Chicken Tenders You’ll Never Forget

Golden, crispy, and dripping in creamy garlic parmesan sauce…These tenders are here to steal the show. Each piece is marinated for maximum juiciness, dredged in a perfectly seasoned breading, then fried to perfection and finished with a silky garlic parm drizzle that clings in all the right ways. Whether you’re making them for game day, dinner, or a late-night craving, these tenders deliver indulgence you’ll be thinking about long after the last bite.

Why You’re Going to Love This Recipe

• Flavor on flavor – Buttermilk, mustard, herbs, and warm spices give the chicken real depth before it even hits the fryer.
• Crispy, golden perfection – The seasoned flour breading locks in the juices and delivers that perfect crunch.
• That garlic parm drizzle – Creamy, cheesy, and loaded with garlic, this sauce takes everything over the top.
• Great for sharing (or not) – Make a platter for a crowd or hoard them for yourself, no judgment here.
• Versatile and addictive – Serve them over fries, stuff them in a sandwich, or eat them straight off the plate.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Chicken Marinade
Buttermilk, yellow mustard, garlic paste or powder, ground thyme, onion powder, ground ginger, celery salt, salt, pepper, paprika, chicken tenders

For the Crispy Breading
Flour, ground thyme, onion powder, ground ginger, pepper, paprika, celery salt, salt

For the Creamy Garlic Parm Sauce
Heavy cream, grated parmesan cheese, unsalted butter, garlic, onion powder, salt, pepper

For Frying
Canola oil

Garnish
Fresh chopped parsley, grated parmesan cheese

How to Make It (WATCH HERE)

Marinate the Chicken
In a large bowl, combine all marinade ingredients and mix well. Add the chicken tenders and let them soak up all that flavor for at least an hour or overnight if you’ve got the time.

Make the Crispy Breading
In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients until evenly combined. Set aside.

Make the Garlic Parm Sauce
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Whisk in the cream, then season with onion powder, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer until thickened, then stir in the parmesan until melted and smooth. Set aside to cool slightly, it’ll thicken even more as it rests.

Fry the Tenders
Heat a deep pot of canola oil to 350°F. Dredge the marinated tenders in the breading, pressing gently to adhere. Shake off any excess and fry in batches until golden and crisp, and the chicken is fully cooked through.

Assemble and Serve
Once all the tenders are fried, arrange them on a platter, drizzle generously with that garlic parm sauce, and finish with a sprinkle of fresh parsley and a little extra grated parmesan. Serve immediately while they’re hot and the sauce is warm and dreamy.

How to Store & Reheat

To Store: Keep leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store the sauce separately if possible.

To Reheat: Pop the tenders in a 375°F oven or air fryer until hot and crispy again. Gently reheat the sauce on the stovetop or microwave, stirring frequently to bring it back to life.

Print Recipe

Crispy Garlic Parm Chicken Tenders

If you’re craving the ultimate comfort food, these Garlic Parm Chicken Tenders will hit the spot. Juicy chicken tenders are marinated in a flavorful buttermilk blend, coated in a perfectly seasoned crispy breading, and fried until golden and irresistible. But what really sets them apart is the rich, creamy garlic parmesan sauce drizzled over the top, adding a luscious layer of flavor in every bite. Whether you’re making them for a crowd or treating yourself, these tenders are pure, indulgent satisfaction.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Author: kingcooks

Ingredients

• Canola oil for frying

Chicken Marinade

• 1 1/2-2 lbs chicken tenders
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp garlic paste or powder
• 1/2 tsp ground thyme
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp paprika

Crispy Breading

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp ground thyme
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp celery salt
• 1/2 tsp salt

Creamy Garlic Parm Sauce

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 2 tbsp butter unsalted
• 1 tsp garlic
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp pepper

Garnish

• Parsley freshly chopped
• Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions

Chicken Marinade

• In a large bowl, add all ingredients listed under “Chicken Marinade.” Mix thoroughly and set aside to marinate for at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours.

Crispy Breading

• In a large bowl, add all ingredients listed under “Crispy Breading” and whisk until everything is combined. Set aside.

Creamy Garlic Parm Sauce

• Add butter to a sauce pan over medium heat.
• Once melted add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.
• Whisk in heavy cream and season with onion powder, salt and pepper.
• Continue whisking until the sauce is thick and can coat the back of a spoon. This should take 4-5 minutes.
• Once thickened, mix in grated parmesan cheese and set aside.

Assemble

• Once the chicken tenders are marinated to your liking, heat a large deep pot of canola oil to 350°F.
• Working in batches, dredge the tenders in the crispy breading, pressing lightly to adhere. Shake off any excess and deep fry for 7-8 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Now that all the tenders are cooked, drizzle with the creamy garlic parm sauce. Top with freshly chopped parsley and enjoy!