Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders

Use crisped rice cereal to make some of the crispiest chicken ever. These Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders is an easy family dinner recipe that the kids will beg for!

When the kids were younger, we made fried chicken strips all the time. We ate them so much we had to make a gluten free fried chicken recipe….and the kids fell in love with!

Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders

Another fun recipe our kids love are these rice krispies chicken tenders. They have GREAT flavor and we love that crisped rice cereal gives them a special crunch. This recipe is the ultimate in comfort food…easy enough for a weeknight but also fun when the kids friends come over.

What is the difference between chicken tenders and chicken breast?

This Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders recipe calls for using chicken tenders. So what is a chicken tender? Is it the same as the breast? The chicken tender is a part of the chicken breast. When you look at a full large chicken breast, there is a long part attached to the underside of the breast that you can loosen and tear off with your hands. It’s a long strip…and this is the chicken tender. (source)

Since it is part of the breast, it is white meat and tastes just like a chicken breast. It’s tender and juicy!

How does buttermilk affect chicken?

Soaking chicken or other meats in buttermilk make the meat tender. While harsher acids like lemon juice or vinegar can tenderize, they can also dry out the meat. But soaking chicken in buttermilk helps the chicken stay juicy while tenderizing the meat.

How long can you leave chicken marinating in buttermilk?

When we’ve made this chicken, we’ve done all different amounts of time to soak the chicken. Sometimes I forget to plan ahead and end up only soaking the chicken for 15 minutes.

For optimum results you can soak the chicken in buttermilk for 8 hours which makes it ideal to prepare in the morning before you head out for the day. Be sure the chicken is in a glass bowl and is covered, then allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator.

Can you use rice krispies to coat chicken?

Yes!! Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders is such a fun recipe! You can crush the rice krispies if you’d like, but we leave them whole. Leaving them whole gives the most crunch. You will need some type of “binder” that the crisped rice attaches on to. In this case it is the buttermilk mixture.

How to Make Crispy Chicken Tenders

• In a large deep plate add in rice krispies and flour.
• Once chicken has marinated, shake off excess buttermilk mixture and dredge each tender into the rice krispie mixture. Be sure to firmly press the chicken in to coat completely. This is a messy process. But sooooo worth it!
• Once chicken has been coated, allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes so the rice krispie coating will adhere better to the chicken. This is a trick you can use any time you are making a breaded, fried chicken. Always allow it to sit. It thickens the coating and helps it not fall off the chicken.
• In a large pan add in 1-2 inches of oil and heat over medium high heat. Gently add in chicken strips once oil is hot. Once the chicken is frying, do not touch it until it’s time to flip it.
• Cook for 4-6 minutes per side or until chicken has cooked through. The exact timing will depend on how thick the chicken tenders are.

**We LOVE our Thermoworks ThermaPen to quickly test meat temperatures. This probe thermometer is AMAZING.  Get it here.**

How do you keep breaded chicken from getting soggy?

Have you ever made fried chicken only to end up with it being soggy? Yeah…it’s not fun! But we have a trick to prevent this.

After you remove the chicken from the frying pan, place the chicken strips on a wire rack with paper towels underneath to catch oil drips. This helps air to flow around the chicken and keeps the chicken crispy on all sides.

Why is my fried chicken not crispy?

Here are a few tips to follow when making homemade fried chicken:

• Make sure the oil comes about half way up the chicken. The exact amount of oil you’ll need will depend on the size of your skillet.
• The oil should be hot BEFORE you put the chicken in the skillet. If you want to test the temperature, it should be about 350º Fahrenheit.
• Don’t overcrowd the chicken. Give the chicken room to have the oil brown it on all sides.
• Use our wire rack method that we talk about above. This is our KEY trick!

Are chicken tenders bad for you?

Well…these Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders are fried in oil so they may not be a dinner you want to enjoy every day of the week. BUT…they’ll fill you up and they are a great source of protein for kids (and adults) who might be picky eaters!

For a healthier version, bake on 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through. This will cut down on the calories and fat content.

What should I serve with chicken tenders?

We’d serve a crispy baked potato or sweet potato fries with this chicken. You can also serve a layered salad, Italian pasta salad or fruit salad.

Kids also love bacon baked beans along with chicken!

Dipping Sauces for Chicken Tenders

• Homemade Barbecue Sauce
• White Barbecue Sauce
• Mustard BBQ Sauce
• Honey Mustard
• Ranch Dressing
• Chick-Fil-A Sauce

Other Chicken Recipes

• Garlic Parmesan Chicken
• Honey Garlic Chicken Wings
• Easy Chicken Marinade
• Grilled Lemon Lime Chicken Marinade
• Buttermilk Chicken

Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders

4.67 from 30 votes

Use crisped rice cereal to make some of the crispiest chicken ever. These Rice Krispies Chicken Tenders is an easy family dinner recipe that the kids will beg for!

Servings 4

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Resting Time 10 minutes minutes

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Ingredients

 

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into thick slices (bought thin sliced chicken breasts, then cut in half)
• 1 cups buttermilk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 4 cups rice krispies cereal (or more as needed)
• ⅓ cup flour
• Oil for frying

Instructions

 

• In a large bowl add in chicken, buttermilk, salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning. Let chicken marinade at least an hour or up to overnight refrigerated..
• In a large deep plate add in rice krispies and flour.
• Once chicken has marinated, shake off excess buttermilk mixture and dredge each tender into the rice krispie mixture. Be sure to firmly press the chicken in to coat completely.
• Once chicken has been coated, allow it to sit for 5-10 minutes so the rice krispie coating will adhere better to the chicken.
• In a large pan add in 1-2 inches of oil and heat over medium high heat. Gently add in chicken strips once oil is hot. Once the chicken is frying, do not touch it until it’s time to flip it.
• Cook for 4-6 minutes per side or until chicken has cooked through.
• Place the chicken strips on a wire rack with paper towels underneath to catch oil drips. This helps keep the chicken crispy on all sides.

Notes

This is a messy recipe, to ensure the rice mixture adheres to the chicken, it is important to add pressure to almost “crush” the rice krispies. If desired, you can pulse the cereal to create more of a breadcrumb. If you choose to pulse it, you will not have the crispy outside.

 

For a healthier version, bake on 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through.

 

For a gluten free version, leave out the flour, but remember to FIRMLY press the chicken into the rice mixture.

 

 

Nutrition

Calories: 318kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1215mg | Potassium: 578mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 2040IU | Vitamin C: 19.1mg | Calcium: 115mg | Iron: 10.3mg

Author Julie Clark

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Calories 318

Keyword crispy fried chicken, fried chicken tenders, make chicken tenders, rice krispies breading

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