Description

Fiery Chicken Fries are crispy, spicy chicken strips marinated in buttermilk and hot sauce, coated with a seasoned flour and cornstarch mixture, dipped in egg, and coated with crunchy panko breadcrumbs before being fried to golden perfection. These flavorful fries are perfect as a snack or appetizer, served hot with your favorite dipping sauces like ranch or spicy mayo.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Marinade

500 grams chicken breast (cut into thin strips)
1 cup buttermilk
1 tsp hot sauce (adjust as needed)

Dry Coating Mix

1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
1 tsp paprika (smoked or regular)
1 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to spice preference)
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
Salt to taste

Coating and Frying

2 eggs (beaten)
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil or canola oil for frying

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken: In a bowl, combine buttermilk and hot sauce. Add the thin chicken strips and mix well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or for best flavor, marinate overnight.
Prepare the Dry Coating Mix: In a separate bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, cornstarch, paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt until evenly mixed.
Coat the Chicken: Remove the chicken strips from the marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Dredge each piece into the dry flour mixture, then dip into the beaten eggs followed by a thorough coat of panko breadcrumbs to ensure extra crunch.
Heat the Oil: Pour vegetable or canola oil into a frying pan and heat to 350°F (175°C). Use a thermometer to maintain accurate temperature for frying.
Fry the Chicken Strips: Fry the chicken strips in batches, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side or until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and fully cooked inside.
Drain Excess Oil: Remove the fried chicken fries from the oil and place them on paper towels to drain excess oil, ensuring they stay crispy.
Serve: Serve the fiery chicken fries hot with dipping sauces such as ranch, spicy mayo, or garlic aioli for a delicious snack or appetizer.

Notes

Marinating overnight will enhance the flavor and tenderness of the chicken.
Adjust the amount of cayenne pepper and hot sauce to control the spice level.
Maintain the oil temperature at 350°F to ensure crispy coating and proper cooking.
Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch rather than regular breadcrumbs.
For a healthier alternative, these can be baked or air fried but frying gives the crispiest texture.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: Appetizer
Method: Frying
Cuisine: American

Keywords: spicy chicken fries, crispy chicken strips, fried chicken appetizer, panko chicken fries, buttermilk chicken fries