Forget Chicken Seasoning: This Is The Bolder Spice Packet Your Tenders Need

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Homemade chicken tenders are highly customizable, and one of the best parts about them is that you get to show off your skills with spices, marinades, and dipping sauces. With so many flavors to choose from, the only way you can go wrong is to make a bland batch of tenders. An easy way to sidestep that problem is to spice chicken tenders with a packet of taco seasoning.

Most store-bought taco seasonings are made with chili peppers, cumin, salt, garlic, onion, paprika, oregano, and thickening agents like cornstarch. It's a warm and smoky seasoning blend that creates a complete flavor profile for chicken tenders without requiring you to buy every ingredient individually. Some brands add other ingredients, like parsley, tomato powder, or jalapeno powder. 

For a little something extra, opt for a seasoning packet that combines classic taco flavors with other influences. For example, a packet of McCormick Southwest Ranch Chicken Seasoning will add a little zest, while Cholula Jalapeno Lime Seasoning will set the stage for a margarita-inspired plate of chicken tenders. One packet of taco seasoning covers one pound of chicken, so if you opt for lower-priced options like Great Value Original Taco Seasoning you could have a whole pantry's worth of flavor loaded on your tenders for just $0.50.

Taking chicken tenders from raw cutlets to the fryer is a multi-step process. Prep the chicken by slicing it to size, patting it dry, then dusting it with salt and pepper. Add a dash of taco seasoning now to start flavoring the meat. After each tender is spiced, it goes through a breading station before going into the fryer. The first step of the breading station is a flour coating, then comes a wet coating made with egg and buttermilk. You can add a little taco seasoning to either of these if you want, but it's not necessary. We'll then toss the chicken in a final breadcrumb coating which has been seasoned with taco seasoning (bread your chicken tenders with this salty snack for extra crunch). If you plan to marinate the chicken before you bread and fry it, use these chicken marinade tricks and tips chefs swear by.

Add the same taco seasoning you used for the chicken tenders to your dipping sauce to tie everything together. For a tangy, smoky homemade sauce, mix a packet of taco seasoning with plain tomato sauce, thin it with a little water or vinegar, and season to your liking. Or, mix a packet of taco seasoning and ranch dressing to make a Mexican ranch-style of dipping sauce; one of the genius ways to turn ranch into an even better dipping sauce.