How to pan fry chicken tenders with flour

Q: Should I put flour on my chicken before frying?

Its seasoned assertively, so the flavors wont dull as it cools. But the real key is double-dipping the chicken in the flour mixture before you fry it, making for an extra-crunchy crust that holds up all afternoon.

Easy and delicious Pan-Fried Chicken Tenders are made with no breading, are perfectly seasoned and cooked completely in a skillet in under 8 minutes, making them a go-to lunch or dinner recipe.

Table of Contents Show

Recipe features
Ingredients
Step-by-step instructions
Expert tips and FAQs
Do I need to pat the chicken dry?
Can I use frozen chicken tenders?
What should I serve alongside these?
More tasty chicken recipes
Reader Interactions
Should I put flour on my chicken before frying?
What happens if you put flour on chicken and fry it?
How do you get flour to stick to fried chicken?
Do you put egg in flour for fried chicken?

It's about time I share a chicken tender recipe on this site, don't you think? These Pan-Fried Chicken Tenders seemed like a good place to start.

See, I adore Blackened Chicken when I want an easy chicken breast recipe, and of course my Air Fryer Chicken Thighs when I want chicken thighs, but these chicken tenders are the quickest recipe of them all!

This recipe is made without breading, meaning there's no breadcrumbs, no panko, no egg, and no mess! They're healthier than breaded tenders, and still so delicious.

Recipe features

Cooked in one skillet, and there's no need to cook them in batches either; if you're using a large skillet, all of the chicken tenders should fit.
Seasoned with garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, oregano, and salt, meaning they're incredibly flavorful.
Made without flour and with no breading, making them gluten free, paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly!

Ingredients

Chicken tenders - Boneless, skinless; the recipe calls for 1 lb., but you can easily double it if you want to make more.

Oil - I used olive oil, but any kind should work.

Spices - Garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, oregano, and black pepper. The chicken has a little bit of a kick to it from the smoked paprika. You can use sweet paprika if you prefer.

Step-by-step instructions

Step 1: Season the chicken. Start by placing the chicken tenders in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, stir the spice mixture together, then use your hands to coat the chicken on both sides.

Step 2: Heat the oil. Pour the oil into a large skillet, then turn the heat to medium and allow the oil to warm up for about one minute.

Step 3: Cook the chicken. Next, place the chicken smooth-side down into the skillet and cook it undisturbed for 4 minutes. Use kitchen tongs to flip the chicken over, place a lid on the skillet and cook the chicken for 3-4 minutes. Optional: add 1 teaspoon of butter or ghee to the skillet!

Expert tips and FAQs

You'll know the chicken is done once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.
I like adding a little bit of butter to the skillet once the chicken is done cooking, which adds even more flavor to this dish.
All chicken tender recipes need some type of dip -- the obvious choice is ketchup, but if you want something even better opt for this homemade chipotle aioli instead.

Do I need to pat the chicken dry?

Most chicken tenderloins should be relatively dry out of the package. However, to ensure they get crispy on the outside, you can absolutely pat them dry with a paper towel before adding the spices.

Can I use frozen chicken tenders?

Yes, but you will have to thaw them first so they can be properly seasoned. Placing the chicken tenders directly from the freezer into the skillet won't work; they'll be too soggy and flavorless.

What should I serve alongside these?

I think my Instant Pot Spanish rice would be delicious, as would my corn kale salad in the summertime or my air fryer potato wedges.

Storage

Refrigerator: Store leftover chicken in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken on a plate and microwave it, or place it into a skillet with a lid on top and heat it over medium-low heat until warm.

More tasty chicken recipes

Pan-Seared Chicken Thighs
Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
Creamy Coconut Lime Chicken

If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!

1 lb. chicken tenders
1 teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon oregano
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil

Start by placing the chicken in a shallow dish. In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, oregano, and black pepper, then use your hands to completely coat the chicken on both sides.
Next, heat a large skillet over medium heat, then pour the oil into the skillet and allow it to warm up, about 1 minute.
Add the chicken smooth-side down and cook it for 4 minutes. Use kitchen tongs to flip the chicken over, place a lid on the skillet, and continue cooking the chicken for 3-4 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°. Optional: add 1 teaspoon of butter to the skillet, which adds even more flavor. Enjoy!

*Calories are for 1 chicken tender and are an estimation

*Cook times vary depending on the thickness of the chicken

Leave a comment below and tag @thealmondeater on Instagram!

Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.

Reader Interactions

Should I put flour on my chicken before frying?

It's seasoned assertively, so the flavors won't dull as it cools. But the real key is double-dipping the chicken in the flour mixture before you fry it, making for an extra-crunchy crust that holds up all afternoon.

What happens if you put flour on chicken and fry it?

You dredge chicken or any other food before pan-frying to help give it an enticing brown crust. Food dredged in flour or another coating will also gain flavor and texture and get an extra punch from the oil or butter you use to cook the food.

How do you get flour to stick to fried chicken?

Dip in Beaten Eggs Dip the flour-coated chicken into a bowl of beaten eggs. (If you prefer, you can also use buttermilk or add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard or a few drops of hot sauce to the mixture for a little kick.) You want the eggs to coat the flour thoroughly.

Do you put egg in flour for fried chicken?

Prepare the chicken by first seasoning each piece of chicken to your taste with the seasoned salt. Then dip each piece in the egg and drag through flour until coated well. Fill a large pot or deep fryer half full with oil and heat to 350°F. Place the chicken parts in and fry until dark and crisp.