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    KFC Nashville Tenders Copycat Recipe

    by Joseph Duff 6 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    These extra crispy KFC Nashville hot chicken tenders are the definition of comfort food. They're perfectly seasoned, extra crispy, and ridiculously flavorful. This recipe is our take on KFC's version of the classic Nashville hot chicken tenders recipe - but way better! 

    A close-up of a dish with cooked KFC chicken tenders garnished with pickles and parsley.

    Table of Contents

    • The Best KFC Hot Chicken Tenders
      • Why This Recipe Works
      • Ingredients
      • How To Make KFC Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
        • Step 1: Preparing The Chicken
        • Step 2: Preparing The Breading Mixtures
        • Step 3: Breading The Chicken
        • Step 4: Frying The Chicken
        • Step 5: Serving
      • How To Store Fried Chicken Tenders
      • Frequently Asked Questions
        • Are KFC Nashville tenders spicy?
        • Can I make this recipe spicier?
        • Is KFC Nashville hot chicken still available? 
    • More Copycat Fast Food Recipes
    • KFC Nashville Tenders
      • Ingredients
      • Instructions
      • Nutrition
      • Did you make this recipe?

    The Best KFC Hot Chicken Tenders

    Everyone knows that KFC hot chicken tenders are hands down one of the best items on the menu, and this original recipe is just as good as the real deal. And I think even Colonel Sanders himself would agree if he could taste how good these tendies are! 

    And not only can you make these crispy hot chicken tenders at home with ease, but they are actually super quick to make too! In fact, just 4 simple steps are all it takes to whip 'em up.

    Not to mention, these hot chicken tenders make for the perfect snack during a Football match, dinner at a birthday party, or even just on a Wednesday night!

    Plus, it's easy enough to double or triple a batch, so invite everyone over and enjoy this delicious comfort food dish. Trust me, you're guests will constantly be asking if you're making this recipe for every party.

    And if you want a side that pairs all too well with these chicken tenders, this skillet cornbread recipe or these buttermilk biscuits are perfect. So I highly recommend making one of those alongside this KFC copycat recipe.

    Why This Recipe Works

    Tastes just like KFC. This recipe is the closest you'll get to the actual KFC Nashville hot chicken, and it might be even better.

    The ingredients. Everything used in this recipe comes together to create perfectly crispy chicken coated in the most delicious spicy sauce.

    Easy to make. All you have to do is bread the chicken and fry it. This recipe is effortless!

    An overhead view of a dish with cooked KFC chicken tenders garnished with sliced pickles and parsley.

    Ingredients

    These KFC hot chicken tenders are packed with flavor, and all of the ingredients required can easily be found at your nearest grocery store.

    Here is everything you need to make these KFC chicken tenders:

    • 12 Chicken Breasts, cut into tenders
    • Salt and pepper, to season chicken breasts
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 3 tbsp. cornstarch
    • 2 tbsp. garlic powder
    • 2 tbsp. chili powder or cayenne pepper
    • 2 tbsp. salt
    • 2 tbsp. dry mustard powder
    • 1 tbsp. black pepper
    • 1 tbsp. baking powder
    • ¾ cup buttermilk
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 tbsp. Nashville hot sauce
    • ¼ cup pickle juice
    • 1 tsp. baking powder
    • 2 cups frying oil, I recommend vegetable oil
    • Pickles and parsley to serve

    Now, I know this ingredient looks a little long, but everything on it is essential to get that unique flavor profile that Colonel Sanders makes.

    But, if you want, you can adjust the ingredients to tailor it towards your taste preference.

    Love spicy chicken? Throw in a couple of extra dashes of hot sauce!

    Want less heat? Omit the chili powder altogether. There are no wrong answers here!

    And to complete your fried chicken experience, you have to make this ranch dressing to go with the tenders. It balances out the spice and adds a flavor that is just too good to be true.

    An overhead view of a large bowl containing raw chicken strips, a medium size bowl containing flour, and six small bowls containing spices and cornstarch.

    How To Make KFC Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

    The instructions on how to make these KFC Nashville hot chicken tenders are crazy easy, and the results will be well worth the effort.

    The hardest part of this whole recipe will be waiting for your KFC Nashville hot chicken tenders to cool down before diving in!

    Now, let's get down to business! Read on for all the steps required to make these finger-licking hot chicken tenders.

    An overhead seal of raw chicken on a white dish seasoned with salt and pepper. A medium size bowl sits next to the dish with flour in it and a small bowl sits next to that bowl containing cornstarch.

    Step 1: Preparing The Chicken

    Start by slicing the chicken breasts into chicken tender shapes. If you get smaller, thinner chicken breasts, you should only have to slice them in half to get about 24 chicken pieces.

    Next, season the chicken well with salt and black pepper and set it aside.

    An overhead view of a medium size bowl containing flour, cornstarch, and spices.

    Step 2: Preparing The Breading Mixtures

    Now add the all purpose flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, dry mustard, black pepper, and baking powder to a large bowl and mix everything until combined.

    Next, in a large bowl mix the buttermilk, egg, hot sauce, pickle juice, and baking powder until it's completely combined.

    An overhead view of a bowl containing the mixed kfc chicken tenders batter.

    Step 3: Breading The Chicken

    Now that everything is prepped, it's time to bread the chicken!

    Start by dipping each chicken tender in the dry seasoning mixture, then immediately dip it in the bowl of wet ingredients you just mixed, followed by dipping it back in the dry mixture.

    Make sure that the piece of chicken is thoroughly and evenly breaded before moving on to the next piece. Oh, and a pro-tip here is to use one hand for the wet mixture and one hand for the dry mixture. 

    Repeat this breading process with each piece of chicken until all of them are prepared.

    An overhead view of a fork holding a raw chicken strip covered with flour over a bowl with KFC chicken tender batter.

    Step 4: Frying The Chicken

    After all of the tenders have been breaded, heat the oil in a deep frying pan to 400°F (180ºC). 

    Once the oil is hot, put a few chicken tenders in the pan. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan with chicken because if you do it will lower the temperature of the oil and the chicken won't end up as crispy.

    Now fry the spicy chicken tenders for about 3-5 minutes, then flip and fry for another few minutes on the other side until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

    Then, once the chicken is fried to perfection, remove it from the oil and place it on a paper towel-lined plate to drain the excess oil. 

    An overhead view of a bowl with chopped pieces of raw chicken tossed in flour and batter.

    Step 5: Serving

    So, all of your chicken should be cooked by now, and it's time to serve!

    This KFC fried chicken is best served with some pickles, this Chick-Fil-A sauce, and a side like cornbread or white bread to help cut the heat.

    But, if you really want to amp up the spice, you can serve it alongside some Nashville hot sauce.

    With that said though, any way you enjoy this fast food recipe it'll be delicious!

    View of a pot with hot oil and eight KFC chicken tenders cooking in it.

    How To Store Fried Chicken Tenders

    In the fridge: Since this recipe makes 24 chicken pieces, you might have some leftovers. Store the cooked chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

    In the freezer: Transfer the hot chicken tenders to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, and you can freeze it for about 4 months.

    Reheating: Put the chicken in the oven at 400°F (180ºC) for around 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated through. For frozen chicken tenders, just add about 20 more minutes. 

    A close up of cooked KFC chicken tenders sitting on a plate lined with paper towels.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Are KFC Nashville tenders spicy?

    Yes, they are definitely spicy and have even more of a kick than regular spicy fried chicken. If you need to cut the spice, just dip the chicken in your favorite dipping sauce or put it on a bun to make a spicy chicken sandwich.

    Can I make this recipe spicier?

    Yes, you can. If you want to add more spice, then just add some chili sauce to the wet mixture to coat the chicken to make the ultimate spicy sauce.

    Is KFC Nashville hot chicken still available? 

    KFC Nashville hot chicken is no longer available, so thankfully, you can make it whenever you want with this recipe!

    A dish with cooked KFC chicken tenders garnished with sliced pickles and parsley.

    More Copycat Fast Food Recipes

    • KFC Famous Bowl
    • McDonalds McGriddle
    • McDonalds Egg McMuffin
    • Denny's Pancakes
    • McDonalds Breakfast Burrito
    • Chick Fil A Chicken Nuggets
    Print

    KFC Nashville Tenders

    An overhead view of a dish with cooked KFC chicken tenders garnished with sliced pickles and parsley.
    Print Recipe

    ★★★★★

    5 from 6 reviews

    These extra crispy KFC Nashville hot chicken tenders are the definition of comfort food. They're perfectly seasoned, extra crispy, and ridiculously flavorful. This recipe is our take on KFC's version of the classic Nashville hot chicken tenders recipe - but way better! 

    • Author: Joe Duff
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 25 minutes
    • Yield: 24 chicken tenders 1x
    • Category: Dinner
    • Method: Frying
    • Cuisine: KFC

    Ingredients

    Scale

    12 Chicken Breasts, cut into tenders

    Salt and pepper, to season chicken breasts

    1 cup all-purpose flour

    3 tbsp. cornstarch

    2 tbsp. garlic powder

    2 tbsp. chili powder or cayenne pepper

    2 tbsp. salt

    2 tbsp. dry mustard powder

    1 tbsp. black pepper

    1 tbsp. baking powder

    ¾ cup buttermilk

    1 large egg

    2 tbsp. Nashville hot sauce

    ¼ cup pickle juice

    1 tsp. baking powder

    2 cups frying oil, I recommend vegetable oil

    Pickles and parsley to serve

    Instructions

    1. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
    2. Mix flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, dry mustard, black pepper, and baking powder in a bowl.
    3. Mix buttermilk, egg, hot sauce, pickle juice, and baking powder in another bowl.
    4. Dip each chicken tender in the dry mixture, then in the wet mixture, and back in the dry mixture to fully coat it.
    5. Heat the oil to 400°F (180ºC) in a deep pan.
    6. Fry the tenders for about 5-7 minutes on each side until golden brown and the internal temp reaches 165°F. Remove from the oil and drain excess oil on a paper towel plate or wire rack.
    7. Serve with pickles and ranch sauce for dipping.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 chicken tender
    • Calories: 79
    • Fat: 2
    • Carbohydrates: 8
    • Protein: 13

    Keywords: kfc chicken, kfc tenders, kfc nashville tenders, kfc nashville tenders, nashville chicken tenders kfc, nashville hot tenders kfc, nashville hot chicken tenders kfc, nashville tenders kfc, hot chicken, kfc nashville hot chicken, how to make kfc nashville hot tenders, how to make kfc nashville tenders, kfc nashville tenders recipe, nashville chicken tenders kfc recipe, nashville hot tenders kfc, nashville hot chicken tenders kfc

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @ImHungryForThat — we can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Greg

      June 15, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      Love KFC and loved this recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    2. Tony

      June 15, 2022 at 8:52 pm

      Loved these tenders.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    3. Anthony

      June 16, 2022 at 2:36 pm

      I loved these homemade better than the restaurant.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    4. Anita

      June 17, 2022 at 8:34 am

      Yes my fav KFC offering! This was very good to make

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    5. Terry

      June 18, 2022 at 11:09 pm

      Next level flavor this has going on

      ★★★★★

      Reply
    6. Chris

      June 30, 2022 at 3:48 pm

      Man this chicken is dank. Make it once a week.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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