Buffalo Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch

This buffalo chicken tenders recipe is perfect when you are looking for a delicious and easy dinner. Made with just a few simple ingredients, these chicken tenders are perfectly crispy on the outside and packed with flavor on the inside. Serve them up with your favorite dipping sauce, such as our homemade ranch dressing, and you’ve got a winner.

Buffalo Chicken Tenders

This recipe is for the best buffalo chicken tenders you will ever have! They are crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. You will never want to order takeout again!

These chicken tenders are perfect for a quick dinner or a game-day snack. Serve them with ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, and celery sticks, or enjoy them on their own. Either way, they are sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

If you need something a bit less spicy but still flavorful, you might prefer these pickle brine chicken tenders or the crispy BBQ chicken tenders instead. Both are great tasty choices but a little easier for kids to enjoy.

Ingredients

• 12 chicken tenderloins
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (10g)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (4g)
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (15g)
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder (3.5g)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper (3g)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (1.5g)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano (3g)
• 1 tablespoon paprika (7g)
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (3g)

For the wet mixture

• 1 cup whole-fat buttermilk (250ml)
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder (1g)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper (1.5g)

For Buffalo sauce

• ¼ cup unsalted butter (57g)
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (60ml)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (5ml)

For Ranch dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise (230g)
• ¾ cup buttermilk (188ml)
• ¼ cup sour cream (62g)
• ½ teaspoon salt (3g)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper (1.5g)
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder (.25g)
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (.25g)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley (4g)

Handy Kitchen Tools

• Mixing bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Deep skillet or Dutch oven
• Tongs
• Meat thermometer

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Set up a wire rack for letting the dredged chicken sit before frying. I use a wire rack over parchment paper for easy cleanup. Then, start preparing your dredging mixtures.

In one large bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, and seasonings as listed for the seasoned flour mixture.

Then, in a second shallow bowl, whisk the egg, buttermilk, black pepper, and garlic powder together to create the wet mixture.

Now, begin by dipping the chicken tenders first into the buttermilk.

Then dredge into the seasoned flour.

Repeat this dipping again into the buttermilk and then the flour, so you have coated each chicken tender twice. Once they are dipped, place them on the wire rack for 10 minutes before cooking.

Heat your frying oil (peanut or vegetable are great choices) in a large skillet or deep fryer. Once the oil has reached 325°F, begin placing the dredged chicken into the oil. Be careful not to overcrowd the pan - this may need to be done in batches.

Cook each tender for 4 to 5 minutes per side, until it is golden brown and cooked through. Then remove and set aside to drain on paper towels.

In a bowl, melt the butter then whisk in the Buffalo sauce and vinegar. Once all of the chicken is done cooking, toss them with this sauce.

How to Make Homemade Ranch

In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and fresh chopped parsley together until the dressing is combined.

This is best if chilled for 2 hours prior to serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

More Chicken Recipes

Need more inspiration for your menu? Check out these tasty ideas! Bookmark them, print out the recipe, or pin it to Pinterest to make soon.

• Creamy Chicken Marsala 30-Minute Meal
• Braised Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs with Vegetables
• Crispy Baked Parmesan Chicken Thighs
• Loaded Baked Potato Chicken Casserole
• Sheet Pan Roasted Chicken and Veggies

Continue to Content

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4

Buffalo Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch

Print

Buffalo chicken tenders are a perfect way to add flavor to your meal plan!! This easy recipe is crispy and flavorful with every bite!

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

For the chicken

• 12 chicken tenderloins
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch (10g)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda (4g)
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (15g)
• 2 teaspoon garlic powder (3.5g)
• 1 teaspoon black pepper (3g)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder (1.5g)
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano (3g)
• 1 tablespoon paprika (7g)
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (3g)

For the wet mixture

• 1 cup whole-fat buttermilk (250ml)
• 1 large egg
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder (1g)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper (1.5g)

For Buffalo sauce

• ¼ cup unsalted butter (57g)
• ½ cup buffalo sauce (60ml)
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (5ml)

For Ranch dressing

• 1 cup mayonnaise (230g)
• ¾ cup buttermilk (188ml)
• ¼ cup sour cream (62g)
• ½ teaspoon salt (3g)
• ½ teaspoon black pepper (1.5g)
• ¼ teaspoon onion powder (.25g)
• ¼ teaspoon garlic powder (.25g)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley (4g)

Instructions

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Tenders

1. Before you begin, set up a wire rack over parchment paper or a baking sheet. This will be used for placing the chicken tenders after dredging but before frying.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, Cajun seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, dried oregano, paprika, and cayenne pepper until combined.
3. Then, in a separate bowl, whisk an egg, buttermilk, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder together.
4. Now, begin by dipping the chicken tenders first into the buttermilk.
5. Then dredge into the seasoned flour.
6. Repeat this dipping again into the buttermilk and then the flour, so you have coated each chicken tender twice. Once they are dipped, place them on the wire rack for 10 minutes before cooking.
7. In a deep skillet or deep fryer, heat the oil to 325°F. Then, carefully place the chicken tenders into the oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan.
8. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, until the chicken, is golden brown and crispy. If unsure, it should be 165°F internally at the thickest part to serve safely.
9. Remove the chicken from the oil and let it drain on paper towels or a clean wire rack.
10. While the chicken cools, in a microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter, then whisk in the Buffalo sauce and vinegar.
11. Toss the chicken into the buffalo sauce to coat lightly then serve with dipping sauce.

How to Make Homemade Ranch

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, sour cream, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and fresh chopped parsley together until the dressing is combined.
2. This is best if chilled for 2 hours prior to serving.

Notes

You can also make this with small chunks of chicken or full chicken breasts if desired.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 997Total Fat: 64gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 43gCholesterol: 228mgSodium: 2827mgCarbohydrates: 50gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 54g