Main Dishes

The 2 Dollar Chicken Tender Meal | But Cheaper

A homemade chicken tender meal should be just as cheap as it is delicious.

Prep
20 minutes
Cook
25 minutes
Total
45 minutes
Serves
8
people
The 2 Dollar Chicken Tender Meal | But Cheaper
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Ingredients

Chicken:

  • 4 chicken breasts, cut into 6 strips
  • 2 cups (475ml) buttermilk
  • 2 Tbsp (22g) basic chicken spice
  • Kosher salt to taste 

Dredge:

  • 3 cups (450g) all-purpose flour
  • 3.5 Tbsp (40g) basic chicken spice
  • 2 quarts (2L) vegetable oil for frying
  • Kosher salt to taste 

Slaw:

  • ¼ cup (52g) mayonnaise 
  • 2 green onions, very thinly sliced
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • Kosher salt & pepper to taste
  • 4 cloves garlic, grated
  • ½ head green cabbage, mandoline thin

Chicken Sauce:

  • ½ cup (104g) mayonnaise
  • ⅓ cup (90g) ketchup
  • Salt & Pepper to taste
  • 3 Tbsp (43g) hot sauce
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 2 tsp (10g) Worcestershire sauce

Curly Fries:

  • 5 medium russet potatoes, unpeeled
  • Oil from frying chicken
  • 1 cup dredge from above
  • Kosher salt to taste and fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 Tbsp (7g) paprika
  • 1.5 cups (355ml) water

Directions

Chicken:

  1. In a medium-size bowl, mix buttermilk and chicken spice (add salt if the “chicken seasoning does not contain any). Add your tenders to the marinade, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the fridge for at least 20 minutes but ideally overnight.

Dredge:

  1. Pre-heat a seven-quart pot filled with about three quarts of vegetable oil to 350℉.
  2. Whisk to combine all-purpose flour, cooking spice, and salt in a medium-sized bowl. (add salt only if the “cooking spice” does not contain any)
  3. In batches, pull your chicken from the marinade, toss it in your remaining dredge, shake off the excess, dip back into the marinade and dredge one last time; shake off the excess and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
  4. In two or three batches, fry your chicken for 2 to 3 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165℉.
  5. Remove and place on a wire rack to cool and lightly season with salt immediately

Slaw:

  1. Mix mayo, green onion, garlic, lemon zest, and juice in a medium-size bowl, and season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  2. Add the cabbage to your bowl, toss it together, and season with salt if needed.

Curly Fries:

  1. Process your potatoes by using a spiralizer with the curly attachment, or you can cut them into matchsticks.
  2. Place all your processed potatoes in a bowl, cover them with warm water and season the water generously with salt; let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
  3. Drain your potatoes dry them out as much as possible using paper towels. Then, lightly toss the fries with a pinch of flour.
  4. In a separate bowl, add in one cup of your dredge plus paprika and black pepper; whisk together, and then whisk in water.
  5. Dip your lightly starch coated fries into your batter in 2 to 3 batches, shake off the excess, and gently lay them into the oil—fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.
  6. Remove, drain on a wire rack and lightly season with salt while hot—repeat with the rest of your fries.

Chicken Sauce:

  1. Mix all of the ingredients in a small-size bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.