Do you love Long John Silver's Chicken Planks like I do? Well, today I have a great copycat recipe to share with you. The trick is in mimicking the iconic Long John Silver batter.
This is the perfect solution, if the nearest Long John Silvers is at least an hour drive away. You can still have some Long John Silvers chicken tenders!
Long John Silver's Chicken Batter
Of course, the most important part of a successful copycat of Long John Silver's chicken planks is in a nice crispy flavorful batter recipe. This chicken batter has great "puff" to it, and the reports I'm getting are positive on crispness and flavor.
Why not make a big batch of these copycat chicken planks this weekend to enjoy with your family. I'm sure it will make them very happy.
Serving the Battered Chicken
These chicken planks are great with fries or a nice pasta salad. I like to dunk them in all kinds of sauces... Fry Sauce, Honey Mustard, Ranch Dressing or even homemade Yum Yum sauce. You can even mix restaurants and dunk them in some of my Chick-fil-a sauce recipe!
In the mood for something spicier or bone-in chicken, try my Popeyes Fried Chicken Recipe.
Copycat Long John Silvers Chicken Planks Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb Chicken Tenderloins
Long John Silver Batter
- ¾ cup Flour
- 2 tablespoon Cornstarch
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Soda
- ¼ teaspoon Baking Powder
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Onion Powder
- ¼ teaspoon Garlic Powder
- ¾ cup Water
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
- Add water and stir until well combined.
- Heat oil to between 360 and 375.
- Dip fish or chicken in batter to coat completely.
- Deep fry for until golden brown (about 3 minutes per side).
Be sure and check out the comments below, many readers have shared some great tips!
Kerri says
Also use the batter for onion rings!!!!
Robin Gagnon says
Awesome idea!
Doug says
Thanks for the idea! Doing onion rings with the leftover batter tonight.
Robert C says
WOW - That was AMAZING!!! I have been craving LJS for a long time and no locations close enough to where I live. The recipe was great and easy to put together....flavor on point! I added a dash of Paprika, and dash of seasoned salt along with regular salt, and in place of water I used club soda. The chicken planks came out fluffy, light, and crispy in a golden brown color. Thanks for the tip on the 3 minutes frying each side.....perfect amount of time. Trick as mentioned earlier is to to make sure oil is HOT before lightly placing chicken planks in the oil. THANKS
ROB HALE says
If you want it to taste exactly like LJS, you MUST use Peanut oil. That's what they cook it in!
BAM says
In 2018, LJS published a statement in Businesswire stating the use 100% Canola Oil to avoid the risk of nut allergies.
Julie Boyd says
Very good. Tastes almost just like long johns.
DC says
This is a pretty good recipe for chicken coating. It does come out crispy and similar in texture to Long John Silver's. But does it taste exactly like it? No, not really. It doesn't have as much flavor as LJS. It's definitely missing something, I just don't know what.
Andrea Riley says
Lemon and salt!
Ann says
I bet malt vinegar is IN the batter.
Juli says
Amazing and easy, as II hate cooking and I made something my whole family would eat !!!!! Had extra batter and made onion rings too.
Margaret says
So if one were to add the malt vinegar- how much, please?
Thanks!
Paddy says
Gonna try this... Rain ALL weekend... Miss those chicken planks and fry's dipped in ranch and malt vinegar! Thanks a TON!
Nathan says
What would the cooking time be in a deep fryer?
Charlotte says
It's nearly perfect!!! Make sure your oil is definitely at 375. Use a large Dutch oven to fry or a true fryer. If you add a tbsp of white vinegar to the batter, it IS LSJ!!!
Bonnie Dietrich says
What to do if you do not have cornstarch what can you use to replace cornstarch
Robin Gagnon says
Tapioca starch is used in Japanese tempura, that would probably work. I really don't have a suggestion past that.
Rachel says
Crazy Question: Frying the tenderloin chicken on both sides for three minutes is enough to throughly cook it?
Keisha says
Is this with frozen chicken tenders or thawed?
Robin Gagnon says
raw fresh or thawed
sandra-lee says
can beer be used in stead of the water i am going to try it both ways
Robin Gagnon says
I think it will come out fine. Perhaps even better. Please report back on how you like it.
John Swepston says
You can always substitute beer for the liquid component in a batter. Basically that is how you make beer battered onion rings
Jamie says
To replicate that "fish fried in the same oil" funk, add a teaspoon or so of mild Fish Sauce (from the Asian market).
Ash says
Silly question, but if I were to use fish instead of chicken, what kind of fish is recommended?
Robin Gagnon says
Personally I prefer using haddock, but I expect the restaurant uses pollock.
Holly Adams says
The restaurant uses Alaskan cod
Alan Crowder says
Made this and it was great! I since have used it as an onion ring and fish batter.
Tammy says
I've been using a similar batter for many yrs. I put a Tbsp of Cajun seasoning in also (gives it a lil kick) and no onion powder. Beer instead of water, I think beer makes it light, airy. Definitely going to try this.
Cherie Melara says
My kids love this recipe and request it often. Thank you for posting this!
Angie says
Has anyone tried air frying something along this line?
Amy says
Love there chicken
George Moy says
Oh good a recipe for long John silvers chicken planks what I really need especially there were once a dozen long John silvers all over michigan, but now most of the LJS don’t exist in Michigan and what little location they have left is in far away places.So Thanks for the recipe Thumbs up!
Robyn Perkins says
Thank you for posting this recipe!
Gina says
Phenomenal recipe!! I moved to eastern WA and we don't have a ljs close by. My husband and I have missed it so much! Thank you for sharing!! Now that I've made it, not sure how to store it now 😅