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6 Crave-Worthy Fun Facts About Chicken Tenders You Never Knew

illustration of chicken-tenders
Get ready to dip into the crispy, golden world of chicken tenders, as we reveal the most tantalizing tidbits your taste buds never even knew they craved!

1. Romeo & Juliet of Poultry

In a poultry-inspired version of "Romeo & Juliet," two star-crossed breaded lovers - chicken tenders and chicken fingers - may share similar appearances, but deep within lie their familial culinary differences: Chicken tenders are made from the pectoralis minor, a tender white meat found underneath the chicken breast, whereas chicken fingers can be crafted from various parts of the chicken, including breast meat strips.
Source => simplyrecipes.com

2. A New Hampshire Creation

In a finger-lickin' game of culinary Clue, the case of the chicken tenders' origin had food sleuths hunting down Colonel Mustard, armed with honey mustard, in the Deep South: The juicy truth, however, unravels in the Northeast, as it was the Puritan Backroom in Manchester, New Hampshire that concocted these delectable bites back in 1974. Once a New England secret, these crispy morsels caught on faster than a hot plate of biscuits and gravy, finding their way into American snack culture, and securing their spot on the menus of fast-food giants like Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, Chick-Fil-A, and KFC.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. Breadcrust Ancestors

Why did the chicken tender visit a psychic, you ask? To get in touch with its breadcrust ancestors, of course! It turns out: chicken tenders can be coated in various types of breading—ranging from flour, eggs, and bread crumbs mixed with black pepper and cayenne pepper to alternative ingredients, like cornmeal or panko bread crumbs—for a versatile, texture-filled, flavor-packed snacking experience.
Source => allrecipes.com

4. Pickle-Brined Power-Up

In a pickle for a tasty twist on your chicken tenders? Don't shed a sour tear - the answer may lie in the briny deeps of your pickle jar: Brining these crispy delights in pickle juice not only tenderizes the meat but also adds a tantalizingly subtle salty undertone, while simultaneously boosting the sodium and potassium goodness to help replenish your body's electrolytes post-workout.
Source => feelgoodfoodie.net

Italian Dressing Superheroes

5. Italian Dressing Superheroes

You won't find a member of the Tender Justice League more heroic than the chicken tender: bathed in the depths of Italian dressing, donning an irresistible cape of flavor, and armed with the softness to melt even the most villainous of hearts. Here's the secret to their superpower: marinating chicken tenders in a simple Italian dressing not only enhances their taste but also ensures their moistness when baked, creating a mouth-watering, crime-fighting weeknight meal that'll save dinner time and again.
Source => thefeatherednester.com

6. Keto-Commando Tenders

Who needs bread when you can go keto-commando on your chicken tenders? That's right, folks, armor up your poultry without a breadcrumb shield and still emerge victorious in the battle for taste: Create mouth-watering, gluten-free, low-carb chicken tenders with just three ingredients – naked tenders, olive or avocado oil, and your chosen chicken rub – in under 15 minutes, perfect to mix and match in salads, pastas, wraps, or stir-fries!
Source => wholelottayum.com

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