Description
Indulge in the zesty and crispy goodness of these Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders. Tender chicken, marinated in buttermilk and lemon, is fried to golden perfection and then tossed in a luscious honey butter sauce. A perfect blend of tangy, sweet, and savory flavors.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 2 lbs chicken tenderloins (about 14 tenders)
- 1 cup whole buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon + 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning, divided
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, divided
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (see notes for gluten-free needs)
- Peanut or vegetable oil, for frying
For the Honey Butter Sauce:
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into cubes
- 1/2 cup pure honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 heaping teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
- Marinate Chicken:
- Pat chicken dry.
- Place in a bag or container with buttermilk, 1 tablespoon lemon pepper, lemon zest, lemon juice, hot sauce, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika.
- Massage and marinate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Prepare Flour Dredge:
- Combine remaining lemon pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and flour in a shallow dish.
- Whisk to combine.
- Heat Oil:
- Heat oil to 350-370°F in a heavy-bottomed pot.
- Dredge Chicken:
- Coat chicken in flour mixture, shake off excess.
- Place on a baking sheet.
- Fry Chicken:
- Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and crispy, 2-3 minutes.
- Ensure chicken reaches 165°F.
- Place on a wire rack.
- Make Honey Butter Sauce:
- Melt butter in a saucepan.
- Stir in honey, lemon pepper, lemon zest, and garlic.
- Bring to a slight boil, then remove from heat.
- Toss or Dip:
- Toss chicken in sauce or serve sauce for dipping.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- Gluten-free flour can be substituted.
- Add salt to the flour dredge if the lemon pepper seasoning doesn’t contain salt.
- Read the blog post for additional tips and tricks.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 150mg
