Chicken Tender Salad Recipe
House tenders fried or grilled tossed in one of our wing sauces & served atop chopped romaine, cucumbers, tomato, red onions cheddar & jack cheeses.
Was this page helpful?
Help improve this recipe for others.
Send this recipe to your inbox.
We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.
Ingredients
Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Chicken Tenders
Wing Sauce (choose one or combine)
Salad
Finish & Optional
Method
Chicken Tenders
Prep chicken
If using whole breasts, slice into 1"-wide strips. Place chicken in a bowl and pour buttermilk over it. Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes (or up to 2 hours) to tenderize and help coating adhere.
Make dredge
In a shallow dish combine the flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix until evenly distributed.
Coat chicken
Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing lightly so the coating adheres. Place coated pieces on a wire rack for 5 minutes to set.
Fry method
Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering (about 350°F if using a thermometer). Add tenders in a single layer (do not overcrowd). Fry 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a paper towel-lined tray.
Toss in sauce
Place cooked tenders in a large bowl. Pour the chosen wing sauce (about 1/2 cup) over the tenders and toss gently until evenly coated. For milder flavor, serve sauce on the side.
Salad
While chicken rests 2-3 minutes, assemble the salad. In a large bowl combine chopped romaine, sliced cucumber, diced tomato, and thinly sliced red onion. Toss gently to combine.
Add shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses to the salad and toss lightly so cheese is distributed.
Season the salad with a pinch of salt and pepper and a teaspoon of lemon juice if using; toss again.
Place the dressed salad onto serving plates or a large platter. Arrange the sauced chicken tenders on top of the chopped romaine and vegetables. Drizzle additional wing sauce if desired and serve ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side.
Optional finishing: garnish with chopped fresh parsley or sliced scallions for color.