Avoid This Meat Mistake For Copycat Burger King Chicken Fries

We've all been there: It's too late for the delivery apps to be running and you're hungry. No, not hungry for anything in your pantry — hungry for the greasy, crispy deliciousness of your favorite fast food meal. Luckily for you, a fan-favorite menu item — the Burger King chicken fries — is pretty easy to make at home. However, there's one important mistake to avoid if you're looking to whip up this snack from the comfort of your late-night kitchen.

Burger King's chicken fries, which once expanded to include two limited-edition flavors, are, simply put, a godsend. Tender, juicy chicken coated in a crispy, salty, fried batter? There's arguably nothing tastier. What makes this menu item even better is how easy it is to prepare, especially since the ingredients are pretty accessible. But before you run to your kitchen and grab your chicken breast, tenders, or thighs, take a step back. For the best copycat Burger King chicken fry recipe (via Mashed), you're going to want ground chicken instead.

When making copycat Burger King chicken fries at home, ground chicken is the best meat choice for several reasons. Ground chicken provides the perfect balance of lean protein and moisture, which is crucial for achieving the right texture in juicy and fluffy chicken fries. Whole cuts of chicken, like breasts and tenders, can be too dense or dry when cooked at high temperatures. Ground chicken, on the other hand, retains a tender texture that mimics the soft interior of the OG version. It's also pretty simple to make with on-hand chicken using a cheese grater if you aren't able to make it to the store.

Not only is ground chicken super versatile and able to be used for chicken meatballs and more, it's also super easy to work with. Making chicken fries involves shaping the chicken into uniform, long strips, and ground chicken is the easiest way to achieve this. Its soft texture makes it easy to form and mold into the classic "fry" shape without worrying about uneven cooking or tough spots. Not to mention, you can season ground chicken more uniformly than whole chicken pieces, ensuring that every bite is flavorful.

Ground chicken is also a top choice because of its quick cooking time. Since it's already finely ground, it cooks faster than larger pieces of chicken, reducing the time needed to prepare the dish. Chicken fries made with ground chicken not only cook quickly, but evenly to retain their moisture, ensuring a deliciously crispy outside with a tender, juicy interior.

Static Media owns and operates Daily Meal and Mashed.