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Close up view of homemade chicken fingers.
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5 from 1 vote

Crispy Homemade Chicken Fingers

Crispy homemade chicken fingers are even better than your favorite restaurant! You can bake, fry, or air fryer your chicken fingers to make them exactly to your liking. This 30 minute meal is going to be a huge hit!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Appetizer, Lunch, Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Chicken Fingers
Servings: 4 people
Author: Caytlin McCleery

Ingredients

Chicken Strips

  • 1 1/2 - 2 pounds chicken tenders trimmed of fat
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour divided
  • 1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 cup butter melted, for baked method
  • Vegetable oil for frying, about 2 inches

Instructions

Frying Instructions:

  • Add in about 2 inches of oil to a deep skillet. Heat over medium heat until oil reaches 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • In a shallow dish or pie plate, add in 1/2 cup flour. In a separate dish, beat together egg and milk. In a 3rd dish, combine 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 cup flour, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and paprika.
  • Working one at a time, dip chicken tenders into the plain flour and shake off excess. Then dip into the egg mixture, and then into the breadcrumb/flour mixture. Make sure to coat thoroughly. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving a small amount of space between each strip.
  • Place about 3-4 strips into the preheated oil and fry for about 3-4 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Work in batches to not crowd the pan until all are fried. Place on a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet to let excess oil drain off.
  • Serve chicken strips hot with dipping sauce.

Video

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Notes

Baking Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. 
  2. In a shallow dish or pie plate, add in 1/2 cup flour. In a separate dish, beat together egg and milk. In a 3rd dish, combine 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, 1 cup flour, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and paprika.
  3. Working one at a time, dip chicken tenders into the plain flour and shake off excess. Then dip into the egg mixture, and then into the breadcrumb/flour mixture. Make sure to coat thoroughly. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving a small amount of space between each strip.
  4. Drizzle with melted butter and bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven.
  5. Ensure chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Air Fryer Instructions:

  1. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Prepare chicken as you would to fry. Then place chicken on tray, spray with cooking oil and cook 5-6 minutes on each side, (10-12 minutes total) until the chicken is cooked through and crispy and golden on the outside. 
  3. Work in batches so that you don't crowd the air fryer.

Nutrition

Calories: 646kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 217mg | Sodium: 1102mg | Potassium: 754mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 964IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 4mg
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