Description
Chili’s signature honey chipotle chicken crispers deliver a perfect balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Crispy chicken tenders glazed with a zesty sauce promise a restaurant-worthy meal you can easily recreate at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 chicken tenderloins
- 6–8 cups canola oil or shortening
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- 2 ¼ tsps salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ¾ tsp pepper
- ¾ tsp garlic powder
- ⅔ cup honey
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1–2 tsps chipotle chili powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp hot sauce
Instructions
- Batter Preparation: Whisk egg, milk, chicken broth, seasonings, and flour in a medium bowl until smooth and free of lumps.
- Breading Station: Mix flour, salt, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder in a wide, shallow dish to create a seasoned coating.
- Oil Heating: Warm cooking oil in a deep Dutch oven to a precise 350°F, maintaining consistent temperature for optimal frying.
- Coating Technique: Dip each chicken tenderloin into the prepared batter, ensuring complete coverage, then roll through seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to create an even, crispy exterior.
- Frying Process: Carefully lower chicken pieces into hot oil, cooking four tenderloins simultaneously to prevent overcrowding, rotating occasionally to achieve uniform golden-brown color and ensure safe internal temperature.
- Draining and Resting: Transfer fried chicken to paper towels to drain excess oil while maintaining crispness.
- Sauce Creation: Combine honey chipotle sauce ingredients in a saucepan, simmering briefly to meld flavors and create a smooth, cohesive consistency.
- Final Coating: Gently toss crispy chicken pieces in prepared sauce, thoroughly coating each tenderloin.
- Serving: Plate sauced chicken crispers immediately, offering additional sauce on the side for optional dipping.
Notes
- Maintain Oil Temperature: Keep oil steady at 350°F for perfect crispy exterior and even cooking without burning.
- Prevent Batter Clumping: Whisk ingredients thoroughly to eliminate lumps, ensuring smooth, consistent coating on chicken.
- Avoid Overcrowding: Fry only four tenderloins simultaneously to maintain oil temperature and achieve optimal crispiness.
- Check Internal Temperature: Ensure chicken reaches 165°F internally for safe consumption and juicy meat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 700
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg