Description
Crispy pecan crusted chicken tenders make weeknight dinners a total breeze when you’re craving something crunchy and delicious. Coating tender chicken strips with crushed pecans creates an amazingly satisfying crunch that’ll have your family asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup pecans
- 2 large eggs
Coating and Seasonings:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Cooking Ingredient:
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- Arrange three shallow dishes for coating chicken strips. Mix ½ cup flour, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika in the first dish. Whisk 2 large eggs in the second dish. Scatter 1 cup finely chopped pecans in the third dish.
- Thoroughly coat each chicken strip in seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dunk floured strip into beaten eggs, letting drips fall away. Press chicken into chopped pecans, ensuring complete coverage.
- Pour 1 inch vegetable oil into a large skillet. Heat to 350°F over medium-high, watching for shimmering surface.
- Gently slide pecan-coated chicken strips into hot oil, avoiding overcrowding. Fry for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and crisp.
- Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F with a meat thermometer. Transfer strips to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil.
- Serve your crispy tenders immediately with preferred dipping sauces, while they’re still hot and crunchy.
Notes
- Toast pecans lightly before chopping to enhance their nutty flavor and bring out a deeper, richer crunch in your coating.
- Keep oil temperature consistent around 350°F to ensure crispy exterior without burning the delicate pecan crust.
- Use a wire rack instead of paper towels to drain fried chicken, which helps maintain the crispy texture by preventing steam buildup.
- For gluten-free adaptation, swap wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free all-purpose blend to keep the same delicious crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg