Serving Suggestions: What To Eat With Chicken Tenders

What are good side dishes for chicken tenders?

The most suitable side dishes to pair with chicken tenders are crispy potato wedges, honey - buttered sweet corn kernels, garlic - flavored broccoli, cold - dressed cabbage, and creamy mashed potatoes. Here are several simple and delicious combinations to help you pair them easily!

Adding a twist to crispy potato wedges

Cut potatoes into pieces, toss them with olive oil, chili powder and a little salt. Bake in an air fryer at 200 degrees Celsius for 15 minutes, turning them over halfway. The outside is crispy and the inside is soft and waxy. The slightly spicy flavor can balance the greasiness of the chicken tenders.

Sweet - and - salty sweet corn kernels

Fry frozen sweet corn kernels with butter until soft, then add a spoonful of honey and black pepper. The sweet and salty taste is especially suitable for dipping chicken tenders. Kids will love it, and it can also provide fiber.

Quick vegetable platter

Blanch broccoli and drain it. Sauté it with minced garlic and olive oil over low heat until the edges turn golden brown. If you like a crispy texture, you can replace it with raw cucumber slices or carrot sticks. It's also very refreshing when paired with yogurt dipping sauce.

What are the best dipping sauces for chicken tenders?

I recommend these types:

Honey Mustard

Mix Dijon mustard and honey in a basic ratio of 1:1, and add half a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar to enhance the fruity aroma. Freshly ground black pepper can bring a grainy texture. Note that choosing Dijon mustard with seeds will add more texture.

Avocado Lime

Mash ripe avocados and mix them into plain yogurt. Add lime juice in two portions. The first time is to adjust the acidity, and the second time is added just before eating to maintain freshness. Sprinkle with paprika for color, and the texture will be thicker after refrigeration.

Garlic Yogurt

Use Greek yogurt as the base. Sauté minced garlic in olive oil until golden and then mix it in. Add some chopped dill and lemon zest. It's suitable for pairing with crispy - coated chicken tenders. It can cool the mouth and relieve spiciness.

Caramelized Onion

Cut yellow onions into thin slices and slowly fry over low heat for 40 minutes until caramelized. Then mix in mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce. The natural sweetness of the onions can highlight the umami of the chicken. The flavor will be more blended after refrigerating overnight.

Pineapple Salsa

Mix fresh diced pineapple with chopped red onions, coriander, and green peppers. Marinate with lemon juice for 10 minutes. The tropical fruity aroma is suitable for pairing with extra - crispy fried chicken tenders. It is recommended to make it fresh and eat it right away to maintain its crispness.

What starches pair well with chicken tenders?

When pairing starches with chicken tenders, try these combinations:

Savory Garlic Toast

Cut a baguette into thin diagonal slices. Brush them with garlic butter (soften the butter and mix it with minced garlic and chopped parsley). Bake in the oven at 180°C for 8 minutes. They are crispy with a garlic flavor, and it's very satisfying to tear and dip them in sauce.

Sweet Sweet Potato Waffles

Mash steamed sweet potatoes into a puree. Add an egg, milk, and a small amount of flour to make a batter. Press in a waffle maker for 5 minutes. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Drizzle with maple syrup and pair with chicken tenders for an American - style breakfast feeling.

Heart - warming Cornmeal Porridge

Cook fine cornmeal in water for 10 minutes, stirring constantly to prevent sticking. After turning off the heat, stir in cheddar cheese and sweet corn kernels. Sprinkle with smoked paprika. The creamy texture can balance the dryness of fried food.

What salads go best with chicken tenders?

I highly recommend these types of salads:

American Classic Salad

Tear romaine lettuce into small pieces. Drizzle with bottled Caesar dressing and sprinkle with croutons and grated Parmesan cheese. The dressing is rich, and the crispy croutons add texture. This is suitable for those who prefer traditional flavors.

Sweet, Sour and Crispy Lazy Version Salad

Shred purple cabbage and green cabbage into thin strips. Add apple strips and raisins, and mix well with a dressing made of apple cider vinegar, olive oil and mustard seeds. Marinate in advance for 10 minutes for better flavor absorption. It is high in fiber and helps cut through the greasiness.

Quick Mexican - Style Salad

Drain canned black beans and sweet corn kernels. Mix with cherry tomatoes, diced avocados. Squeeze in lime juice and sprinkle with coriander leaves and cumin powder. The beans provide a sense of fullness, and the sweet, sour and spicy flavors can stimulate the appetite.

What drinks pair well with chicken tenders?

I'm particularly fond of Mexican chili mango slushies. The impact of the sweet - spicy flavor and the texture of the slushie always extend the satisfaction of the crispy chicken tenders by a few extra seconds. By the end of the drink, the chili powder at the bottom of the cup mixed with the remaining mango juice creates an inexplicable sense of adventure.

Nordic elderflower sparkling water actually appears more often on my family's table. It's especially suitable for pairing with fried chicken tenders on weekends. The delicate floral fragrance doesn't overpower, but quietly removes the greasiness.

I always have reservations about Southeast Asian lemongrass tea. Although it has an excellent effect on relieving greasiness, if the cold - brewing time isn't well - controlled, it's easy to develop an astringent taste. For Indian salted yogurt, I adjust the ratio every time I make it. Recently, I found that adding a little ginger juice is more effective in relieving spiciness than pure mint, making it suitable for heavy - flavored garlic chicken tenders.

How do you keep chicken tenders moist?

Add some acidity when marinating

Soak raw chicken pieces in yogurt or milk for 20 minutes. The acidic substances can make the meat more tender. If you're short on time, directly pour half a bottle of beer into a plastic bag for preservation and marinate in the refrigerator for 10 minutes.

Lock in the moisture before coating with flour

After marinating, dip the chicken pieces in the whole egg liquid first, and then coat them with flour or breadcrumbs. The egg liquid will form a protective layer during deep - frying, reducing the loss of internal moisture.

Don't let the oil temperature be too high

Keep the medium heat (about 160 - 170 degrees Celsius) during frying. Take the chicken out as soon as the surface turns golden. If the oil temperature is too high, the outer skin will be charred while the inside is still raw, and too much meat juice will be forced out.

If you use an oven, place a bowl of hot water in the lower layer of the baking pan. After baking at 200 degrees Celsius for 12 minutes, take it out and cover it with aluminum foil, then continue baking for 5 minutes. For an air fryer, it is recommended to fry at 180 degrees Celsius for 8 minutes first. Spray a little oil when flipping and then fry for another 4 minutes. Place the fried chicken pieces on kitchen paper, don't stack them, and eat them while they're hot for the tenderest texture.