Quickie Homemade Chicken Strips
Discover how a simple soak and coating yield golden, tender bites delight every palate.
Quickie Homemade Chicken Strips Recipe
For a quick and delicious meal, there’s nothing quite like homemade chicken strips. These crispy treats are a staple in many households and are incredibly easy to make using just a few ingredients. In this article, we’ll explore The Pioneer Woman’s approach to making mouthwatering homemade chicken strips with a buttermilk marinade and a crunchy flour coating.
## Ingredients Needed
To get started, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Chicken Strips: Use 1-2 pounds of chicken breast cut into strips.
- Buttermilk: About 2 cups for marinating the chicken.
- Flour: 1 to 1.5 cups for the breading.
- Lawry’s Seasoning Salt: 2-3 teaspoons to add flavor.
- Vegetable Oil: For frying the chicken strips.
- Optional: Hot Sauce: For those who like a bit of heat in their buttermilk marinade.
## Step-by-Step Process
Preparation
Start by rinsing and drying your chicken strips. This ensures they are clean and ready for marinating.
Next, submerge the chicken strips in buttermilk for 15 to 20 minutes. This step helps tenderize the chicken and adds moisture. If you want to spice things up, add a dash of hot sauce to the buttermilk.
Creating the Breading
In a separate bowl, combine 1 to 1.5 cups of flour with 2 to 3 teaspoons of Lawry’s Seasoning Salt. Mix these ingredients well to create your breading mixture.
Add a small amount of buttermilk to the flour mixture (about 1/4 to 1/2 cup) and stir lightly with a fork. This will create a texture with small balls and clusters that adhere beautifully to the chicken when coated.
Frying the Chicken Strips
Heat about 1 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-low to medium heat. Once the oil is hot (you can test it by sprinkling a bit of flour into the oil; it should bubble), remove a few of the buttermilk-soaked chicken strips and place them into the flour mixture. Turn them over to coat them thoroughly.
Place the coated chicken strips on a plate or baking sheet. Continue coating the remaining strips until all are ready to cook.
Carefully place a few strips at a time into the hot oil and cook for about 1 to 1.5 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with the remaining strips.
Serving Suggestions
Once cooked, remove the strips from the oil and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces, such as ketchup, mustard, or ranch dressing.
Additional Tips for Perfection
- Buttermilk Marinade: The buttermilk not only tenderizes the chicken but also adds a rich, tangy flavor.
- Crunchy Breading: The flour mixture with a drizzle of buttermilk creates a crunchy exterior that complements the juicy chicken perfectly.
- Cooking in Batches: Cooking in batches ensures that the chicken strips are cooked evenly and prevents them from sticking together.
Alternatives and Variations
While the buttermilk marinade and flour coating are the core of this recipe, you can experiment with different flavors by adding herbs, spices, or other seasonings to the flour mixture.
For a sweet twist, you could try using crushed cereal like Cap’n Crunch for the breading, which adds a sweet and crunchy texture (as seen in The Pioneer Woman’s Cap’n Crunch Chicken Strips recipe).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is the best oil for frying chicken strips?
A: Vegetable oil or canola oil are good choices for frying chicken strips due to their neutral flavor and high smoke points.
Q: Can you use regular milk instead of buttermilk?
A: Yes, you can use regular milk as a substitute for buttermilk, but it won’t provide the same tangy flavor and tenderizing effect as buttermilk. You can also make a buttermilk substitute by mixing 1 cup of milk with 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice and letting it sit for a few minutes.
Q: How can you make the chicken strips healthier?
A: To make the chicken strips healthier, you can bake them instead of frying. Simply place the coated chicken strips on a baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for about 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through.
Conclusion
Making homemade chicken strips is a simple yet rewarding process that can be customized to your taste preferences. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal or a snack, these crispy and flavorful strips are sure to please both kids and adults alike.
References
- https://www.mommyskitchen.net/2009/06/pioneer-womans-buttermilk-chicken.html
- https://stockpilingmoms.com/the-pioneer-woman-chicken-tenders-recipe/
- https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a85769/capn-crunch-chicken-strips/
- https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a9889/quickie-homemade-chicken-strips/
- https://www.thepioneerwoman.com/food-cooking/recipes/a38412149/air-fryer-chicken-tenders-recipe/
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