These light and airy chicken strips provide a crunchy texture that isn’t fried and pairs perfectly with spicy mustard and sweet BBQ sauce for dipping.
When my husband and I lived in Boston, we loved getting together with friends and family for dinner at Not Your Average Joe’s, a local restaurant chain. Baked Chicken Fingers with Panko and Dijon is my healthy version of their famous Mustard Crusted Chicken.
Pan-fried, crispy, juicy perfection in all of its mustard glory- I can’t even begin to estimate the calorie count. Fortunately, we were fat, happy and in love so it didn’t matter.
Lighty, fluffy and airy – panko is my go-to ingredient whenever I need a crispy, crunchy crust without gallons of oil. Dijon mustard adds flavor, spice, and tang with minimal added calories. Bake at a high temperature on an elevated cooling rack and you are well on your way to a skinny-jean friendly chicken fingers dinner.
Frequently asked questions:
Look for panko next to the traditional bread crumbs are your local grocery store. Unlike breadcrumbs that are typically in a cylinder looking container, panko crumbs are usually in a box.
Yes. They do.
Panko is much less soggy than a traditional breadcrumb. You’ll prefer panko!!
Your family is waiting.
Oven Fried Chicken Tenders with Panko
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken breast boneless skinless cut in strips
- ¼ cup dijon mustard
- 2 cloves garlic grated
- 2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 475 and lay a metal cooling rack flat on top of a baking sheet. Spray cooling rack with non-stick spray and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine mustard and garlic. Using a small brush, gently "paint" the chicken strips with the garlic mustard.
- In a shallow bowl, use fork to combine panko, salt, pepper, olive oil and paprika. Working in batches, add mustard coated chicken to the panko mixture and press to evenly coat all sides. Place panko covered chicken strips on metal rack lined baking sheet.
- Bake for 12-15 minutes or until browned, turning once halfway through.
- Serve with BBQ or dipping sauce of choice.
Brittany
I have made these 2 weeks in a row! My son is such a picky eater and these are so easy and delicious. I am so happy I found your website.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad he likes it!! Picky eaters are not easy. Thanks for letting me know!
Kathy
Yum yum! These are in my oven as I am typing this. So easy to make and smell delicious. Never thought of putting garlic with the mustard, yum. Timer just went off. Yeh. Thanks again for this recipe.
Liz DellaCroce
How did they turn out Kathy?? I hope you enjoyed them!!
Kathy
These were awesome. Everyone loved them flavorful and delicious. I forgot to flip half way through cooking so not as crispy on back as on top. Awesome recipe. Thank you for a flavorful and delicious and quick dinner last night
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad to hear it was a hit!! :) Let me know if you try anything else!
Celia
These are the best, better than any frozen and just as easy to make! I didn’t have fresh garlic so I just added some powdered garlic to the panko mix. I also just threw the chicken pieces in a bowl with the mustard and mixed well – it worked very well! My husband couldn’t stop eating them and can’t wait to share with my daughter.
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad to hear!!!! We haven’t made these in awhile but your comment is a good reminder to add them to the menu soon! So glad you enjoyed them.
Melanie Milletics
You just solved the ‘how to get panko crispy in the oven’ question! Thank you!!!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad to hear!!! Enjoy!!
Cami
Made these for dinner and we all loved them!!! My husband went back for more and ate some cold out of the fridge and said he wouldn’t mind just keeping them in there for snacks! My three year old had fun helping me do the breading as well. All around fun and yummy:) Thanks Liz, can’t wait to try some more of your recipes!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh I’m so glad to hear Cami! Let me know if you try anything else!!
Amy
These sound perfect! I’m making them tonight and adding some parmesan cheese to the panko crumbs! Serving them with a cucumber/pepper salad to be extra healthy!=)
Heidi
I made this dish for my son and myself last week and it was delicious! Best oven baked chicken strip recipe I have tried and there have been many. I never would have thought of adding the olive oil to the panko. It really helped crisp them up. Thank you!
Liz DellaCroce
Oh my goodness that makes me so happy!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it!!
Michelle
I made these last night. Amazing!!! I made my own honey mustard sauce too which was a fantastic complement. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Liz DellaCroce
Wow I love that you made your own honey mustard!! Sounds incredible! Thanks for sharing!
Gina @ Pastry School Diaries
Hi Liz, these were amazing and so easy to put together! I just loved the punch from the mustard and paprika, genius! I think this recipe is going to be on my regular rotation from now on ;) So glad I found your blog!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!!!
Michelle
I can’t wait to try these!! Thanks for sharing,
Liz DellaCroce
Let me know what you think!! I hope you enjoy!!
Amanda
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe! I never cooked chicken at such high heat before and I have to say it kept it very moist! Instead of paprika I used Pecorino Romano and it was delish! Will try the paprika some time, too. :) I also have never combined oil into the bread crumb mixture. It was a little difficult to mix, but I stuck with it.
Thanks again!
Liz DellaCroce
I’m so glad you enjoyed the chicken!! Let me know if you try anything else!! :-)
Michele
Made this for dinner tonight. It was quick, easy and delish! My son said I hit it out of the park with this one! Thanks.
Erin @ Texanerin Baking
Chicken fingers are my favorite food ever! Sometimes I’m naughty and fry them and then eat about a dozen. Just because, you know… fried food is just bad reheated. ;)
So I’m happy that baked chicken fingers exist! These look especially nice. :)
Liz DellaCroce
hahha – so true about fried food being horrible reheated!!! I hope you like these – we loved them!
Katrina @ In Katrina's Kitchen
I seriously love panko. I could eat anything covered and baked in it!! Happy New Year my friend! So happy to have met you in 2012! xoxo- K
Liz DellaCroce
haha I could eat anything covered in panko too!!! I’m going to sprinkle them on baked mushrooms tonight. So good! Happy New Year friend – I’m so glad we got the chance to meet as well!! xoxo
Stefanie @ Sarcastic Cooking
My husband enjoys eating like a child, most of the time, so he will loooove these! I love anything with a good yet healthy crunch!
Liz DellaCroce
That’s funny – my husband loves eating like a child too – haha!! Let me know if you give them a try!!
Julia
I love these!! Easy to make and great option for the kiddos!
Alyssa (Everyday Maven)
Yummmm. I can’t resist crispy panko and love the addition of paprika. These would be great to have stock-piled in the freezer!
Happy New Year! :)
Liz DellaCroce
Happy New Year to you too friend!! Cheers to a happy and healthy 2013! :)
katie
These chicken strips look great! I can see these appearing on my super bowl party menu! :)
Liz DellaCroce
Oooo good call! I can’t believe we are almost at the super bowl time of year!!
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
This is something my boys would absolutely devour!
Liz DellaCroce
My boys did exactly that!! It’s amazing how tasty a simple chicken finger is!! :)
Sheila
My kiddos would love these ; ) Happy Friday Liz xoxox
Liz DellaCroce
My kiddos… I mean husband and son… LOVED these! Gobbled them right up. I need to make them in bulk and freeze. HAPPY FRIDAY! xoxo
katie
Do you freeze after they are coated & cooked?
The panko breading does not get soggy? Thats great!
How do you reheat them?
Thanks
Liz DellaCroce
They freeze excellently! Panko is much less soggy than a traditional breadcrumb. You’ll prefer panko!!