Cast-Iron Cornflake Chicken Tenders for Kids, with Honey-Mustard Dip
Coat chicken strips in flour, egg and crushed cornflakes, then shallow-fry them in a cast-iron skillet over medium camp-stove heat (or a steady grate over medium coals) in 3 batches, 3 to 4 minutes per side, until they hit 165°F inside. Stir up the honey-mustard dip while the oil heats. Plan about 20 minutes of prep and 30 minutes of cooking.
These are the crunchy chicken tenders every kid at the campground will ask for. Crushed cornflakes give a loud, golden crust with no deep fryer. A skillet and a little oil do the job.
It's a good meal to hand out jobs for. Little kids can crush the cornflakes in a bag and stir the dip. Older kids can run the breading line. An adult does the frying and keeps everyone back from the hot oil.
Cast-Iron Cornflake Chicken Tenders for Kids, with Honey-Mustard Dip
- Prep
- 20 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Serves
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Heat
- Medium heat, about 350°F oil
- Pack weight
- 5 lb
- Campfire
- Camp stove
- Backpacking
- Cooler required
- One burner
- Some water
- A few dishes
- Prep ahead
Ingredients
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Gear you'll need
- 12-inch cast-iron skillet
- Camp stove or grate over medium coals
- Tongs
- Instant-read thermometer
- 3 shallow dishes or pie plates
- Zip-top bag
- Small bowl and whisk
- Plate and paper towels
- Foil
- Sealed container for used oil
Steps
-
Mix the dip
Stir the mayonnaise, honey, mustard and lemon juice together in a small bowl. Cover it and put it back in the cooler.
-
Crush the cornflakes
Put the cornflakes in a zip-top bag, press out the air and crush them with the bottom of a mug until they look like coarse crumbs. Pour them into a shallow dish and stir in 1/2 tsp of the salt.
-
Set up the line
Stir the flour, remaining 1/2 tsp salt, garlic powder, paprika and pepper together in a second dish. Whisk the eggs and milk in a third. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.
-
Bread the chicken
Dredge each strip in the flour, dip it in the egg, then press it into the cornflakes on both sides. Use one hand for dry and one for wet, and set the breaded strips on a plate. Wash your hands with soap right after handling raw chicken.
-
Heat the oil
Pour the oil into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet, about 1/4 inch deep. Heat over medium until a pinch of crumbs sizzles right away, about 5 minutes. Keep kids a few steps back from the pan.
-
Fry in batches
Lay 4 or 5 tenders in the oil without crowding. Fry 3 to 4 minutes per side, turning once with tongs, until deep golden. If the crumbs darken too fast, lower the heat.
-
Check the temperature
Push an instant-read thermometer into the thickest tender. It must read 165°F. Cook any that fall short for another minute or two.
-
Drain and repeat
Move the cooked tenders to a plate lined with paper towels, then tent with foil. Skim burnt crumbs out of the oil with a spoon, add a splash of oil if the pan looks dry, and fry the next batch.
-
Serve with dip
Pile the tenders on a plate with the honey-mustard dip and the carrots. Eat them while they're hot and crunchy.
Trail Notes
Mix the flour and spices in a zip-top bag at home. Mix the dip in a jar and keep it cold. At camp, all you do is crush, dip and fry.
Keep the raw chicken at 40°F or below until you start breading, and use it on the first night or two. Use a separate plate for raw and cooked chicken, and never put cooked tenders back on the raw plate.
Use thin pork cutlets (cook to 145°F) or cod strips (cook to 145°F) instead of chicken. For a milder crust, use crushed plain crackers in place of the cornflakes.
Let used oil cool completely, then pour it into a sealed container and pack it out. Never dump it on the ground or in a fire pit. Shake leftover crumbs into your trash bag, not onto the ground.
Campers ask
How do I keep the cornflake coating from falling off?
Pat the chicken dry first and press the crumbs on firmly. Then flip the tenders only once while frying.
Can I fry chicken tenders over a campfire?
Yes, if you have a sturdy grate and a bed of steady medium coals. A camp stove is easier because the heat holds steadier. Either way, never leave hot oil unattended.
How do I get rid of leftover frying oil at camp?
Let it cool, then pour it into a sealed jar or can and pack it out with your trash. Don't pour it on the ground or into a fire.
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