Buffalo Chicken Tenders

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These crunchy, crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders will be a hit at your next party! Make a huge batch to share with a crowd!

Step-by-step photos and instructions are below!

buffalo chicken tender being dipped in ranch dresssing.

Buffalo Chicken Tenders are just the thing for your next gathering or to pull out during Game Day.

These are pretty easy to make (but messy)! We marinate chicken tenders, coat them, and fry them in oil. Then we toss the crispy chicken tenders in buffalo sauce and serve them up with blue cheese dip or homemade ranch.

I recommend prepping ahead and having your tenders marinated and breaded and ready to go so you can cook as many as you’d like to make at one time. This method also works for chicken wings if you prefer.

I regularly make 4 batches of these for big crowds, and just cook a new batch as needed, then toss in the spicy buffalo sauce and send platters out to feed my whole family and friends and whoever else is in my living room..

If you just love chicken tenders, try my regular version – Breaded Chicken Tenders, that are coated in flour, egg and panko bread crumbs and pan fried, air fried, deep fried or baked.

You will also like my Buffalo Chicken Dip. Super easy to make, and always the first to be devoured, this is a great appetizer recipe for parties and gatherings!

What you'll find in this post: hide

1 Why you’ll love this recipe:

2 Frequently Asked Questions

3 What to serve with Buffalo Chicken Tenders

4 Kylee’s Notes

5 Freezing instructions

6 Recipe Ingredients and Possible Substitutes

7 Recommended Equipment/Tools

8 How to make this recipe

9 Alternate Cooking Methods

10 More delicious appetizers

11 Buffalo Chicken Tenders

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Why you’ll love this recipe:

Skipping the frozen section and making your own anything is always going to be a winner. This is an easy recipe to adapt, so if you like things super spicy, you can bump up the hot sauce component, or add some cayenne and burn your mouth like a crazy person if you want to. You do you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Buffalo chicken hot or spicy?

While it does have a heat component, I would describe it as more tangy or zesty and spicy vs hot. You can change the intensity of the spiciness by using more or less buffalo sauce.

Why is it called Buffalo Chicken?

It’s named after the place where it was invented. A small restaurant (called Anchor Bar) in Buffalo, New York. The original sauce was butter, hot sauce and cayenne pepper.

What to serve with Buffalo Chicken Tenders

You’ll want to include some Ranch dip, Blue Cheese Dip, carrot sticks, celery sticks on the side.

I have included step-by-step photos and instructions, as well as tips and tricks in the post. If you’d rather skip all that, scoot right on down to the full recipe card located at the bottom of the post.

buffalo chicken tenders on a white plate with celery.

Kylee’s Notes

What to do with leftovers

Store leftover buffalo chicken strips in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer.

Freezing instructions

You can freeze this recipe. Cook the tenders but stop before tossing them in the sauce. Thaw, and reheat in an oven or air fryer then toss in Buffalo Sauce.

Chicken Temperature

Chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F when tested with a digital meat thermometer (affiliate link) in the thickest part.

Recipe Ingredients and Possible Substitutes

The full list of ingredients and quantities is found in the printable recipe card below.

Pretty standard ingredients, but let’s discuss:

Chicken. I use chicken tenderloins, or boneless skinless chicken breasts sliced into strips. You can also use chicken wings if you prefer.
Buttermilk. This is part of the marinade and will flavor your chicken from inside, while making sure it’s also juicy and tender.
Buffalo Sauce. We use this in the marinade, as well as after cooking. Sometimes called Buffalo Wing Sauce, I like the sauce made by Frank’s. If you want Homemade Buffalo Sauce, you’ll need a mixture of hot sauce, butter, vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce.
Flour and Cornstarch. The mixture of these all purpose flour and cornstarch ensures a crunchy coating on your buffalo tenders.
Seasonings: Salt, Pepper, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder
Oil. For cooking. Choose vegetable or peanut oil.

ingredients to make buffalo chicken tenders laid out and labeled.

Recommended Equipment/Tools

Large Bowl
Large Skillet (cast iron is my favorite)
Tongs
Sheet pan

How to make this recipe

Scroll for Recipe

The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Chicken Marinade

In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and buffalo sauce.

Season the chicken with salt and pepper and add to the bowl, covering each piece with the buttermilk/buffalo mixture.

Cover and marinate in the fridge for 4 hours (up to 48 hours).

collage showing chicken tendering being marinated in buffalo marinade.

Coating the chicken

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, set a metal rack on top and spray with olive oil spray, or cooking spray.

In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and water together.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, corn starch, salt, pepper, onion and garlic powders.

Dip chicken tenders into egg mixture, then dip into flour mixture and coat evenly.

collage showing chicken tenders being breaded.

Repeat so you are double coating each piece of chicken. Set on the sheet pan (on the wire rack) in a single layer.

Allow to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Cooking the chicken

Heat oil to 350°F in a cast iron skillet or deep pan, preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook chicken in batches (don’t overcrowd the pan). Add chicken strips to pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, Chicken should be crispy, golden brown and should have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when tested with an instant read digital thermometer.
Drain on a paper towel, and repeat with remaining chicken.

collage showing chicken tenders being cooked in a cast iron skillet.

Make them Buffalo

Mix the melted butter, hot sauce and brown sugar together.

Add the cooked chicken tenders into the sauce mixture and coat evenly.

Serve with blue cheese dip or dressing or ranch dressing, and some carrots/celery on the side.

collage showing chicken tenders being dunked in buffalo sauce.

Alternate Cooking Methods

Oven Baked Buffalo Chicken Tenders

You can also bake these in the oven – just spray with oil, then bake the chicken tenders in the oven at 425 degrees F for 10 minutes, then flip and bake an additional 8-10 minutes until chicken is fully cooked.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F, spray the air fryer basket with oil and add the breaded tenders in a single layer. Spray the tenders with oil evenly. Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, adding more oil spray as necessary.

More delicious appetizers

Baked Coconut Shrimp. These easy baked coconut shrimp are the perfect appetizer or light dinner. Crispy, crunchy and with a dipping sauce, this one is a winner!
Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball. Make this easy Jalapeno Popper Cheese Ball for your next party or gathering, and watch it disappear fast! This is a great make ahead appetizer!
Ham & Pineapple Cheese Ball. Easy and fast to mix up, and place in the fridge for later. A great make ahead appetizer, this Ham & Pineapple Cheese Ball is sure to please the majority of guests!
Sausage Stuffed Mini Peppers. These little beauties are the best appetizer in town! A yummy mix of spicy sausage, cream cheese, onion and garlic mean these disappear fast! Make a double batch for a crowd.
ALL APPETIZER RECIPES

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