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Sweet & Spicy Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch
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Sweet & Spicy Chicken Tenders with Homemade Ranch (Protein & Probiotic Rich)

These Sweet & Spicy Chicken Tenders are everything I want in a good chicken tender: crispy, juicy, a little spicy, and coated in a sticky honey gochujang sauce that hits all the right notes. But what really makes these special is the homemade ranch on the side, made with creamy farmer’s cheese and whole milk for an extra boost of protein and probiotics. The chicken gets marinated until tender, coated in a perfectly seasoned crispy breading, and fried until golden and crunchy. Then it gets tossed in that sweet and spicy sauce and finished with fresh chives. Dip each bite into the cool, creamy ranch and you’ve got the perfect balance of heat, sweetness, crunch, and tang. This is the kind of chicken tender situation you’re going to want to make again and again.
Prep Time30 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Asian
Keyword: chicken, ranch dressing, sweet and spicy
Author: kingcooks

Ingredients

Chicken Marinade

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

Homemade Ranch Dressing (Protein & Probiotic)

  • 1/2 cup mayo
  • 1/2 cup farmer’s cheese
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 2 tsp chives dried or fresh
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 tsp parsley dried or fresh
  • 1 tsp onion flakes
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 tsp sugar

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

  • 1 cup honey
  • 1/2 cup gochujang
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp garlic
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Garnish

  • Chives chopped

Instructions

Chicken Marinade

  • In a large bowl, add all ingredients listed under “Chicken Marinade.” Mix thoroughly and set aside to marinate for at least 30 minutes or up to 24 hours.
  • Homemade Ranch Dressing (Protein & Probiotic)
  • In a bowl, add all ingredients listed under “Homemade Ranch Dressing (Protein & Probiotic)” and mix until thoroughly combined. Set in the fridge until you’re ready to serve.

Sweet & Spicy Sauce

  • In a pan over medium-low heat, add all ingredients listed under “Sweet & Spicy Sauce.” Stir and allow the sauce to come to a simmer.
  • Cook for 4-5 minutes to allow the flavors to marry. Remove from heat and set aside.

Crispy Breading

  • In a large bowl, add all ingredients listed under “Crispy Breading” and whisk until everything is combined. 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 flour and deep fry for 4-5 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Once cooked, set on a cooling rack to drain any excess oil.
  • When ready to serve, coat in the sweet and spicy sauce, garnish with chives, and serve with a side of the homemade ranch dressing. Enjoy!