Description
Crispy Korean crack sticks deliver an irresistible blend of salty, sweet, and spicy flavors that dance across taste buds. Crunchy exterior and addictive seasonings make these snacks impossible to resist for anyone craving bold Korean street food excitement.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 2 lbs chicken tenders
- 1/2 lb bacon
Coating and Seasoning:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp ranch seasoning mix
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup buttermilk
- 2 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Prepare chicken tenders by patting them dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crisp coating.
- Wrap each chicken tender with a slice of bacon, securing the bacon with toothpicks to prevent unraveling during cooking.
- In a shallow dish, combine flour, ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt, whisking thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and buttermilk together until well blended, creating a smooth binding mixture.
- Dip each bacon-wrapped chicken tender into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then coat completely in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet to 350°F, monitoring temperature with a cooking thermometer for consistent frying.
- Carefully place coated chicken tenders into the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding and maintain oil temperature.
- Fry each tender for 4-5 minutes per side, rotating to ensure golden brown exterior and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Remove tenders from oil using tongs, placing on a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil and maintain crispiness.
- Allow tenders to rest for 3-4 minutes before removing toothpicks and serving hot with optional dipping sauce.
Notes
- Moisture Matters: Pat chicken tenders completely dry to achieve an ultra-crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in maximum flavor and crunch.
- Bacon Binding: Secure bacon with toothpicks tightly to prevent unraveling during frying, ensuring each bite has perfect bacon coverage.
- Temperature Control: Use a cooking thermometer to maintain consistent 350°F oil temperature, preventing soggy or overly greasy chicken tenders.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation: Swap all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend or almond flour to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-12 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 870 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 29 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg