10/09/2026
🍗 Extra-Crispy Chicken Strips
Prep: 25 min · Cook: 20 min · Marinate: 1 hr · Makes: about 20 strips (4 servings)
Equipment: 5–6 quart heavy Dutch oven or deep pot, 2 large mixing bowls, whisk, kitchen thermometer, tongs, wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet
🛒 What You’ll Need
Chicken
* 1½ lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, about 3–4 breasts
* Neutral frying oil, enough for 2–3 inches in the pot
* Creamy garlic-herb dip, for serving
Seasoned Batter
* 2 large eggs
* ⅓ cup plus 1 tbsp whole milk
* ¾ cup plus 1 tbsp water
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 tsp baking soda
* 1 tsp paprika
* ½ tsp garlic powder
* ½ tsp ground black pepper
* 1½ tsp fine salt
Flour Coating
* 1¼ cups all-purpose flour
* ½ tsp paprika
* ¼ tsp fine salt
👩🍳 Let’s Make It
1. Pat the chicken breasts dry and cut lengthwise into about 20 strips, each roughly ¾ inch wide.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, water, 1 tsp paprika, garlic powder, black pepper, and 1½ tsp salt.
3. Add the 2 cups flour and baking soda. Whisk until a thick, smooth batter forms.
4. Add the chicken strips and toss thoroughly so every piece is coated. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour.
5. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the remaining 1¼ cups flour, ½ tsp paprika, and ¼ tsp salt.
6. Pour 2–3 inches of neutral oil into a 5–6 quart heavy pot. Heat over medium-high heat to 340°F.
7. Working with one batch at a time, lift each chicken strip from the batter and allow the excess to drip off for a few seconds.
8. Transfer the strip to the seasoned flour. Press, squeeze, and lightly scrunch the flour onto the wet batter so rough, shaggy flakes form all over the surface.
9. Coat only enough strips for one frying batch. Carefully lower them into the 340°F oil without crowding the pot.
10. Fry for 4–6 minutes, turning once, until deeply golden brown, craggy, and crisp. The thickest part of each strip must reach 165°F.
11. Transfer the fried chicken to the wire rack. Let the oil return to 340°F before coating and frying the next batch.
12. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Serve immediately with creamy garlic-herb dip.
⭐ Make It Great
* Press the flour firmly onto the wet batter—the rough flour clumps create the extra-craggy restaurant-style crust.
* Keep the oil close to 340°F. Oil that is too cool makes the coating greasy; oil that is too hot can brown the crust before the chicken cooks through.
* Coat each batch immediately before frying so the flour stays dry and textured.
* Drain on a wire rack instead of directly on paper towels to preserve the crunchy underside.