Description
Blackened chicken tenders deliver a spicy, crispy adventure that’ll make your taste buds dance with pure Southern-style delight. Grab some seasonings and get ready to turn simple chicken into a restaurant-worthy meal that brings serious flavor right to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Spice Blend:
- 2 tbsp smoked paprika
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tbsp dried oregano
- 1 tbsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp white pepper
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Lemon wedges
- Fresh parsley
- Your favorite dipping sauce
Instructions
- Blend smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, cayenne, black pepper, salt, and white pepper in a medium bowl until completely combined.
- Check seasoning blend’s flavor profile, adjusting cayenne or spices as desired for personal taste preference.
- Select 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breasts and slice into 1-inch thick tenders using sharp kitchen knife.
- Use paper towels to meticulously dry chicken tenders, removing excess moisture for optimal seasoning adherence.
- Transfer chicken into large mixing bowl and drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil, gently tossing to ensure even coating.
- Sprinkle 2-3 tbsp seasoning blend across chicken tenders, massaging spices into meat’s surface thoroughly.
- Refrigerate seasoned chicken for 30 minutes to allow flavors to penetrate deeply, enhancing overall taste profile.
- Heat cast-iron skillet to medium-high temperature (around 400F), ensuring pan is extremely hot before adding chicken.
- Carefully place chicken tenders into skillet, cooking 3-4 minutes per side until exterior develops dark, crispy crust.
- Check internal chicken temperature reaches 165F using meat thermometer, confirming complete cooking throughout.
- Remove chicken from heat, letting tenders rest 3-4 minutes to redistribute internal juices and maintain moisture.
- Alternative cooking method: Preheat oven to 400F, arrange tenders on parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake 12-15 minutes.
- Optional broiling step: Set oven to high broil for final 1-2 minutes to enhance blackened exterior appearance.
- Plate chicken alongside preferred dipping sauce, garnish with fresh parsley and lemon wedges for bright, zesty finish.
Notes
- Seasoning Intensity: Adjust the cayenne pepper to match your personal heat tolerance, from mild to fiery hot.
- Moisture Management: Pat chicken tenders completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy, well-seasoned exterior that develops a beautiful dark crust.
- Resting Time Matters: Let seasoned chicken rest in the refrigerator for deeper flavor penetration and more consistent cooking results.
- Surface Selection: Cast-iron skillet provides the best blackening effect, creating a perfect crispy exterior with deep, rich flavor development.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 minutes (skillet method) or 12-15 minutes (oven method)
- Category: Pan-Seared
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 179 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 1073 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg