Description
Cracker Barrel chicken tenders blend Southern comfort with crispy perfection. Home cooks can easily recreate this classic restaurant favorite with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs (680 g) chicken tenders (or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
- ½ cup (120 ml) Italian dressing
- ¼ cup (85 g) honey
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) lime juice
Instructions
- Marination: Submerge chicken tenders in a vibrant blend of Italian dressing, honey, and lime juice, coating each piece thoroughly to infuse deep, zesty flavors.
- Refrigeration: Seal the marinated chicken in an airtight container, allowing the marinade to tenderize and enhance the meat’s taste for 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- Heat Preparation: Prepare cooking surface – either a skillet or grill – to medium heat, creating the ideal environment for perfectly cooked chicken.
- Cooking Technique: For stovetop method, transfer marinated tenders to the heated skillet, searing each side until a golden-brown crust forms and internal temperature reaches 165°F, typically 4-5 minutes per side.
- Grilling Alternative: On preheated grill grates, position tenders at a 45-degree angle, rotating midway to achieve beautiful crosshatch marks and ensure even caramelization.
- Resting and Serving: After cooking, let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes to redistribute internal juices, then plate alongside complementary sides like roasted vegetables, herbed rice, or fresh salad for a complete, mouthwatering meal.
Notes
- Marinate Mindfully: Allow chicken to soak in marinade for at least 30 minutes, but no longer than 2 hours to prevent the lime juice from breaking down the meat’s texture.
- Temperature Precision: Use a meat thermometer to confirm internal chicken temperature reaches 165°F, guaranteeing safe and perfectly cooked tenders without overdrying.
- Coating Crunch Technique: Pat chicken dry before cooking to remove excess marinade, ensuring a crispy exterior that develops beautiful golden-brown caramelization during cooking.
- Dietary Adaptation: For gluten-free version, replace traditional breading with almond flour or crushed gluten-free crackers, maintaining the recipe’s signature crispy texture while accommodating specific dietary needs.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg