Crunchy Chicken Nibblers Recipes

SUPER CRISPY CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Cut the chicken breasts into four tenders each and soak them in a bowl with the buttermilk and hot sauce for 30 minutes.
• Add the eggs to one bowl and the flour and spices to a second bowl.
• Dip each piece of chicken from the buttermilk bowl to the flour mixture.
• Dip it into the eggs then back into the flour mixture.
• Shake excess flour gently off and put the chicken onto a baking sheet.
• Repeat with all the pieces.
• Heat the oil (three inches deep) in a dutch oven on medium high heat to 350 degrees.
• Fry the chicken in small batches for 5-7 minutes or until golden brown.

CRISPY OVEN BAKED CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 200C/390F.
• Spread panko on a baking tray, spray with oil (spray vertically to avoid blowing the panko off the tray), then bake for 3 to 5 minutes until light golden. Transfer to bowl.
• Place a rack on a baking tray (not critical but bakes more evenly).
• Place the Batter ingredients in a bowl and whisk with a fork until combined.
• Add the chicken into the Batter and toss to coat.

CRISPY CHICKEN BITES

Steps:

• Cube chicken into 1" cubes. Set aside in a bowl.
• In a shallow bowl/plate, mix together the flour and seasoning. In another bowl, whisk the egg and heavy cream together.
• Dip a piece of chicken into the flour mixture, then the egg mixture and then back again into the flour mixture, patting the flour well into the chicken.
• Set the piece of chicken aside on a sheet pan and continue repeating the process for the remainder of the chicken pieces.
• Fill a deep skillet with about 2-3" of canola oil and bring to medium heat, around 350 F.
• Deep fry the chicken cubes for about 5 minutes, until crispy brown and fully cooked on the inside. Do 2 batches to prevent overcrowding.
• Remove the chicken from the oil and set for a couple of minutes on a paper towel to drain any excess oil.
• Transfer to a plate and serve with your favorite sauce.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow dish and stir in the garlic. Slice the chicken into chunky slices, about 9.5cm long x 3-4cm wide. Lay the chicken in the dish and turn it over in the buttermilk so it is well coated. Leave in the fridge for 1-2 hrs, or preferably overnight.
• Meanwhile, heat a large, non-stick frying pan and tip in the panko crumbs and flour. Toast them in the pan for 2-3 mins, stirring regularly so they brown evenly and don't burn. Tip the crumb mix into a bowl and stir in the paprika, mustard, thyme, chilli powder, pepper and a pinch of fine sea salt. Set aside.
• When ready to cook, heat oven to 230C/210C fan/gas 8. Line a baking tin with foil and sit a wire rack (preferably non-stick) on top. Transfer half the crumb mix to a medium-large plastic bag. Lift half the chicken from the buttermilk, leaving the marinade clinging to it. Transfer it to the bag of seasoned crumbs. Seal the end of the bag and give it a good shake so the chicken gets well covered (you could do all the crumbs and chicken together if you prefer, but it's easier to coat evenly in 2 batches).
• Remove the chicken from the bag. Heat 1 tbsp of the oil in a large, non-stick frying pan, then add the chicken pieces and fry for 1½ mins without moving them. Turn the chicken over, pour in another ½ tbsp of the oil to cover the base of the pan and fry for 1 min more, so both sides are becoming golden. Using tongs, transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining seasoned crumbs, oil and chicken.
• Bake all the chicken on the rack for 15 mins until cooked and crisp, then serve with the Crunchy coleslaw (see 'Goes well with', below right).

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).
• Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!
• Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.
• Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.