This easy recipe for Beer Battered Chicken Tenders creates the perfect crunchy breading on strips of juicy chicken breasts. Pick your favorite dunker and enjoy these flavorful tenders for lunch or dinner!
Easy Chicken Tender Recipe
If you are looking to take your chicken tenders to the next level, you have got to try this amazing Beer Battered Chicken Tender recipe. This easy batter creates the best crunch loaded with amazing flavors.
If you want the quick and easy chicken tenders, these Air Fryer Chicken Strips are a great option. But if you want the most flavorful breading with fantastic texture and crunch, this beer batter is the way to go! A few tablespoons of oil in a skillet and you are on your way to some of the best chicken you have ever enjoyed.
Beer Battered Chicken
While you might enjoy throwing back a few of your favorite beers on a relaxing day, don’t discount how good beer can be in cooking. Much like in these Honey Beer Braised Chicken Thighs, beer can infuse a deep rich flavor into your meal.
The flavor of beer isn’t overpowering, but it offers a very distinct flavor that you won’t find elsewhere. It is a great compliment to chicken, which can take on just about any flavor.
Can Kids Eat Chicken with Beer?
While the inclusion of alcohol in a recipe might make parents wonder if it is safe to feed their kids, worry not. The small amount of alcohol in the beer will cook off as your fry the chicken tenders. Much like most chicken tenders, the kids won’t be able to get enough of them!
How to make Beer Battered Chicken?
Crack open a cold one and grab your ingredients from the pantry and refrigerator. You will need about 2/3 can of beer for this recipe, so don’t be shy. Take a few drinks while you are getting everything ready. Here is what you will need to get started.
Beer Batter Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup cold beer
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix in the beer to create a thick and smooth batter. Add a bit more beer if needed. If that means you have to crack open another can, then so be it!
Frying Beer Battered Chicken Tenders
- Heat a large deep skillet with a heavy drizzle of oil over medium-high heat. Any neutral oil like canola, vegetable or peanut oil are good choices.
- While the oil is heating, slice your chicken breast into 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick tenders. Be sure not to make them to thick or they may not cook all the way through or too small and the chicken will dry out.
- Test the oil to see if it is ready (360F) by placing the end of a wooden spoon in the oil. If it bubbles around the spoon, it is ready.
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with a paper towel and using a kitchen tong, dip the chicken in the beer batter. Shake off any excess and place the battered chicken in the hot oil. Repeat with all of the chicken. Be sure not to overcrowd the chicken. You will likely have to cook it in a couple of batches.
- Cook the chicken until it is golden brown and flip over. Continue cooking until the breading is done and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place on paper towels to remove any excess cooking oil.
Favorite Dunking Sauces
Serve up the hot chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce! My family loves a good dunker for any chicken, vegetable or bread. Here are some of our favorite homemade dunker recipes that go great with these beer battered chicken.
What is the best beer to use?
Just about any lighter beer is great for beer batter. Whatever you have on hand will do the job. Just avoid dark beers like a stout, as that will overpower all the other flavors.
When it comes to picking a beer, a cold one is the best bet. Cold beer will make the batter lighter and crispier. If you need to chill a beer in a pinch, place it in a small bowl with ice, water and some table salt. This should chill your beer in about 5 minutes.
What to serve with chicken tenders
These chicken tenders will be gobbled up as an appetizer or they make a great meal. If you are looking for a few wholesome side dishes that would go great with these beer battered chicken tenders, be sure to check out some of these salads and vegetables.
Beer Battered Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup beer
Instructions
- Heat a large deep skillet with oil over medium-high heat.
- While the oil is heating, slice your chicken breast into 1 to 1 1/2 inch thick tenders.
- Test the oil to see if it is ready (360F) by placing the end of a wooden spoon in the oil. If it bubbles around the spoon, it is ready.
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with a paper towel. Using a kitchen tong, dip the chicken in the beer batter. Shake off any excess and place the battered chicken in the hot oil. Repeat with all of the chicken, being sure not to overcrowd the chicken. You will likely have to cook it in a couple of batches.
- Cook the chicken until it is golden brown and flip over. Continue cooking until the breading is done and the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165F.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and place on paper towels to remove any excess cooking oil.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Stacie Wegman says
I made this and I was amazed how good it was. I didn’t have onion powder so I used minced onion. I will definitely make this again!
Thanks
Mary Lowey says
Very tasty batter. Had a very hard time getting it to stick to the tenders. The second batch the batter started crowing way too quick and chicken wasn’t yet cooked enough. First time ever “frying”. Definitely trying this again and thinking the batter would be good on onion rings or cheese sticks!!
sheila booth says
do you add the 3 tablespoons of oil to the batter?
Danielle Green says
The oil is for frying in the pan
Shannon says
I’m soaking my tenders now in buttermilk and seasoning and then giving it a try 😉 Looks delicious!