Description
Chili’s-inspired honey chipotle chicken crispers bring zesty southwestern flair to your dinner table. Crispy tender chicken coated in a sweet and spicy glaze promises restaurant-quality flavor you can easily craft at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 chicken tenderloins
- 6–8 cups canola oil or shortening
Batter and Breading Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 2 ¼ cups flour (¾ cup for batter, 1 ½ cups for breading)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons salt (1 ¼ teaspoons for batter, 1 teaspoon for breading)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon pepper (¼ teaspoon for batter, ½ teaspoon for breading)
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder (¼ teaspoon for batter, ½ teaspoon for breading)
Sauce Ingredients:
- ⅔ cup honey
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1–2 teaspoons chipotle chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon hot sauce
Instructions
- Whisk together egg, milk, chicken broth, seasonings, and flour in a medium mixing bowl until a smooth, lump-free batter forms.
- Create a seasoned breading mixture by combining flour, salt, paprika, black pepper, and garlic powder in a wide, shallow dish.
- Warm cooking oil in a deep Dutch oven, maintaining a consistent temperature of 350 degrees fahrenheit.
- Dunk each chicken tenderloin into the prepared batter, ensuring complete coverage.
- Roll the batter-coated chicken pieces through the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to create an even, crispy exterior.
- Carefully lower chicken pieces into the hot oil, frying four tenderloins simultaneously to prevent overcrowding.
- Cook chicken for approximately 4 minutes, rotating occasionally to achieve a uniform golden-brown color and ensuring internal temperature reaches safe cooking standards.
- Transfer fried chicken to paper towels, allowing excess oil to drain and maintaining crispness.
- Craft the honey chipotle sauce by combining selected ingredients in a saucepan, simmering briefly to meld flavors and create a smooth consistency.
- Gently toss the crispy chicken pieces in the prepared sauce, coating each tenderloin thoroughly.
- Plate the sauced chicken crispers immediately, offering additional sauce on the side for optional dipping.
Notes
- Careful oil temperature control ensures perfectly golden, crunchy exterior while keeping the chicken juicy and tender inside.
- Whisking batter ingredients smoothly prevents lumps, creating a light and crisp coating that clings beautifully to each chicken tender.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 35 g
- Sodium: 1200 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg