Recipe Notes

Pro Tips for Chicken Fingers 

1. The best cut of chicken is a boneless chicken breast for this recipe.
2. The chicken fingers are ALL about the coating. So follow the exact steps of light flour, egg and finish off with heavy flour.
3. These steps ensure the coating also sticks very well and never separated when cooking.
4. If you don’t have a deep fryer, use a small pot with a smaller amount of oil and fry a few fingers at a time. This way your frying is much easier and you don't have to worry about the temperature of the oil.
5. Also, when working in small batches, you don't have to worry about one finger being ready to flip while the rest isn’t.
6. Make sure to drain excess oil in the basket or on paper towels.
7. Pretty little cups are one of my favorite ways to serve these Chicken Fingers on the go or to make them kid-friendlier. Arranged in cups, the chicken fingers make for the perfect easy snack food for garden parties.
8. Our NEW obsession is serving these with our Truffle Fries!! SO GOOD!!

Chicken Fingers Variations:

• Mexican: Give them a Mexican makeover and spice up both bowls with cumin, chili powder, oregano and add some salsa to the egg bowl!
• Buttermilk Chicken Fingers: Chicken is marinated in buttermilk for extra tenderness before breading.
• Parmesan Chicken Fingers: Once the chicken is our of the oil and drained, drizzle them with some Garlic Parmesan Sauce.
• Buffalo Chicken Fingers: Toss cooked chicken in buffalo sauce, or add the Buffalo Chicken Wrap sauce to the egg mixture.
• Garlic Herb Chicken Fingers: Season breading with garlic, parsley, and herbs.
• For an Asian version, try the Korean Fried Chicken Strips.

How to Keep Chicken Fingers Crispy

1. Avoid overcrowding the pan or fryer
2. Cook at the correct temperature
3. Place cooked chicken on a wire rack instead of stacking
4. Serve immediately after cooking

Best Cooking Methods

• Deep Fried Chicken Fingers: Frying produces the crispiest coating and most traditional texture, we love it for the crinkle coating and the absolute overall.
• Baked Chicken Fingers: Baking uses less oil and creates a lighter version similar to our Pecan Crusted Baked Chicken Tenders. They have a crisp, but the texture is entirely different. 
• Air Fryer Chicken Fingers: Air frying creates crispy results using minimal oil, but again, the crust texture is entirely different than those.

Best Dipping Sauces for Chicken Fingers

Dipping sauces add flavor and variety, use your favorite flavors!

• Classic options include: Honey mustard, ranch dressing, barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, ketchup or garlic aioli.
• Fancier options are: Spicy Mayo, Garlic Parmesan Sauce, Harissa Aioli, Truffle Aioli, Satay Sauce, Nacho Cheese Sauce Recipe! Also Blue Cheese Dressing, Hot Honey Recipe are GREAT!

Why Are My Chicken Fingers Soggy?

Oil temperature may be too low. To fix this, cook the chicken at proper heat and avoid overcrowding.

Why Is the Breading Falling Off?

The coating may not have adhered properly. To fix this, make sure to press the final coating firmly.

Why Is My Chicken Dry?

Overcooking can dry out the chicken. To fix this, cook only until the internal temperature reaches 165°F or until the coating is golden brown, not amber in color. 

Why Isn’t the Coating Crispy?

Too little oil or insufficient heat can prevent crisping. To fix this, ensure proper cooking temperature.

How to Reheat Chicken Fingers

We LOVE the air fryer. Add them into the air fryer at 375 degrees F for  5 minutes, and watch them get just as crisp and just as fresh! We love this with tip and use it on Air Fryer Pizza too!

How to Freeze Chicken Fingers

My favorite trick to have these handy anytime, is to make a large batch, fry them, cool them and then freeze them. The chicken tenders freeze so well once cooked and cooled down. To reheat them, use your air fryer as above, adjusting the time and temperature. Reheat them at 350 degrees F for 8-10 minutes if frozen.

What are chicken breast tenders?

This is the small tenderloin flap that's attached to the chicken breast. It's the most tender part of the chicken and it's perfect to use here, however ideally they're best used when baked. That's why we love frying them!

Are chicken fingers made from chicken breast?

Most recipes use chicken breast or chicken tenderloins.

Baked Chicken Fingers

This is a whole other formula, and the coating is entirely different. You can get inspo from these Pecan Crusted Baked Chicken Tenders or this Baked Haddock. You'll need to use panko bread crumbs as the final coating while keeping the egg mixture the same. We don't use flour entirely and then bake the tenders in a single layer at 425 degrees F for 15 minutes until golden.

What temperature should the oil be for frying chicken fingers?

The oil needs to be hot enough, typically between 350–375°F (175–190°C). If it’s too cool, coating absorbs too much oil and becomes soggy. If the oil is too hot, and the outside burns before the inside cooks.

How long do you fry chicken fingers?

Depending on the thickness of your chicken, some may need upto 2 mins more or less. The average is 4-6 minutes. They should be cooked until the coating is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Can I use buttermilk to marinate the chicken? What’s the benefit?

Yes. We only use buttermilk if we're soaking the chicken for 2+ hours. Otherwise, frying the chicken creates a really JUICY chicken finger so you don't really need it.

The benefit of soaking chicken fingers in buttermilk is that it helps tenderize the meat, improves moisture retention, and allows flavors to penetrate.

How do I get extra crispy coating?

Use a double dredge coating method as we did here: flour, egg, flour, This helps to build up a crispy crust. Some poeple love adding panko to the flour mix or cornmeal or even cornflakes. We find hose to be useful only for baking not frying.

Also when frying, avoid over crowding the pan.

How do I prevent the breading from falling off?

This recipe is created in such a way that the breading does not come off, so follow the steps carefully. Usually patting the chicken dry is key (we ensure that by coating in the initial flour mix). Using a proper sequence os breading is key, which we have shown here. And finally, avoiding a crowded pan when frying.

How do I know when the chicken fingers are done?

You’ll see a golden-brown crust, and when you cut through a piece of chicken, you'll find clear juices running and no pink. For safety, use an internal thermometer and make sure you have reached 165°F (74°C) .

Are chicken fingers healthier if baked vs fried?

Yes, naturally baking or air-frying are healthier option. That's because they use less oil, hence lowering fat and calories. However, if you use proper oil temperature and drain your chicken after frying, you're getting the best of frying!

Are Chicken Fingers Healthy?

Chicken fingers provide protein but can be high in calories when deep fried. Healthier preparation methods include baking, air frying or using whole grain flour. Also serving them with salads can help create a balanced meal.