Baked BBQ Fried Chicken

Step 1
Set up a batter station: Whisk together eggs, water, milk, 2 tablespoons salt, and 2 tablespoons pepper in a large bowl with a fork until smooth. Stir together flour, 1/4 cup salt, 5 teaspoons pepper, garlic, and mesquite seasoning in another large bowl.

Step 2
Fill a large heavy skillet or wok halfway full with oil. Heat to 365 degrees F (180 degrees C).

Step 3
Coat chicken in batter: Use a fork to pick up one chicken strip at a time and dip it into the egg mixture, then into the flour mixture, back into the egg mixture, and into the flour mixture again.

Step 4
Place coated strips into the hot oil to fry. Cook in batches without crowding. Once chicken is browned on one side, flip over and brown on the other side.

Step 5
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Butter a 12×20-inch glass baking dish, or two 9×13-inch baking dishes.

Step 6
Pour enough barbeque sauce into the prepared dish to coat the bottom. Arrange fried chicken strips in rows in the dish. Pour remaining sauce over the top.

Step 7
Bake in the preheated oven until the sauce is caramelized onto the chicken, 10 to 15 minutes.