Family Favorite Grilled Chicken Fingers (+ Video)
Family Favorite Grilled Chicken Fingers (+ Video)
A healthy way to eat chicken that kids love so much – grilled chicken fingers! Chicken is dipped in flour, eggs, and panko, then baked to crispy perfection! Not to mention they are so easy to make!
Everyone loves these chicken fingers for dinner. Not only are they delicious, but they are baked to make them healthier too! They’ve become the go-to meal for picky kids, as well as our macaroni, cheese and pasta recipes.
Homemade is the best
Hello again! I’m Alicia from Baker Upstairs and I’m back to share one of my favorite dinner recipes with you. These Grilled Chicken Fingers are super easy to make, delicious and good for you too!
My family absolutely loves any chicken I make, but these chicken fingers are a special favorite. They’re crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, and always delicious!
They are also simple, which is the main reason I like them. I think we can all agree that simple and delicious recipes that the whole family loves are the best!
Chicken fingers vs chicken tenders?
Chicken fingers, chicken tenders, and even chicken strips! We’ve heard several names for this chicken dish. Is there a difference between these three, or do they all refer to the same thing?
The only real difference is that chicken tenders usually use a different part of the chicken, the tenderloin. Other than that, fingers, tender meat and strips all refer to breaded and fried (or in this case baked) chicken nuggets.
This recipe calls for chicken breast, however, you can easily substitute it for 1.5 pounds of chicken tenderloin. Tenderloin is just a different muscle near the breast and is said to be more tender when cooked (hence the name).
How to Make Chicken Fingers
It does take a little time to dip each piece of chicken individually, but once you have the dip station set up, it’s pretty straightforward. I like to use Ikea’s children’s plate dips because they have a nice lip around them but are still pretty shallow.
The flour plus salt and pepper is on the first plate, the eggs are on the second, and the panko and regular breadcrumb mixture is on the third. Dip each piece in flour, then egg, then panko.
I like to bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet for easy cleanup, but they also work well on a greased baking sheet.
What is the difference between regular breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs? Panko is a flaky crumb that comes from bread without any crust – usually white bread. Panko crumbs are larger flakes rather than smaller crumbs. Panko crumbs are light and airy and remain crispy as they bake.
Classic breadcrumbs are made from different kinds of bread. They are more ground than panko, resulting in smaller crumb-like pieces. Breadcrumbs also come in different flavors such as cheese, vanilla and/or seasoning.
Can these chicken fingers be fried? Yes, you can fry these instead of baking them. Heat oil in a deep pan to 375 degrees. Working in batches, fry chicken for 6-8 minutes or until golden brown. Dry them with paper towels.
You can also use your air fryer to make these chicken fingers. Cook at 400 degrees for 8 minutes.
Good dip ideas:
There are many options, but here are some of our favorites:
These chicken feet are great with some homemade ranch, fresh fruit, and corn on the cob. But no matter how you serve them, they’re delicious!
What Chicken Tenderloin To Serve:
For more chicken recipes, check out:
main course
American food
Prep time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total time 35 minutes
Calories 1915 kcal
by Lil’ Luna
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into strips (about 3 large breasts)
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs (I used Italian but regular is fine too)
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- cooking spray
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Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.
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In a shallow or pie dish, whisk together flour, salt, and pepper. In another shallow dish, lightly beat eggs. In the third dish, toss together regular breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs.
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Dip each piece of chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs, and place on prepared baking sheet. (I find it helpful to dip the dry ingredients with one hand and the eggs with the other to prevent a mess.)
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Lightly spray each chicken strip with cooking spray. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. enjoy!