Piada Chicken Tenders – CopyKat Recipes

By Editor On Jan 3, 2025

Are you looking for a simple meal that everyone in your family will love? You can’t do better than Piada Chicken Tenders. These buttermilk marinated tenders are reminiscent of the best fried chicken you’ve ever had but take much less time to cook, making this fried chicken tenders recipe ideal for weekday dinner.

Copycat Piada chicken tenders and lemon wedges on a plate.

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What makes the Piada Chicken Tenders so good?

When it comes to fried chicken, tender meat and a big crunch is where it’s at! These Piada restaurant-inspired chicken tenders deliver incredible flavor in every bite!

It all starts with a quick marinate in buttermilk, ensuring the meat is always juicy and tender with just a bit of tang. Then, toss in seasoned cake flour for a light and crispy crust. The buttermilk marinade ensures the chicken is never dry and gives the meat a slight tang. And since seasonings are kept to a minimum, the flavor of the chicken shines through.

Why you will love this recipe

This homemade chicken tenders recipe is a real game changer. It’s so easy to make and inexpensive that you’ll never want to buy frozen chicken tenders again. The extra crunchy coating and juicy meat make these tenders perfect for dipping or to use as the star ingredient for a sandwich, salad, or wrap. Deliciously versatile, what more could you want?

Homemade chicken tenders ingredients

For this chicken tenders recipe, you’ll need:

Chicken tenderloins
Buttermilk
Fresh parsley
Cake flour
Cornstarch
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Vegetable oil

For the lightest and crispiest crust, don’t substitute all-purpose flour for the cake flour.

Copycat Piada chicken tenders ingredients on a tray.

How to make chicken tenders

To prep the chicken tenders:

Trim the chicken tenders to remove any excess fat.
Place the trimmed chicken tenders in a sealable container or large bowl and pour in the buttermilk to cover.
Seal the container and place it in the fridge for about an hour to marinate. While the chicken tenders are marinating, you have time to prepare the coating.

To prepare the coating for the chicken tenders:

Finely chop the fresh parsley.
Combine the cake flour, cornstarch, salt, freshly ground black pepper, and fresh parsley.
Spread the coating on a plate.

To coat the buttermilk chicken tenders:

Place a wire rack over a rimmed baking tray.
Remove the chicken tender from the buttermilk marinade and shake it gently.
Dip both sides of the chicken tender into the flour mixture and shake off any excess.
Put the coated chicken tender on the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
Allow the chicken to rest for at least five minutes before frying. At this point, you can cover the tray with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for up to a day if you want to prep the chicken in advance.

To finish the fried chicken tenders recipe:

Place a clean wire rack on a rimmed baking tray and place it close to the stove.
Preheat at least three inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot.
Attach a deep-frying thermometer to the side of the pot and heat over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 350°F.
Carefully add two to three tenders to the hot oil to cook the chicken in batches. Do not overcrowd.
Fry until the chicken is golden brown, about four minutes.
Carefully remove the cooked chicken from the oil and place it on the wire rack to drain.
Repeat with the remaining chicken tenders.

Piada chicken tenders and lemon wedges on a plate and a cloth napkin next to it.

Sauces that go well with buttermilk chicken tenders

Sweet, heat, or anything in between, sauce can transform these chicken tenders. Make one of the following sauces or leave your favorite dipping sauce in the comment section for others to try:

Hot Mustard Sauce. This Hot Mustard Sauce, inspired by the one they used to serve at McDonald’s, is sweet and spicy. It will give your chicken tenders a real kick.
Zax Sauce. Zaxby’s Zax Sauce is rich and creamy with just enough of a zip to keep things interesting.
Bourbon BBQ Sauce. You aren’t going to find BBQ sauce this delicious at your local fast-food restaurant. This Bourbon BBQ Sauce recipe has a complex flavor profile but is still simple to make at home.

What to serve with homemade chicken tenders

All of your favorite fried chicken sides work with this dish. Here are three great choices:

Mashed potatoes. Go traditional with this easy KFC Mashed Potatoes recipe, or try something new with either the Irish Champ or Colcannon versions of the dish.
Mac and Cheese. Warm and creamy mac and cheese is a perfect pairing. Outback Steakhouse Mac and Cheese is a giant step up from the stuff in the blue box.
Green beans. Get your veggies with Texas Roadhouse Green Beans. This unique recipe simmers the beans with ham stock, bacon, and onions for a super flavorful side dish.

How to store the leftovers

Let the fried chicken tenders cool and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. You can freeze uncooked chicken tenders on a baking dish and then transfer them to a freezer bag. They should be kept in the freezer for up to a month. Thaw before frying as above.

What is the best way to reheat buttermilk chicken tenders?

Five minutes in a preheated 375°F air fryer will warm up thawed chicken tenders and make the coating extra crunchy, but if you don’t have one, you can use an oven instead.

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Reheat the chicken tenders on a wire rack over a baking tray in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes. Turn the tenders halfway through the cooking time.

Copycat Piada fried chicken tenders and lemon wedges on a plate.

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