Chicken strips. They’re often relegated to the kids’ menu, but let’s be honest, who doesn’t crave a crispy, juicy chicken strip? This recipe for Pioneer Woman Chicken Strips elevates this classic comfort food to a whole new level, making it perfect for adults and children alike. Forget bland and boring – these chicken strips are soaked in buttermilk for ultimate tenderness and coated in a special seasoned flour that guarantees maximum crunch.
Why Pioneer Woman’s Chicken Strips are a Must-Try
What makes these chicken strips stand out? The secret is in the buttermilk, used both as a marinade and in the flour mixture itself. The buttermilk tenderizes the chicken, ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful. But the real magic happens when buttermilk is drizzled into the seasoned flour. This creates those irresistible crispy bits that cling to the chicken, providing an incredible textural contrast to the tender meat inside. It’s a simple yet brilliant technique that takes ordinary chicken strips and transforms them into something truly special. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Ree Drummond or just looking for the best homemade chicken strip recipe, this one is guaranteed to become a family favorite.
Perfectly crispy Pioneer Woman chicken strips, drained and ready to serve.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Before you start cooking, gather these simple ingredients for the most delicious Pioneer Woman chicken strips:
- 1 pound boneless chicken tenders (or chicken breasts cut into strips)
- Buttermilk
- 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 to 3 teaspoons Lawry’s seasoning salt
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Canola or vegetable oil, for frying
Ingredients for Pioneer Woman's crispy chicken strips recipe, including chicken, buttermilk, and flour.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these easy steps to create perfect Pioneer Woman chicken strips every time:
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Season the Chicken: Begin by seasoning your chicken tenders or strips with salt and pepper. This simple step enhances the overall flavor of the chicken.
Seasoning chicken tenders with salt and pepper before marinating for Pioneer Woman's chicken strips. -
Buttermilk Marinade: Place the seasoned chicken in a large zip-lock bag and pour in at least one cup of buttermilk, ensuring the chicken is well coated. Seal the bag and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or even longer for extra tender chicken.
Chicken strips marinating in buttermilk in a ziplock bag, a key step in Pioneer Woman's recipe. -
Prepare the Flour Coating: While the chicken marinates, prepare the flour mixture. In a bowl or shallow pan, combine the flour and Lawry’s seasoning salt. For an extra kick, consider adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or your favorite seasonings. Stir it all together with a fork.
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Create Crispy Bits: This is the key step! Slowly drizzle about 1/3 cup of buttermilk into the seasoned flour. Use your fingers to crumble some of the flour together, creating small balls of coating. These crumbles are what will give your chicken strips that signature crispy texture when fried.
Preparing the crispy coating for Pioneer Woman chicken strips by adding buttermilk to seasoned flour.
The ideal crumbly texture of the seasoned flour mixture for coating Pioneer Woman's chicken strips. -
Heat the Oil: When you’re ready to cook, heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Pour in canola or vegetable oil to a depth of about 1 inch. You’re not deep-frying, but you need enough oil to properly cook the chicken. The oil is ready when a wooden spoon dipped into it creates small bubbles.
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Coat the Chicken: Remove the chicken strips from the buttermilk marinade, letting any excess drip off. Dredge each strip in the prepared flour mixture, ensuring it’s completely coated. Lightly shake off any excess flour before frying.
Dredging buttermilk-marinated chicken strips in the seasoned flour mixture.
Ensuring chicken strips are fully coated in the flour mixture for maximum crispiness.
Shaking off excess flour from chicken strips before frying to prevent clumping. -
Fry to Perfection: Carefully place the coated chicken strips in the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, until they are beautifully browned and crispy, and the chicken is cooked through.
Frying Pioneer Woman chicken strips in hot oil until golden brown and cooked through. -
Drain and Serve: Once cooked, remove the chicken strips from the skillet and place them on paper towels or brown paper bags to drain excess oil. Lightly sprinkle with salt while they are still hot.
Draining freshly fried Pioneer Woman chicken strips on paper towels to remove excess oil.
Serving Suggestions
These Pioneer Woman chicken strips are fantastic on their own, but they’re even better with a dipping sauce. While classic honey mustard or ketchup are always options, for a truly grown-up experience, try them with a homemade buttermilk ranch dressing. Pioneer Woman herself recommends a delicious buttermilk ranch recipe, and it’s the perfect creamy, tangy complement to the crispy chicken.
Pioneer Woman chicken strips served with creamy buttermilk ranch dressing for dipping.
Enjoy the Best Chicken Strips!
Get ready to enjoy chicken strips that are crispy, juicy, and bursting with flavor. This Pioneer Woman chicken strips recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, perfect for a weeknight dinner, game day, or any time you crave some seriously delicious comfort food. So ditch the frozen strips and make these homemade delights – you won’t regret it!
