deep fryer or a large pan or pot with hot oil and you can fry them yourself. The secret is that you need a liquid and a dry coating.
Flour is the main ingredient in both coatings, with cornflakes in the outer dry coating for a crispy effect. This gives the best result for crispy chicken nuggets. However, you can also leave out the cornflakes and still get an absolutely delicious and slightly less crunchy result.
Snacks for football night
Of course, we don’t just stick to one finger food snack on a long evening of football TV. Even if it’s really unhealthy, it’s somehow part of it. I can’t imagine only eating vegetable sticks with dip while watching delicious American pizza commercials.
We’d love to show you lots more of our finger food snacks soon, where a cheese pizza or small pizza rolls always fit in well, of course. You don’t have to prepare everything yourself, but if you fancy fast food, it’s always the healthier alternative.
For us, classic Dr. Pepper from the can always goes well with our crispy chicken nuggets recipe. Nice and sweet with a light cherry flavor, a Dr. Pepper is the best drinkable USA version on the table for me. Otherwise, of course, many different dips and sauces go well with it. For me, a sweet BBQ sauce always goes best.
Here’s to a crunchy evening with our crispy chicken nuggets recipe!
I have been baking and cooking for my family and community for years — honest recipes, all tested in my own kitchen and explained step by step so they turn out reliably for you too.
I basically never write comments. But I have to say, this recipe was incredibly delicious and so easy. Make it!
9
MMyGermanBakeryTeam1 year ago
Thanks, Kaspar, so glad you enjoyed it… It’s a go-to for me too whenever friends stop by to watch football… more recipes like this are coming in the future…
10
CChulio1 year ago
This recipe works! I’ve tried quite a few crispy chicken recipes, but this one is by far the best. So crispy, just amazing. I’ll experiment a bit more with the spices (I had a Texas Chicken blend)… Until then, thank you so much for this fantastic recipe!
6
VVanessaTeam1 year ago
Hi Chulio,
thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. I’ll admit I was a little skeptical at first when friends showed it to me in the USA, but after the first bite it was the perfect combination (and in my opinion better than the original)… Spices are of course a matter of taste, but you’ve got to have a reason to keep making new crispy chicken, right? 😉
Have fun giving it a try!
Vanessa
9
BBastian1 year ago
Super tasty and better than the original! We tried them with friends this past football weekend and they were a hit. Would love to see more recipes like this
6
MMyGermanBakeryTeam1 year ago
Hi Bastian,
I totally get it, and we’ll be making them again for the Super Bowl next weekend with all our friends. Along with homemade burger buns (recipes are here too) and of course ice cream…
Enjoy the football!
Vanessa
8
LLisa2 years ago
Awesome recipe! The nuggets are crispy and delicious – please post more recipes like this!
5
VVanessaTeam2 years ago
Thank you so much, Lisa. There will always be more delicious dinner recipes here.
7
AAndreas F.1 year ago
Awesome copycat recipe! The nuggets are super flavorful and perfect for a snack any time of day.
4
VVanessaTeam1 year ago
Thanks so much, Andreas
5
KKatrin H.1 year ago
Wow, so simple and yet so good! The breading is a dream, and the flavor is unbeatable. Does this work with turkey too?
3
VVanessaTeam1 year ago
Thank you, Katrin! It works with turkey too, though chicken breast is often more tender than turkey. But if you don’t mind a little more chew, go ahead and give it a try.
4
TThomas2 years ago
Simply brilliant! The nuggets come together quickly and taste fantastic, our kids love them.
2
VVanessaTeam2 years ago
Thank you, Thomas. This recipe is actually a huge hit with kids, you just want to let them cool a bit longer so nobody burns the roof of their mouth.
2
AAnna S.2 years ago
A real standout! The recipe is easy to follow, and the nuggets taste like a pro made them.
1
VVanessaTeam2 years ago
Thank you, Anna
2
JJulia2 years ago
This recipe is a total home run! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, just like KFC, only fresher. Thank you!
1
VVanessaTeam2 years ago
Thank you for the compliment, Julia, the chicken turns out even more tender if you poke it a few times with a fork or knife beforehand, before you put the breading on.
1
CChulio1 year ago
I forgot to leave a rating, but that one’s a given…
1
VVanessaTeam1 year ago
Hey, it happens 🙂 … but thanks for the five stars 🙂
0
SStefan W.1 year ago
Absolutely fantastic! You can’t get any crispier, and the spices are perfectly balanced. Making them again next week for the Super Bowl for sure! Thanks!
0
VVanessaTeam1 year ago
Thanks so much, and enjoy the Super Bowl with the nuggets, Stefan!
0
MMaria2 years ago
Incredibly delicious! Better than fast food because you know exactly what’s in it. Can you freeze the nuggets too?
0
VVanessaTeam2 years ago
Thank you! That’s exactly why it’s so much fun, when you know every single ingredient yourself. I can’t give you any feedback on freezing yet, since I’ve never tried it myself. I imagine the breading might get a little soggy after frying and freezing, and it might even be better to reheat it in a pan so the breading doesn’t come off? It really tastes best fresh, but feel free to give it a try and share how it turns out, Maria.
0
SSabine S.2 years ago
Great recipe! The seasoning is perfect, and the coating gets really nice and crispy. A hit!
0
VVanessaTeam2 years ago
Thank you so much, Sabine!
0
NNathan2 years ago
Best recipe – tried it twice – better than the original!
0
MMyGermanBakeryTeam2 years ago
Thank you Nathan! More fingerfood recipes will follow very soon!
0
Kkhalee2 years ago
Thank you – really enjoyed your recipe! Tastes better than the original ones!
0
MMyGermanBakeryTeam2 years ago
Thank you Khalee
0
LLena2 years ago
These nuggets are amazing! Crispy, juicy, and almost like KFC, just fantastic!
0
MMyGermanBakeryTeam2 years ago
Thank you so much, Lena.
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Comments 32
Amazing!
I basically never write comments. But I have to say, this recipe was incredibly delicious and so easy. Make it!
Thanks, Kaspar, so glad you enjoyed it… It’s a go-to for me too whenever friends stop by to watch football… more recipes like this are coming in the future…
This recipe works! I’ve tried quite a few crispy chicken recipes, but this one is by far the best. So crispy, just amazing. I’ll experiment a bit more with the spices (I had a Texas Chicken blend)… Until then, thank you so much for this fantastic recipe!
Hi Chulio,
thank you so much for your wonderful feedback. I’ll admit I was a little skeptical at first when friends showed it to me in the USA, but after the first bite it was the perfect combination (and in my opinion better than the original)… Spices are of course a matter of taste, but you’ve got to have a reason to keep making new crispy chicken, right? 😉
Have fun giving it a try!
Vanessa
Super tasty and better than the original! We tried them with friends this past football weekend and they were a hit. Would love to see more recipes like this
Hi Bastian,
I totally get it, and we’ll be making them again for the Super Bowl next weekend with all our friends. Along with homemade burger buns (recipes are here too) and of course ice cream…
Enjoy the football!
Vanessa
Awesome recipe! The nuggets are crispy and delicious – please post more recipes like this!
Thank you so much, Lisa. There will always be more delicious dinner recipes here.
Awesome copycat recipe! The nuggets are super flavorful and perfect for a snack any time of day.
Thanks so much, Andreas
Wow, so simple and yet so good! The breading is a dream, and the flavor is unbeatable. Does this work with turkey too?
Thank you, Katrin! It works with turkey too, though chicken breast is often more tender than turkey. But if you don’t mind a little more chew, go ahead and give it a try.
Simply brilliant! The nuggets come together quickly and taste fantastic, our kids love them.
Thank you, Thomas. This recipe is actually a huge hit with kids, you just want to let them cool a bit longer so nobody burns the roof of their mouth.
A real standout! The recipe is easy to follow, and the nuggets taste like a pro made them.
Thank you, Anna
This recipe is a total home run! Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, just like KFC, only fresher. Thank you!
Thank you for the compliment, Julia, the chicken turns out even more tender if you poke it a few times with a fork or knife beforehand, before you put the breading on.
I forgot to leave a rating, but that one’s a given…
Hey, it happens 🙂 … but thanks for the five stars 🙂
Absolutely fantastic! You can’t get any crispier, and the spices are perfectly balanced. Making them again next week for the Super Bowl for sure! Thanks!
Thanks so much, and enjoy the Super Bowl with the nuggets, Stefan!
Incredibly delicious! Better than fast food because you know exactly what’s in it. Can you freeze the nuggets too?
Thank you! That’s exactly why it’s so much fun, when you know every single ingredient yourself. I can’t give you any feedback on freezing yet, since I’ve never tried it myself. I imagine the breading might get a little soggy after frying and freezing, and it might even be better to reheat it in a pan so the breading doesn’t come off? It really tastes best fresh, but feel free to give it a try and share how it turns out, Maria.
Great recipe! The seasoning is perfect, and the coating gets really nice and crispy. A hit!
Thank you so much, Sabine!
Best recipe – tried it twice – better than the original!
Thank you Nathan! More fingerfood recipes will follow very soon!
Thank you – really enjoyed your recipe! Tastes better than the original ones!
Thank you Khalee
These nuggets are amazing! Crispy, juicy, and almost like KFC, just fantastic!
Thank you so much, Lena.