Blackened Chicken Tenders
These blackened chicken tenders are the homemade version of everyone's favorite Popeye's blackened chicken. They're easy to make on the stove or in the air fryer, and cooking with high heat allows the delicious flavors of the blackened seasoning to shine!
Servings 2 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 Tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ Tablespoon cayenne pepper
- ½ Tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon thyme
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Cut the chicken breasts into strips and set aside.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts
- To a large freezer bag, add all the seasonings and shake to combine. (or add all to a bowl and mix, if you prefer)1 Tablespoon smoked paprika, ½ Tablespoon cayenne pepper, ½ Tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon oregano, ¼ teaspoon thyme, 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- Drop the chicken strips into the seasoning bag and shake to fully coat.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the oil. Once heated, add the seasoned chicken strips and cook until golden brown, approximately 6-7 minutes per side. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove from chicken from the pan and serve with dipping sauces.
Notes
- Alternatively, if you have a full batch of blackened seasoning, you would need 4-5 teaspoons per pound of chicken.
- Avocado oil or vegetable oil can be used in place of olive oil.
- Air Fryer Instructions: Preheat air fryer to 350°F. Prepare the chicken as directed. Place in air fryer, spray with olive oil (or nonstick spray) and cook for 5 minutes, flip, and cook an additional 5 minutes. Chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
- To make a blackened ranch dipping sauce, before adding the chicken to the seasoning mix, reserve a teaspoon and stir it into 1/4 cup of ranch dressing.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 473kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 0.03g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 1440mg | Potassium: 1001mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 2479IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg
