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These easy chicken strips are tender andjuicy. You can serve this chicken recipe so many ways! Dip them in sauce as an appetizer, serve them next to mashed potatoes for dinner or use them as chicken sandwich patties (healthierthan the popular “Chick-a-bay” as my son used to say, because homemade has zero MSG – that’s right, “chick-a-bay” has MSG. Sorry if I ruined it for you. I ruined it for myself when I read their ingredient list).
These chicken stripshavejust 4 main ingredients and a 3-year old could pronounce them all. Yes! They are also delicious for lunch the next day – served warm in a thermos or cold with an ice pack. My son enjoys it both ways for his school lunch.
Ingredients for Breaded Chicken Strips:
2 chicken breasts
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
salt & pepper
2 large eggs
3/4cup bread crumbs (I used Italian Style)
How to makethese giant “chicken nuggets” 😉
1.Slice both chicken breasts in half so they are half their thickness then cut each pieceagain so you will have a total of 8 pieces(You can cut them into strips or nuggets if you wish, but smaller pieces will take a little longer to bread).Place chicken pieces on a cutting board, cover with plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound itinto uniform1/4″-thickness.
2. Set up 3 shallow dishes. In the first, combine 1/2 cup flour with1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper.In the second dish, whisk together 2 eggs. In the third dish, place3/4 cup bread crumbs.
3. Lift a piece of chicken by piercing a corner with a fork (this keeps your hands clean and allows for easy dipping/turning). Dip chicken into flour, shakingoff excess then dip both sides into beaten eggs and finally into the breadcrumbs, turning a couple times to coat well.
4. Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add enough oil to generously coat the bottom of the pan (about 3 Tbsp). Once oil is hot, slide in a piece of chicken and saute for 3-4 minutes per side, turning once. Chicken should be cooked through with a golden brown crust. Remove chicken to a plate lined with papertowels to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil as needed.
Easy Chicken Strips Recipe (Giant Chicken Nuggets)
You can serve these chicken strips so many ways! Dip them in sauce as an appetizer, serve them next to mashed potatoes for dinner or use them as chicken sandwich patties.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes mins
Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 8 pieces
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- salt & pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 3/4 cup bread crumbs, I used Italian Style
- Oil to Saute
Instructions
Slice both chicken breasts in half so they are half their thickness then cut each piece again so you will have a total of 8 pieces. Place chicken pieces on a cutting board, cover with plastic wrap and use a meat mallet to pound it into uniform 1/4"-thickness.
Set up 3 shallow dishes. In the first, combine 1/2 cup flour with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. In the second dish, whisk together 2 eggs. In the third dish, place 3/4 cup bread crumbs.
Lift a piece of chicken by piercing a corner with a fork (this keeps your hands clean and allows for easy dipping/turning). Dip chicken into flour, shaking off excess then dip both sides into beaten eggs and finally into the breadcrumbs, turning a couple times to coat well.
Heat a large non-stick pan over medium heat. Add enough oil to generously coat the bottom of the pan (about 3 Tbsp). Once oil is hot, slide in a piece of chicken and saute for 3-4 minutes per side, turning once. Chicken should be cooked through with a golden brown crust. Remove chicken to a plate lined with papertowels. Repeat with remaining chicken adding more oil as needed.
Notes
You can cut them into strips or nuggets if you wish, but smaller pieces will take a little longer to bread.
You can use panko instead of Italian breadcrumbs if you want a crispier crust.
If you don't have a meat mallet, use the back of a small sauce pan.
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: chicken strips
Skill Level: Easy
Cost to Make: $
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
Tender, juicy and delicious any way you shake it! 😉 If you make these, let me know how you served them.
Natasha Kravchuk
Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.
Read more posts by Natasha
FAQs
directions
- Cut chicken thighs or breasts in half length way.
- Coat lightly in flour.
- Dip in combined egg and milk.
- Roll in Stuffing mix or bread crumbs.
- Insert skewers.
- Heat combined butter and olive oil in a pan to come about 1/2 cm up side, when hot add chicken nuggets and cook until golden.
Not all breaded and fried chicken pieces are the same: classic chicken tenders should be made from the chicken breast's tender (more on that below), while nuggets are primarily made from the ground and processed chicken meat including breast and thigh meat that is then formed into nuggets, dinos, and even rings.
Why are my chicken strips not crispy? ›
One of the most common reasons why fried chicken doesn't turn out crispy is because the chicken isn't dry enough before it's fried. If the chicken is too wet, the moisture can create steam, which can prevent the skin from crisping up.
How big is the biggest chicken nugget? ›
World's largest chicken nugget weighing 46 pounds sets Guinness record. WASHINGTON - A chef duo has made history by creating the world's largest chicken nugget. TikTok cooking sensation Lynn 'Lynja' Davis and "Masterchef" finalist Nick DiGiovanni collaborated for the massive poultry creation.
How to make impossible chicken nuggets? ›
In a conventional oven:
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Arrange the frozen nuggets on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 11 minutes or until golden brown.
Just as important as the first patting down of the chicken's surface, the final pat down of your meat after covering it with breading helps every piece of crunchy coating adhere. After coating chicken in an egg and breading layer, gently pat all sides.
What is the difference between chicken strips and chicken tenders? ›
A chicken finger is a strip that can be cut from any part of the chicken breast. On the other hand, a chicken strip can only be officially called a chicken tender (or tenderloin) when it comes from a muscle located beneath the breast that is called the pectoralis minor or inner filet.
What are chicken strips made of? ›
Chicken fingers (also known as chicken goujons, tendies, chicken strips, chicken tenders, or chicken fillets) are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles of the animal. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat (pectoralis major).
What is better, chicken nuggets or chicken tenders? ›
Your best choice is to go for chicken tenders or fingers if you yearn to bite into tender breast meat beneath your crispy fried breading. If you don't care about the form or texture of the chicken, choose strips or nuggets.
Are Chick-fil-A nuggets real chicken? ›
Our Chicken
Chick-fil-A sources 100% real, whole, boneless breast of chicken that has never been ground or separated, and that contains no fillers or added steroids or hormones*.
At best, most samplings are 50% meat. Under a microscope in a study, a nugget sample was seen to only have 40% meat, and of that meat, only 19% was protein.
Why does the breading fall off my chicken strips? ›
You Don't Start Dry
The first step to breading chicken is crucial; make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy and thus will not adhere properly to the chicken.
Why does my breading fall off my chicken tenders? ›
Meat is not properly dry
If the meat is wet, it will make the flour soggy. In that case, breading will not stick properly and may fall off when deep frying. Therefore, you must take some paper towels and pat dry the meat on all sides.
How do you're crisp chicken strips? ›
The best way to reheat fried chicken is in an oven.
- Bring it to room temperature: Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before reheating. ...
- Give it some air: Place chicken on a wire rack and preheat oven to 400°F. ...
- Go high and fast: Bake chicken for 12 to 15 minutes.
They don't outright sell a 50-piece McNugget box, so you would have to order a box of 40-piece Chicken McNuggets for $8.99, and then a 10 piece box of McNuggets for $4.49. All in all, in 2022, 50 Chicken Nuggets at McDonalds costs $13.48 in the United States.
What do they put in chicken to make it big? ›
Fresh chicken is injected with a solution of saltwater so it stays juicier and more flavorful (so they say). The solution contains a long list of ingredients that can account for up to 15%, or more, of the chicken's weight. Some studies have shown up to 30% weight.
Is there a 40 piece chicken nugget? ›
from McDonald's.
How big can a chicken nugget get? ›
The largest recorded chicken nugget weighed 51.1 pounds (23.2 kg) and was 3.25 feet (0.99 m) long and 2 feet (0.61 m) wide and was created by Empire Kosher.
