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Homemade Chicken Fingers

Created On:   |  Updated:   |   85 Comments

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My family gobbles up these Homemade Chicken Fingers every time I make it. The recipe includes instructions for baking and frying. It serves 8 and costs $13.87 to make, that’s just $1.74 per serving!

The finished Chicken fingers recipe with text overlay for Pinterest.

We’ve all thrown a bunch of frozen chicken nuggets on a plate and put it in the microwave for a minute and called it dinner, right? I just did it the other night as when we came home much later than anticipated and I just needed to get everyone fed and to bed.

This is great and certainly necessary at times. But, what about some better tasting chicken fingers than the frozen kind? 

Homemade Chicken Fingers

Homemade chicken fingers are so much better tasting than the frozen kind. We think they’re even better than what you can get at a restaurant. This is one of those meals that the kids will love just as much as the adults.

When I first made these chicken fingers, my 5-year-old when putting her to bed said, “Thanks Mom, that dinner was the best!’ It melted my heart and made all the hard work throughout the day worth it!

In this post, we’ll show you just how easy this recipe is to put together. In fact, we are going to share with you two different ways to make these Chicken Fingers: fried and baked!

You can skip the restaurant and the frozen brands by making these chicken fingers at home instead. The crispy outer layer atop the juicy chicken fingers will be your new go-to recipe on those nights when you need an easy dinner everyone will love. 

Make sure you serve these along with our Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sauce! 

PRO TIP: I always have a few pounds of these in the freezer so I can get dinner on the table fast! 

5 Chicken Strips on a white platter.

What is chicken fingers made of?

Chicken fingers which are also known as chicken tenders or chicken strips. They are pieces of chicken that are found on either side of the breastbone. The raw meat is covered in a flour mixture and then put on a baking sheet to bake or into hot oil to fry. 

Why are they called chicken fingers?

Listen to this riddle, “why are chicken fingers called chicken fingers if chickens don’t have fingers?!” Seriously though, why are they called chicken fingers? They are called chicken fingers because strips are cut from a tenderloin that is cut to be a fingers width in thickness. 

How to get the kids involved with this recipe:

  • Ages 2-3: Let them help measure and mix the marinade and bread crumbs mixture. They can also lay paper towels out on a plate for you. 
  • Ages 4-5: Let them help make the marinade and put the chicken in the marinade. 
  • Ages 6-8: Have your kiddo dip the chicken in the bread crumbs and coat the pieces before frying or baking. Teach them the importance of washing their hands and the work surface after handling raw chicken. 
  • Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe. 
  • Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!

Discover why we love getting the kids involved in the kitchen and more tips in our How to Get Kids Involved In Cooking article.

Overhead picture of homemade chicken fingers on a platter with a small bowl of dipping sauce.

The flavor and Recipe Variations:

  • Sometimes I omit the seasonings in the coating mixture and use 2 tablespoons of dry ranch seasoning or onion soup mix instead. 
  • If you want to spice things up a little, add 2 Tablespoons of Franks RedHot hot sauce to the marinade. 

What to Serve with Chicken Fingers:

More $5 Recipes:

How long is this good for:

  • Serve:  You can keep the cooked chicken tenders at room temperature for up to 2 hours before they will need to be refrigerated. 
  • Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. 
  • Freeze: It’s best to freeze these after cooking them. 
    • TO FREEZE AFTER COOKING: Cool them to room temperature and then place them into a freezer-safe Ziploc bag. You can freeze them this way for 4-6 months. 
      • TO COOK FROM FROZEN: Whether they were initially fried or baked, it’s best to reheat chicken fingers by placing them on a baking sheet and heating in a 350 degree F oven for 20-25 minutes. 

A close up picture of homemade chicken fingers on a platter

How much will this Chicken Fingers cost:

RECIPE COST: $13.87           

RECIPE COST FRIED: $15.07 

PRICE PER SERVING: $1.74          

PRICE PER SERVING FRIED: $1.88

  • 1 1/2 cups milk – $0.24
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice – $0.07
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour – $0.15
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch – $0.03
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar – $0.02
  • 3 pounds chicken tenders – $11.88
  • 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs – $1.22
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon onion powder – $0.15
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano – $0.03
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt – $0.03
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper – $0.05
  • pinch ground garlic – $0.01
  • Optional for frying: 2 1/2 cups vegetable or peanut oil – $1.20

To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.

Cook’s Tools:

  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • pie plate
  • large deep skillet
  • baking sheet
  • wire rack
  • tongs
  • measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • mixing spoon
  • liquid measuring cup

How to Make Homemade Chicken Fingers:

5 Chicken Strips on a white platter.

Chicken Fingers

Recipe Cost 13.87
Serving Cost 1.74
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
My family gobbles up these Homemade Chicken Fingers every time I make it. The recipe includes instructions for baking and frying. It serves 8 and costs $13.87 to make, that’s just $1.74 per serving!
Servings: 8 people
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 55 mins


Equipment

  • large bowl
  • whisk
  • pie plate
  • large deep skillet
  • baking sheet
  • wire rack
  • tongs
  • Measuring spoons
  • measuring cups
  • mixing spoon
  • Liquid measuring cup

Ingredients
 

  • 3 pounds chicken tenders

MARINADE:

  • 1 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • pinch ground black pepper

COATING:

  • 1 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • pinch ground garlic

FOR FRYING:

  • 2 ½ cups vegetable or peanut oil
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

PREP THE CHICKEN:

  • Trim the chicken of any of the white membranes.

MARINATE THE CHICKEN:

  • In a large bowl whisk to combine the marinade ingredients.
  • Add the chicken, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 15 minutes, but no more than 60 minutes.

MAKE COATING:

  • In a pie plate whisk together all of the ingredients for the coating.

HEAT THE OIL OR OVEN:

  • If frying the chicken, place 2 cups of oil in a large deep skillet. Heat oil over medium-high heat until the oil reaches 360 degrees F. Line a large plate with 3 layers of paper towels.
  • If baking the chicken, move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack right in the pan right on top of the foil. Spray the rack with nonstick cooking spray.

COAT CHICKEN:

  • Take 2 chicken tenders out of the milk marinade and let the excess marinade drip off. Then, place the chicken in the bread crumbs mixture and cover all sides with the bread crumbs. Transfer chicken tenders to a clean plate and repeat the coating process with the remaining chicken tenders.

FRYING INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Once the oil is up to temp, add 2-3 pieces of chicken to the hot oil. Fry for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Then, flip the chicken and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the chicken is golden and the chicken registers 165 degrees F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the chicken.
  • Move the chicken fingers to the paper towel-lined plate to drain.
  • Repeat the frying with the remaining chicken. Serve.

BAKING INSTRUCTIONS:

  • Place the coated chicken tenders right on top of the wire rack set inside a baking sheet. Generously spray the tops of the chicken with nonstick cooking spray.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping and spraying halfway through, until golden and crispy and the chicken registers 165 degrees F when an instant-read thermometer is inserted into the thickest part of the chicken. Cool for 5 minutes and then serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 113mg | Sodium: 737mg | Potassium: 737mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 125IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2mg
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kelly Anthony says

    5 stars
    One of my all-time favorite go-to dinners! The kids NEVER complain when chicken fingers hit the table 😉

    Reply

  10. Tayo says

    5 stars
    My grocery store keeps running out of the chicken nuggets my kids love, thanks to the quarantine. Thank you for sharing this, I’m sure my kids will love it!

    Reply

  15. Shelley says

    5 stars
    What a terrific recipe post – chicken fingers are such a family favorite, and really budget-friendly. But what definitely sets this one apart is all the terrific tips. I loved that you included the freezing tips and ideas for recipe variations (yum – Frank’s RedHot!!) And what a great idea to have age-appropriate tips on getting the kiddos involved – brilliant! Thank you so much for this great post!

    Reply

  16. Gloria says

    5 stars
    I think this just proves you don’t have to rely on takeout to get your favourite foods. With this pandemic, so many people have realized they CAN cook. This is one of those recipes that is welcomed.

    Reply

  18. Jenny Graves says

    5 stars
    I am like a kid, my favorite food is chicken fingers. Your recipe is lovely and I am in heaven, thank you!

    Reply

  21. Elaine says

    5 stars
    Ah, these are the best when it comes to entertaining. Love the looks and I bet the taste is even better. Delicious!

    Reply

  23. Natalie says

    5 stars
    These chicken fingers look delicious. Love herbs you used here and spices. I must make this for my family. I bet my kids will love this!

    Reply

  24. Kay says

    5 stars
    I love this, I have 4 kids and 2 who love to cook. This is a great recipe for them to do by themself. And will serve all 6 of us! Possibly even one for each of the dogs too if they are lucky?! Will let you know how they get on 🙂

    Reply

  34. Natalie says

    5 stars
    This looks amazing. My kids would love this. I’m saving this recipe to give it a try. Love that you added garlic into breadcrumbs mixture. So yummy!

    Reply

  35. Calvin says

    Really splendid recipe, good that you can control what you put in them, so much better than the frozen store bought ones.

    Reply

  37. Mya Murphy says

    5 stars
    Holy Cow.. All the reviews on here show me chicken fingers are universally awesome! This sounds like major fun to make with my stepsons.

    Reply

  38. Farah Maizar says

    My kids would love me forever if I made these for dinner, so t hat’s the plan! Thanks for the easy delicious looking recipe

    Reply

  41. Katie Crenshaw says

    5 stars
    Homemade is always so much better than pre-made frozen! I am loving all of the tips on how to make these perfectly! I am adding this to my dinner meal plan for this week. I can’t wait to make a batch.

    Reply

  43. Terry says

    Made this tonight and kids loved it! Used nacho cheese doritos instead of panko and it was a smash. Thanks for the win on this one.

    Reply

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