As much as I like eating healthily, I also like a good amount of junk food. For as long as I can remember, I was able to pass up on savory, salty junk food – chips, French fries, chicken fingers – in favor of sweets and desserts. I’m not what the physiological reason is that would command my taste preferences to change, but they certainly have over the years.
Now, while I am certainly tempted by soft chocolate chip cookies and pumpkin chocolate chip squares, I am just as likely to pass on dessert in favor of indulging in a salty or savory treat. No, make that a spicy, salty, savory treat.
I think you’d be hard-pressed to find a person for whom chicken fingers don’t evoke some sort of childhood memory. For me, chicken fingers were a frequent staple at the dinner table and one of the only items my brother and I liked to order off the kids menu at restaurants. Unlike some of my other childhood snack staples (does anyone else remember the microwave popcorn that was dyed a “surprise” neon color that you’d discover when you opened the bag? Ew), chicken fingers are also a big kid favorite.
This grown-up edition of a childhood favorite uses lime, cilantro and chipotle pepper powder as a flavorful marinade and the breading is based on crunchy panko breadcrumbs, laced with a little bit of heat. These are a perfect appetizer or finger food served at a party, but even better as a quick weeknight dinner. They freeze well, so if you’re cooking for one or two you can pop whatever you don’t need in a freezer safe bag and save them to reheat on an even busier night.
- 1 pound (16 ounces) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1½ tablespoons lime juice (from about 1½ limes)
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 clove garlic, mashed
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 3 teaspoons ground chipotle powder, divided (or more if you like a lot of heat)
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with foil and coat with a thin layer of cooking spray. Place chicken on a cutting board and slice into thin strips (about ½ inch in diameter). Set aside.
- Make the marinade: In a bowl, combine lime juice, chopped green onion, cilantro, garlic, salt and 1 teaspoon chipotle power. Add chicken and toss until it is evenly coated with the mixture.
- In a separate shallow bowl, combine the panko breadcrumbs and 2 teaspoons chipotle powder . Toss the chicken strips in the panko mixture, one at a time, until each fully covered in breadcrumbs. Shake off any excess breading and arrange on the baking sheet.
- Bake in the oven for 10 minutes. Flip the chicken fingers so they brown on the other side, and cook for another 5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the crust is brown. Makes about 16 chicken fingers. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
61 Comments
6 Great Recipes For Football Sundays | Ajent Blog
September 3, 2012 at 3:03 pm[…] credits to InGoodTaste […]
75 Recipes for Weekend Football Parties
September 29, 2011 at 12:45 am[…] In Good Taste Buffalo Chicken Dip from In Good Taste Baked Chicken Meatballs from In Good Taste Chipotle Chicken Fingers from In Good Taste Fresh Tomatillo Salsa from In Good Taste Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Poppers from […]
Candace
August 4, 2011 at 7:22 amThese are the perfect cure for my fried chicken craving. I love that you’ve added chipotle to make them spicy. I can leave the Tabasco out of my ketchup with the addition of that yummy seasoning. Thank you for sharing your recipe! I, also, want to thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and for the sweet comments that you always leave. It’s always so nice to have you visit! Have a beautiful day!
Courtney
July 31, 2011 at 3:27 pmYum, I love chipotle! Thanks for sharing 🙂 Ew about that neon popcorn!! Why did they make that stuff!!
Olga @ MangoTomato
July 30, 2011 at 6:52 pmlove panko crumbs!
I’d be so happy to have these for lunch or dinner with either Ranch or Blue Cheese dressing.
Christina @ Sweet Pea's Kitchen
July 30, 2011 at 11:29 amI love to make baked chicken fingers. The addition of the chipotle powder sounds great. I love all things spicy so I know these would be wonderful! Yummy!
Alana D
July 29, 2011 at 3:34 pmThis is my definition of fast comfort food.
Lenore
July 29, 2011 at 11:20 amI have a friend who would absolutely LOVE these (and I’m sure I would too!). I especially love that they are so easy to freeze. Make-ahead and then freezing is my latest kitchen obsession 🙂
lisa @ smart food and fit
July 28, 2011 at 4:34 amGreat grown up version and love the flavor combinations!
Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
July 27, 2011 at 10:32 pmI am all about the sweet foods! I can usually pass on savory- it’s all about the sugar 🙂 I remember eating frozen chicken fingers when I was a kid. Definitely brings back memories!
yummychunklet
July 27, 2011 at 10:26 pmSounds delicious!
Ameena
July 27, 2011 at 9:23 pmMy 6-year-old and my husband would both love this! And when does that every happen?
Great recipe. Thank you for the fantastic idea!
Jeanette
July 27, 2011 at 9:22 pmLove the grown-up flavors in these chicken fingers and the baking method – I don’t think anyone ever outgrows chicken fingers!
Reeni
July 27, 2011 at 8:36 pmCrispy, crunchity and best of all spicy chicken tenders! My favorite! These rock!
Deeba Rajpal (@vindee)
July 27, 2011 at 8:09 pmI love the flavour combinations here. Simple yet refreshingly delicious. Whats not to love about this yummy chicken!
Claire @ Un Bello Aperitivo
July 27, 2011 at 7:27 pmI just read something today that suggested combining chili powder, lime, salt, and watermelon. Holy sweet and salty!
naomi
July 27, 2011 at 2:37 pmWell it’s no secret I am a sweet junky, but I love a good salty junk food too. These are perfect for hitting the salty spot.
Chrissy
July 27, 2011 at 2:25 pmYou and I both, sista! You can serve me up some spicy chicken fingers, any day! I can totally relate to healthy and junk food balance. These look awesome!
emily (a nutritionist eats)
July 27, 2011 at 11:02 amLove the grown-up twist! I’ve always liked chicken fingers. 🙂
sheila @ Elements
July 27, 2011 at 10:51 amYummmmm!!! My husband always adds heat to breaded catfish fingers or chicken fingers. It’s awesome like that! If you gave me a choice between your chicken fingers or dessert…yep…I’d take the chicken fingers! 🙂 They look so good!
When I was a kid, we rarely ate out at restaurants. And there weren’t many restaurants around either. I don’t ever remember eating chicken fingers. We had just regular fried chicken…ya know…drumsticks, wings, etc.
But I’m probably at least twice your age, and I guess that’s the reason chicken fingers don’t bring back childhood memories for me.
I sure do enjoy them now though. LOL! 🙂
Daryl (mom)
July 27, 2011 at 10:49 amCan we get the recipe from bellini for blackberry ketchup? That sounds delicious and would go perfect with these fabulous checken tenders!
marla
July 27, 2011 at 10:42 amThese are really the only way I would want to eat chicken fingers – healthy & delish recipe 🙂
Greg
July 27, 2011 at 9:28 amOh those look great. One of my favorite weeknight meals is cornflake chicken. This looks similar, but takes it up a notch. Will have to make it when Katherine’s away, she can’t handle the heat!
bellini
July 27, 2011 at 9:07 amOne of my favourite things is to puck up some chciken tenders and serve them with blackberry ketchip. I need to try and make my own this year!
Katie
July 27, 2011 at 8:55 amI will always love chicken fingers… 🙂 Thanks for posting a more grown-up version!
Vivienne
July 27, 2011 at 8:29 ami will be making this tmr night 🙂 i cant wait!!
hehe as much as i try to eat healthy, im still a sucker for junk food thats why i avoid going to the supermarket hungry so that i dont end up buyign too much junk food 😉
Kristen
July 27, 2011 at 7:49 amMaris –
These are the most sophisticated chicken fingers ever. So yum!
Mary
July 27, 2011 at 7:48 amThese are perfect for a busy day. I love the spices you’ve added to make the ordinary really special. I definitely will try these. My older grandsons will love them. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Lynne @ 365 Days of Baking
July 27, 2011 at 7:40 amYum, yum, YUM!!!
Who doesn’t like chicken fingers? They always bring us back to childhood and I love that these have an adult twist to them. Great job, Maris!
Kitchen Belleicious
July 27, 2011 at 7:24 amNow you have me craving and I do mean craving these chicken fingers. Love you baked them and they are still crunchy and juicy. I love heat and spice so these are perfect for me
Joanne
July 27, 2011 at 6:43 amI used to be a crazy picky eater and so chicken fingers were definitely a staple whenever my family went out to dinner. With this spiced up breading, I could definitely be convinced to go back to eating them on a daily basis!
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl
July 27, 2011 at 6:35 amThese sound amazing! I love the addition of a little spice!
Blond Duck
July 27, 2011 at 6:15 amOne of my favorite meals in the world is chicken fingers and M&C with green beans. I could eat them every day.
Joyti
July 27, 2011 at 4:07 amThat sounds so flavorful…and delicious. A much more delicious alternative to frozen or chain restaurant fingers too.
Nami | Just One Cookbook
July 27, 2011 at 4:01 amI like your oven baked method. It’s much easier and cleaner, and you can leave it while you do other things! 15 minutes is enough to clean up the dishes or utensils you used etc, and this is why I really need to learn more oven baked dishes! Yummy chicken fingers – better than store bought!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
July 27, 2011 at 2:21 amThese look so much better than any frozen kind that you would get-you can see how crunchy they are! 😀
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy
July 27, 2011 at 2:21 amOh wow..these look utterly delish..Love such crispy fried chicken! I think I can have that plateful rightaway!
sweetlife
July 27, 2011 at 12:41 amadult chicken fingers..nice..yummy
Ashley
July 27, 2011 at 12:00 amThey look amazing!
Baking Serendipity
July 26, 2011 at 11:59 pmChicken fingers were always my “safe” meal option at a restaurant when I was a kid. Now that I’m older, I like to spice up their reliability a little. This looks like the perfect recipe to do so 🙂
Maureen
July 26, 2011 at 10:58 pmWhat a quick, easy and tasty meal when you’re in a hurry. Everyone thinks they’re getting a treat which makes it even better.
mandy
July 26, 2011 at 10:28 pmThis sounds amazing. I love the idea of adult chicken fingers. The chipotle is what convinced me!
BakerbyNature
July 26, 2011 at 10:10 pmOh Maris, this is the type of adult “junk food” I could sit and eat every night; there is something about that salty/ spicy combination that has been reaching for more.
Lisa at Dishes of Mrs. Fish
July 26, 2011 at 9:04 pmI’m in love with this idea, especially using chipotle powder!
The Harried Cook
July 26, 2011 at 8:43 pmYummy! I love that these little treats are baked… I make something very similar and it is very popular in our home! I must try your recipe soon – I bet they would love the added spice! Thanks for sharing, Maris 🙂
kankana
July 26, 2011 at 8:35 pmI can never get enough of junk food ! At first i thought you deep fried these and then I see bake.. 🙂 looks so delicious.
Kalyn
July 26, 2011 at 6:21 pmThey look fabulous. I’d take this over a sweet treat any day.
Liz
July 26, 2011 at 5:53 pmOh, these are gorgeous, Maris! These must be so deliciously spicy…a more adult version on the ones I make for my kids! YUM!
katelin
July 26, 2011 at 5:14 pmjust so much yum with these. cannot wait to try these on my own.
Kelly
July 26, 2011 at 4:21 pmWe have absolute opposite preferences. I have always been more of a salty/savory kind of gal. Where as sweets (though chocolate is the exception) are not quite as beloved in my book.
Junia @ Mis Pensamientos
July 26, 2011 at 4:14 pmthese look fantastic!!! i used to get french onion toppers and use them as breading. haha NOT healthy, but delish!!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
July 26, 2011 at 2:20 pmBoy do I love your grown up version of chicken fingers. I think I will make extra for the freezer. When we have unexpected guests I can reheat them and serve with a little dipping sauce on the side. They will be happy, happy.
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
July 26, 2011 at 2:15 pmI love baked “fried” chicken. The flavors seem to stand out more and anything that has chipotle . . .yum.
Caroline
July 26, 2011 at 1:53 pmHomemade chicken tenders are the best! What great flavors for a grown-up edition. 🙂
Kathy
July 26, 2011 at 1:43 pmYes on the popcorn! It was called pop qwiz, and I loved it!
Roz
July 26, 2011 at 1:33 pmHi Maris, oooh…this recipe is a keeper. My husband LOVES his chicken fingers! If I made these and some oven fries on the side? I’m thinkin’ a piece of jewellery may just come my way in appreciation. 🙂 Not really…but I know we’d BOTH love them. Thanks as always for your wonderful recipes!!!!
Three-Cookies
July 26, 2011 at 1:32 pmLooks awesome, will give KFC a good run for the money! I haven’t eaten fried/crispy chicken in years, now I want some, right now…
Erica
July 26, 2011 at 12:53 pmThese look great! I always do at home chicken fingers (vs. getting them out somewhere)- so much healthier but just as a delicious. I love the chipotle add in.
melissa@IWasBornToCook
July 26, 2011 at 12:32 pmThese look great – perfect for making ahead and freezing!
Shari @ Chicago Cuisine Critique
July 26, 2011 at 12:26 pmThese look incredible. I think my boyfriend would be thrilled if I made these for him. 🙂
Sophia
July 26, 2011 at 12:13 pmI love junk food too, but I don’t consider them junk. Once a week or so, and they are as emotional nutrition. 😀
Love these chicken fingers though. Chicken McNuggets used to be (still kinda is) my feel-good food!