Copycat Popeye's Chicken Tenders

Step 1

Place buttermilk and hot sauce into a thick zip-top bag and add the chicken.  Massage with your fingers to coat all the pieces well and chill several hours or overnight.

Step 2

In another zip-top bag, combine flour, cayenne, black pepper and paprika.  In a flat bowl or deep plate combine egg with buttermilk, hot sauce and salt and beat well.

Step 3

Using a deep skillet or wok, add vegetable oil to a 2 inch depth and heat over medium hot heat until it reaches 350º F on an instant read or deep fry thermometer. While oil is heating, arrange 2 wire cooling racks on bake sheets lined with foil. Remove chicken from its overnight marinade and place on one of the racks to drip and drain several minutes.   When oil reaches 350º F, dip pieces of chicken into the buttermilk mixture, then back into the bag of flour, shaking to remove excess. Set on the wire rack to drip and dry again a few minutes before frying.

Step 4

Fry pieces of chicken about 5 minutes (depending on size of the strips) turning with tongs until the chicken is evenly browned and cooked through. Drain on the second (clean) wire rack for a few minutes before serving with your desired dipping sauce.