Bbq Chicken Strips: Frying Up Finger-Lickin' Goodness

Fried BBQ chicken strips are a delicious, family-friendly meal that can be served with a variety of sides, including fries, coleslaw, corn on the cob, or a salad. They are also great for game day. The chicken is usually marinated in buttermilk and seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika before being fried and coated in a barbecue sauce. Some recipes call for baking the chicken in the oven, while others use an air fryer for a healthier option.

Marinating the chicken

Firstly, prepare your chicken strips. You can use chicken tenders or cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips. For a good marinade, it is recommended to use buttermilk. Place the chicken strips in a bowl or a large baggy, and pour in enough buttermilk to fully coat the chicken. You can season the buttermilk with salt and pepper to taste, or even add some hot sauce for a spicy kick. Make sure each piece of chicken is well-coated.

The chicken should be left to marinate for at least 2 hours. The buttermilk will tenderise the meat, making it irresistibly juicy and tender. It also provides a great base for the seasoning to adhere to, ensuring your chicken is packed with flavour. If you don't have buttermilk, you can use regular milk with a splash of vinegar.

Once the chicken has marinated, it's time to prepare the coating. In one bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. You can also add some cayenne pepper for extra spice, or even onion powder. In a separate bowl, prepare another batch of buttermilk, this time with some hot sauce mixed in. You can also add some egg to this mixture if you wish, as it will help the coating stick.

Now, it's time to coat the chicken. First, dip the marinated chicken strips in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip them into the buttermilk and hot sauce mixture, and finally, back into the flour mixture. Make sure each piece is well-coated, as this double-dipping process will ensure a thick and crispy coating.

Your chicken is now ready to be fried! Follow the rest of your chosen recipe for frying, baking, or air-frying, and enjoy your delicious, tender, and flavourful fried BBQ chicken strips!

Preparing the coating

The coating is a crucial component of fried BBQ chicken strips, providing a crispy texture and enhancing the overall flavour. Here's a step-by-step guide to preparing the coating:

Step 1: Gather the dry ingredients

Start by preparing a flour mixture. In a bowl, combine all-purpose flour with seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and any other spices you prefer. Mix these ingredients well to ensure a uniform distribution of flavours. You can also add a little cornstarch to the flour mixture if you want an extra crispy coating. This step ensures that your chicken strips are not only delicious but also have a visually appealing golden colour.

Step 2: Prepare the wet coating

In a separate bowl, prepare a wet coating mixture. This can be a combination of buttermilk, eggs, and hot sauce. Buttermilk is a popular choice for marinating chicken as it tenderises the meat and adds a tangy flavour. You can also use a combination of egg and egg white, which helps the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken. If you're using eggs, beat them until well combined.

Step 3: Season the chicken

Before coating the chicken strips, season them generously with salt and pepper, or a seasoning salt blend. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper for an extra kick. This step ensures that the chicken itself is flavourful and not just relying on the coating for taste.

Step 4: Dredge the chicken

Now it's time to coat the chicken strips. Set up a dredging station with the dry and wet mixtures. First, dip the chicken strips into the flour mixture, making sure to coat all sides evenly. Then, dip them into the wet mixture (buttermilk or egg wash), letting the excess drip off. Finally, give them a second coating of the flour mixture. This double-dipping process ensures a thick and crispy coating that can withstand the wet BBQ sauce.

Step 5: Prepare the breadcrumbs (optional)

If you want an extra crispy texture, you can also include breadcrumbs in your coating process. Combine seasoned breadcrumbs and panko in a shallow bowl. Season the breadcrumbs with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and paprika if they are not already seasoned. You can also add some cayenne pepper for a spicy kick.

Step 6: Final coating

After dipping the chicken strips in the wet mixture, coat them with the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure to shake off any excess coating. Place the coated chicken strips on a large dish or cutting board, and they are almost ready for frying!

Frying the chicken

Prepare your dredging stations before you start frying. In one bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. In another bowl, combine the buttermilk and hot sauce. In a third bowl, combine the barbecue sauce, honey, and apple cider vinegar.

Take each chicken strip and dip it first in the flour mixture, then in the buttermilk mixture, and finally back in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess flour. This double-dipping process will create an extra thick and crispy coating that can withstand the sticky barbecue sauce.

Carefully place the coated chicken strips in the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pan. Fry only a few strips at a time, turning them over when they turn a golden brown. The frying process should be quick, as the chicken will finish cooking in the oven.

Once the chicken strips are golden brown, remove them from the oil and drain them on a wire rack or paper towels. Repeat this process until all the chicken has been fried.

Making the sauce

The sauce is a key component of fried BBQ chicken strips, adding flavour and moisture to the dish. There are several ways to make the sauce, depending on your preferred ingredients and level of spiciness. Here is a detailed guide on how to make a delicious BBQ sauce:

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For a basic BBQ sauce, you will need barbecue sauce, honey, and apple cider vinegar. You can also add in some hot sauce or Sriracha if you want to give it a kick. If you're feeling adventurous, you can experiment with other ingredients like ketchup, liquid smoke, or caramel sauce.

Combine the barbecue sauce, honey, and apple cider vinegar in a shallow bowl. If you're using hot sauce, add it to this mixture as well. Stir everything together until it is well combined and homogeneous. You can adjust the proportions of each ingredient to suit your taste preferences.

If you want to make a larger batch of sauce or adjust the consistency, you can add some water to thin it down. This is especially useful if you want to have extra sauce for dipping later.

Once you have a well-combined mixture, you can choose to simmer the sauce on low heat for about 20 minutes. This step is optional but can help to blend the flavours and create a thicker consistency. After simmering, allow the sauce to cool slightly before using it.

Now, you have a few options for applying the sauce to your chicken strips. You can dip the fried chicken strips into the sauce, ensuring they are well coated. Alternatively, you can brush the sauce onto the strips, which can help control the amount of sauce used and maintain crispiness.

Finally, place the sauced chicken strips on a baking sheet and bake them in the oven for around 20 minutes, or until they are cooked through. This step will allow the sauce to caramelise and create a sticky, sweet glaze.

Your fried BBQ chicken strips are now ready to be served! You can serve them as is or with a side of your choice, such as French fries, coleslaw, or a salad. Enjoy the delicious combination of crispy, juicy chicken and flavourful BBQ sauce!

Baking the chicken

The final step to making fried BBQ chicken strips is baking the chicken in the oven. This is a crucial step as it ensures the chicken is cooked through and safe to eat. Here is a detailed guide on how to do it:

Firstly, preheat your oven to the right temperature. The ideal temperature range is between 350°F to 400°F. A lower temperature of 350°F will ensure the chicken is cooked through without burning the exterior. If you want a crispier exterior, a higher temperature of 400°F is recommended, but keep an eye on the chicken to prevent burning.

Next, prepare a baking sheet or casserole dish. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper, or use a nonstick cooking spray on the casserole dish. This step ensures the chicken doesn't stick to the dish and makes cleanup easier.

Now, place the chicken strips on the prepared baking sheet or dish. It's important not to crowd the chicken strips, so leave some space between them. If you have a lot of chicken strips, you may need to bake them in batches.

Place the baking sheet or dish in the preheated oven. The baking time will vary depending on the size of your chicken strips, but on average, it should take around 10 to 20 minutes. For thicker strips, you may need to bake them for a longer time, and for thinner strips, a shorter time.

To ensure the chicken is cooked through, you can use an instant-read thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken strip. The internal temperature should reach at least 165°F to be considered safe to eat.

Once the chicken is cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, tender bite.

Your fried BBQ chicken strips are now ready to be devoured! Serve them as a main course or an appetiser, and enjoy the sweet and savoury flavours of the crispy chicken.

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