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Crispy Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

crispy lemon pepper chicken tenders - featured image
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These crispy lemon pepper chicken tenders feature a zesty, bright flavor with a crunchy coating, perfect for a quick and satisfying meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 ½ pounds (680g) chicken tenders (fresh or thawed from frozen)
  • 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten (room temperature for better coating)
  • 1 cup (100g) panko breadcrumbs (Japanese-style preferred)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons lemon pepper seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • Vegetable oil or avocado oil (for frying)

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and set aside.
  2. In a shallow bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, lemon pepper seasoning, and lemon zest; stir well.
  3. Beat the eggs in a separate shallow bowl until smooth.
  4. Place panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow bowl.
  5. Coat each chicken tender in the flour mixture, shaking off excess, then dip into beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip off, and press into panko breadcrumbs evenly. Set aside on a plate or tray.
  6. Pour about ½ inch of oil into a skillet and heat over medium heat to around 350°F (175°C).
  7. Fry chicken tenders in batches for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature 165°F / 74°C). Flip once during cooking.
  8. Transfer tenders to a cooling rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil and keep crisp.
  9. Squeeze fresh lemon juice over hot tenders before serving.
  10. Serve immediately with preferred dipping sauces or sides.

Notes

Dry chicken tenders well before breading to ensure crispiness. Maintain oil temperature around 350°F to avoid soggy or burnt coating. Use a cooling rack to drain excess oil and keep tenders crispy. Double-dip in egg and breadcrumbs for extra crunch. Avoid overcrowding the pan while frying.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon pepper chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, easy chicken recipe, lemon chicken, fried chicken tenders, quick dinner, zesty chicken

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