Why You’ll Love This Recipe
If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect chicken strip crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with flavor—your search ends here. These Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Strips are everything you want in comfort food: golden-brown, buttery, and seasoned with bold ranch flavor in every bite. They’re quick enough for weeknights, irresistible for game days, and fancy enough for picky eaters to fall in love.
They’re not just chicken tenders; they’re flavor bombs wrapped in crunchy perfection.
Pure Comfort
Chicken strips are the ultimate nostalgic comfort food, and this recipe takes them to new heights with a savory ranch twist and buttery coating. Imagine the crunch of panko breadcrumbs meeting the tang of ranch and the richness of butter that’s the kind of cozy bite that brings everyone to the table with a smile.
For even more comfort food creativity, check out Ooey Gooey Cheddar Bacon Ranch Stuffed Chicken another ranch lover’s dream.
Ingredients for Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken
Here’s what you need to make crispy magic happen:
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders or boneless chicken breasts (cut into strips)
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup melted butter (unsalted)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or oil (for baking)
What You Need
You’ll need a few basics from your kitchen arsenal:
- 3 shallow bowls (for flour, eggs, breadcrumbs)
- A baking sheet or air fryer
- Tongs or a fork
- Whisk and small bowl for butter mix
- Optional: wire rack for extra crispy baking
Time to Cook Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken
These beauties don’t take long:
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Marinate Time (optional): 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35–50 minutes
Steps to Make It
- Marinate (Optional but Recommended): In a bowl, combine buttermilk and half the ranch seasoning mix. Add chicken strips and let them marinate for 30 minutes in the fridge.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (or preheat air fryer to 375°F).
- Set up breading station:
- Bowl 1: flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper
- Bowl 2: whisked eggs
- Bowl 3: panko breadcrumbs + remaining ranch seasoning + melted butter mixed in
- Dredge chicken: Remove strips from marinade. Dip in flour, then egg, then coat fully in the buttered panko mixture.
- Arrange on baking sheet or air fryer tray: For oven, line with parchment or use a rack. Spray tops with cooking spray.
- Bake:
- Oven: Bake for 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Air fryer: Cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping at 6 minutes.
- Serve hot with ranch dressing, honey mustard, or your favorite dip.
Make Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Perfect
- Use panko breadcrumbs for the crispiest texture.
- Don’t skip the butter mixing it into the breadcrumbs brings unbeatable golden crunch.
- Marinate in buttermilk for ultra-tender chicken.
- Want extra flavor? Sprinkle shredded Parmesan into the breadcrumb mix.
Mix Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Up
Feeling creative? These ranch chicken strips are the perfect base for all sorts of twists:
- Swap ranch for Cajun or taco seasoning
- Toss in buffalo sauce for spicy ranch strips
- Crumble over salad for a hearty ranch chicken bowl
- Make it cheesy by melting mozzarella on top in the last few minutes
Want more bold ranch flavor ideas? Try this Jalapeño Popper Meatloaf with Ranch Drizzle for a spicy, cheesy spin on dinner.
Perfect Partners
Serve these with:
- Homemade ranch or chipotle mayo
- Coleslaw or potato salad
- Mac & cheese or loaded fries
- A fresh green salad for balance
- Try them in wraps or on sandwiches too!
Looking for a golden fried option? Check out the Crispy Fried Chicken Recipe for more Southern-style indulgence.
Busy Day Hero
These are freezer and prep friendly:
- Marinate and bread chicken in advance
- Freeze before baking just bake straight from frozen, adding 5–7 minutes
- Or cook fully, cool, and reheat in the oven or air fryer for crispiness
Work Ahead
Save time with these tips:
- Bread chicken in the morning and refrigerate until dinner
- Prep a double batch of breadcrumbs and seasoning and store it for next time
- Use pre-cut chicken tenders to skip slicing
Save Some For Later
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days
- Freezer: Freeze cooked strips for up to 3 months
- To reheat: Use oven or air fryer for best crispiness (avoid microwave if possible)
Everyone’s Happy
These strips are kid-approved, picky-eater-friendly, and grown-up satisfying. Serve them at parties, for game day, or slice them into a wrap for a quick lunch. They’re the perfect marriage of indulgent and homemade.
Good For You Too
While these are a little indulgent, you can make them lighter:
- Bake instead of fry
- Use low-fat buttermilk
- Skip butter and use olive oil spray for the coating
- Serve with veggies or salad to balance out your plate
Easy Clean Up
Clean-up is easy with parchment paper or foil-lined trays. Use tongs for the breading process and avoid sticky fingers. Minimal mess, big reward.
Switch It Up
Use this method for:
- Chicken nuggets
- Chicken cutlets for sandwiches
- Ranch-fried shrimp or fish
- Pork chops with ranch crust
- Veggies like zucchini or cauliflower coated in the same mix
Simply Perfect
These Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Strips bring the fun and flavor of restaurant-style fried chicken to your kitchen, without the mess. They’re crunchy, buttery, full of ranch flavor, and totally addictive. Serve them once, and they’ll earn a spot on your dinner table again and again.
FAQs for Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken
Q1: Can I fry these instead of baking?
Yes! Shallow-fry in oil for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and cooked through.
Q2: Can I make these gluten-free?
Use gluten-free flour and gluten-free panko for a celiac-friendly version.
Q3: What dips go best with ranch chicken strips?
Classic ranch, BBQ, honey mustard, buffalo, or even blue cheese dressing.
Q4: Can I use chicken thighs?
Absolutely! Boneless, skinless thighs work great and are super juicy.
Q5: Can I skip the buttermilk?
Yes, but the marinade adds tenderness. Substitute with milk + lemon juice if needed.
Q6: How do I keep the coating crispy?
Bake on a rack or air fryer tray, don’t crowd the pan, and spray with oil.
Conclusion
Crispy, golden, buttery, and packed with bold ranch flavor these Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Strips are everything a weeknight dinner or game-day snack should be. They’re crave-worthy, easy to make, and guaranteed to please the whole table.
Still craving crispy ranch goodness? Don’t miss Ooey Gooey Cheddar Bacon Ranch Stuffed Chicken or spice things up with the Jalapeño Popper Meatloaf with Ranch Drizzle.
Happy cooking with Rita chef ❤️!
Print
Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Strips
- Total Time: 35–50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
These Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken Strips are packed with bold ranch flavor and coated in buttery panko breadcrumbs for the ultimate crunch. Perfect for weeknight dinners, game day, or crowd-pleasing comfort food. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Ingredients
1.5 lbs chicken tenders or breasts cut into strips, 1 cup buttermilk, 1 ranch seasoning packet, 2 cups panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup all-purpose flour, 2 large eggs, ¼ cup melted butter, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, cooking spray or oil
Instructions
Marinate chicken in buttermilk and half the ranch mix (optional). Preheat oven to 400°F or air fryer to 375°F. Set up three bowls: flour with seasonings, whisked eggs, and panko mixed with ranch seasoning and melted butter. Dip each strip in flour, then egg, then coat in buttery panko. Bake for 18–20 minutes or air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway. Serve hot with ranch dressing or desired dip.
Notes
Marinate for 30 minutes for extra tender chicken. Use thighs for a juicier texture. Add shredded Parmesan to breadcrumb mix for extra flavor. Store leftovers in an airtight container and reheat in oven or air fryer.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snack
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3–4 strips
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: Crispy Buttered Ranch Chicken, ranch chicken strips, crunchy chicken tenders