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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.
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FAQs
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.
How to make frozen chicken nuggets crispier? ›
Instructions
- Arrange about chicken nuggets in air fryer basket. For the crispiest nuggets, arrange them in a single layer. For less crispy, but still delicious nuggets, you can stack them. ...
- Spritz the nuggets lightly with oil spray.
- Air fry at 380 degrees for 10 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking.
“PRECHEWED” MEAT: Assorted pieces of chicken meat are finely chopped to free myofibrillar proteins that act as “glue” to bind the bits of meat together. Texture-enhancing binders (such as breading or powdered egg white) are added to help create a “gelling” effect that gives the nuggets shape.
How to make frozen chicken nuggets taste better? ›
One of my favorite ways to eat chicken nuggets. is with this hot honey sauce. First I air fry them to get them super crispy. and another pan. I added butter, green onion, garlic, hot sauce, ketchup, honey, and soy sauce.
What is the difference between chicken fingers and chicken tenders? ›
In summary, the difference between chicken fingers and chicken tenders lies in the cut of the chicken and the way they are prepared. Chicken fingers are made from the inner fillet of the chicken breast, while chicken tenders come from the pectoralis minor muscles located beneath the breast.
What ingredients are in chicken nuggets? ›
Ingredients: EITHER: Chicken Breast Meat (45%), Water, Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed), Maize Flour, Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour (contains Calcium Carbonate, Iron, Niacin, Thiamin), Starches, Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Semolina, Breadcrumb (contains Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT), Natural Flavourings (contains ...
Why do Chick-fil-A strips taste different than nuggets? ›
The difference between Chick-fil-A's nuggets and strips is the marinade. After Reddit user u/SizzlingSloth asked if Chick-fil-A's strips and nuggets have different marinades, La_Casa_Nueva, who claimed to be a Chick-fil-A manager, explained that the company does indeed use different marinades for its strips and nuggets ...
What are McDonald's chicken strips made of? ›
Ingredients: EITHER: Chicken Breast Meat (57%), Water, Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Flour, Vegetable Oils (Sunflower, Rapeseed), Starch, Yeast Extract, Modified Starch, Salt, Spices (contain Allergen Ingredient: CELERY), Acidity Regulators (Sodium Carbonate, Trisodium Citrate), Allergen Ingredient: WHEAT Gluten, Raising ...
Why are my frozen chicken nuggets soggy? ›
Putting them into the oven or microwave frozen could cause them to become soggy because they are thawing and cooking simultaneously. The convection of an air fryer cooks them so fast that they don't have time to get soggy. There is no reason to thaw them out before cooking them.
How do you make chicken nuggets not soggy? ›
Place a paper towel in the bottom of your food thermos and place the cooked nuggets on top. The paper towel will absorb some moisture to keep your nuggets crispy and delicious for hours! Secure the lid. Send your kid (or self, or spouse!)
Chick-fil-A® Nuggets
Bite-sized pieces of boneless chicken breast, seasoned to perfection, freshly breaded and pressure cooked in 100% refined peanut oil.
What is the filler in chicken nuggets? ›
Nervous tissue, connective tissue, bones, tendons, and fat are usually ground up together and then shaped into the common form of bite-sized oval meals. Many studies usually find nuggets that contain more fat than meat, along with some nerves, bones, and connective tissue.
What is the meat glue in chicken nuggets? ›
MYTH: “Meat glue” is used to hold chicken nuggets together. FACT: Transglutaminase, referred to by some as “meat glue,” is an enzyme sold for almost two decades that is used mostly in food service to bind pieces of meat together, such as a beef tenderloin or a strip of bacon to a filet.
Why do Mcdonald's chicken nuggets taste so good? ›
The formed chicken nugget is breaded three times — first in a light batter, then in a breading with celery and white pepper, and finally in a thick tempura batter that contains leavening agents to aerate the batter. This gives the McNugget the crispy, yet airy texture and lightly spiced flavor.
What is the best way to cook frozen chicken nuggets? ›
Preferred Method.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place frozen nuggets on baking sheet.
- Heat 11 to 13 minutes.
For frozen chicken nuggets, you can season them by lightly spraying or brushing them with oil and then sprinkling your desired seasoning over them before baking or air frying. This will help the seasoning adhere to the nuggets and enhance their flavor.
Are chicken tenders just sliced chicken breast? ›
Some people think that chicken tenders are just strips cut from the breast of the chicken. But in fact, the tender or tenderloin is an independent secondary muscle that lies directly under the breast. Sometimes, the whole breast is removed, which includes the tender; sometimes they are removed separately.
What is the fancy name for chicken tenders? ›
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.
How are chicken strips made? ›
Instructions:
- Place flour in a shallow bowl. ...
- One piece at a time, coat the chicken in flour, then in the egg mixture, and then in the breadcrumbs. ...
- Heat oil in a deep fryer ($130; Amazon) to 375 degrees F. ...
- Fry the chicken in small batches for about 6 to 8 minutes, or until golden brown.
All-purpose flour, baking soda, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper: this simple seasoned flour coats the chicken nuggets before they're dipped in the buttermilk mixture.
Key Ingredients in this McDonald's Chicken Nugget Recipe:
Seasonings – paprika, cayenne, seasoning salt, onion powder, garlic powder, ground pepper. Flour & Cornstarch – the perfect combination to create a crispy batter. Club Soda – puffs up the batter and creates little bubbles that contribute to the perfect crisp.
Does McDonald's use real chicken in their nuggets? ›
McDonald's Chicken McNuggets® are made with all white meat chicken and no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. The chicken, which is cut from the tenderloin, breast and rib, gets mixed with a marinade for flavor and to help the Chicken McNuggets® keep their fun shapes.
What is another name for chicken strips? ›
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).
Did McDonald's ever have chicken strips? ›
Buttermilk Crispy Tenders (and their precursor, Chicken Selects) were chicken strips sold by the international fast food restaurant chain McDonald's in the United States and Canada.
What type of chicken is in nuggets? ›
Your typical chicken nugget is made of white chicken meat that is supposed to come from the pectoral muscles or breast of the chicken. They usually have other parts of the chicken mixed in as well, though.
What's the difference between chicken nuggets and chicken dippers? ›
Where nuggets are able to utilise the dark meat of our favourite edible bird, dippers rely solely on the breast for that contrast of bright white you see when you take your first bite. Nuggets are tender because they are minced, giving the chicken an even and consistent texture.
