Chicken Strips

Homemade chicken strips are crispy, fried to perfection, and. Crunchy breading and juicy chicken in every bite! Pair your homemade chicken fingers with your usual dipping sauce and dive in. Kids and adults will enjoy this chicken recipe.

Fried chicken fingers are a household staple for us! You control the ingredients, making it a healthier chicken tenders recipe compared to buying store-bought tenders. Plus, you could do air fryer vs pan-frying, or even use some cooking spray and oven-bake the chicken for healthier options.

Want more easy chicken recipes? Try out our Tuscan chickenKung Pao chicken or this oven-baked marinated chicken breast recipe. All are dinner ideas.

What stands out

• These are similar to a diner-style chicken fingers you would order. Get the same great flavor but made from scratch.
• It is easy to find ingredients that you can see and make any night of the week. We love to pair it with homemade ranch for dipping or peppered gravy.
• This is an easy recipe that has straightforward step-by-step directions.
• Deep fry, pan fry, bake, or air fry options. We used a cast iron skillet to fry them in this recipe.

Ingredients Needed

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts or tenders – Either can be used. Trim any silverskin you see or fat so you have prepped chicken before you dredge the chicken.
• Flour – All-purpose flour works. Or you can use a gluten-free flour blend.
• Cornstarch
• Saltine Crackers, Club, or Ritz
• Season Salt
• Salt
• Pepper
• Eggs
• Milk – Whole milk offers the richest flavor.

Variations to Recipe

• Instead of crackers, you can use breadcrumbs to replace them. Regular breadcrumbs work best, as you won’t have spices mixed in it.
• You can dip the chicken in a buttermilk mixture for a richer flavor. Plus, soaking the chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes helps lock in moisture as it cooks.
• Place your chicken strips in an air fryer and cook at 375 degrees until the chicken is cooked. Or you can bake the chicken in the oven.
• Dice up into smaller bite-sized pieces to make chicken nuggets instead.
• Season with garlic salt, Creole, or other spices or herbs to change the flavor of these crispy tenders.

How To Make Homemade Chicken Strips

Start by prepping your chicken and cutting it into thinner strips.

Then, add your dry ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.

In another bowl, add your eggs and milk and whisk well. You want to make sure all the eggs are mixed up.

Dip the chicken in the flour, then egg mixture, then flour again. Set the chicken strips to the side after they are dredged.

Heat your oil in the pan. Once hot, place some chicken in the pan and fry until fully cooked. Place chicken on a paper towel-lined towel, then cook another chicken batch.

Tips & Tricks

• Cut chicken into even strips that are similar in size and thickness. That way, you get evenly cooked chicken.
• Soak chicken in buttermilk with a little hot sauce before breading for added flavor and tenderness.
• Use a combination of flour and cracker crumbs for a crispy coating. We prefer Club Crackers or Ritz, but you can use other varieties.
• Fry in oil heated to 350°F for about 3-4 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Do not place the chicken in the cooking oil until it is hot; otherwise, you will not get that crispy battered texture.
• Drain on a wire rack or paper towel to prevent fogginess.
• Add red pepper flakes, garlic powder, onion powder, or any other seasonings you enjoy if you want added flavor to the mixture.

Storing

You can refrigerate any leftovers you have for 3-4 days. Just place it in an airtight container and reheat it as you like.

Or you can place the cooked chicken strips in a freezer-friendly container and freeze for 1-3 months. Then reheat straight from the freezer when you are ready to eat.

Practical notes

Do we have to use crackers for the breading?

Nope! We prefer the flavor and texture of crackers, but you can replace them with breadcrumbs. Or, for a lighter texture, you can do flour only and skip the crackers or breadcrumbs.

Can we double this recipe?

Go right ahead and make as many or as little of chicken strips as you would like. Just batch-cook the chicken in the pan so it doesn’t get too crowded.

More Dinner Ideas

• Tater Tot Casserole
• Blackstone Steak
• Air Fryer Shake and Bake Pork Chops

Ingredients

Makes 6 servings

• 2-3 pounds chicken breast or tenders
• 3 cups flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch optional
• 1/2 cup crackers crushed, Ritz or Club
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup milk or buttermilk
• Seasonings of your choice

Equipment

• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Cast Iron Skillet

Method

1. If you are using chicken breasts, slice them into strips. Remove fat, rinse, and pat dry.
2. Combine the flour, cornstarch, crushed crackers, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
3. Mix together the eggs and milk in a separate bowl.
4. Dip the chicken into the flour mixture, followed by the egg mixture and the flour mixture again. Set aside.
5. Fry the chicken strips in hot oil until it’s cooked all the way through and golden brown. Drain on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve and enjoy!