For Christmas, Thatcher got a Science of Cooking Subscription Kiwico Kit. The first box came with a recipe for chicken fingers, and he has been making them for us once a week since he got it. They aren’t going to win any beauty contests, but the flavor is yummy. They are so quick and easy to make. And, even better, it’s a dinner nobody has any complaints about. (This is not sponsored. Just thought y’all might like this super easy dinner idea.)
There’s a step we skip that would probably make them prettier…but it’s not worth the effort in my opinion. We don’t brown the bread crumbs as the original recipe suggests. Thatcher, who is very much a rule follower and will die on his horse if he thinks he is right about something, could not handle it when I told him to skip this step the first time. He was also very worried that I told him to use seasoned bread crumbs instead of panko…we only had seasoned. “Look, Thatch, you can make them today with what we have, or you can wait to make them until I get to the store.” Of course, he chose to make them that day, and now we have found that we prefer them with seasoned breadcrumbs.
Another thing we switch up in this recipe, depending on what we have on hand, is the sour cream. We have used plain yogurt in its place and even buttermilk and still had them come out great. Use what you have. These chicken fingers are very hard to mess up.
Who doesn’t love a simple dinner that kids eat without complaining AND that kids can help make or make on their own? Winner winner chicken dinner!
More Simple Dinner Ideas
- Slow Cooker Hobo Dinner
- Perfect Cheese Quesadilla
- Beef Broccoli Fried Rice
- The Best Instant Pot Mac and Cheese
- Korean Beef Bowls
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
Step-by-Step Pictures for How to Make Easy Baked Chicken Fingers
Frequently Asked Questions for how to make Easy Baked Chicken Fingers
Can I use this same recipe to make baked chicken nuggets?
Yes, you can. Cut the chicken tenders into bite-size pieces, dip them in the sour cream mixture, and coat them with the bread crumbs. Place the chicken nuggets on a prepared baking sheet in a single layer and bake for 20 minutes at 400 degrees.
Can I substitute Greek Yogurt for Sour Cream?
Yes. We have used sour cream, plain yogurt, and even buttermilk in place of Greek yogurt. Each time they have turned out great. I love the versatility of this recipe.
Will the Paprika Make these Spicy?
Regular paprika (the one normally sold in a grocery store) will not make these chicken fingers spicy. It has a sweet, mild flavor without any heat.
What can I add if I want these to be spicy chicken fingers?
You can add 1/2 tsp ground cayenne pepper (or more if you want it really spicy) to the sour cream mixture.
chef’s tools:
Kid-Friendly Dinners
- 2 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 cup sour cream, plain yogurt, or buttermilk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1½ cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Line a 13x18 cooking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a pie tin or small mixing bowl, combine the sour cream, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and ground pepper. Mix until completely combined.
- Pour the bread crumbs into another pie tin or small mixing bowl.
- Dip each chicken tender in the sour cream mixture and then dip it in the bread crumbs, making sure to completely coat. Place on the baking sheet about ½ inch apart. Repeat until all tenders have been coated. (You can use a bigger bowl for the sour cream mixture and just put all of the tenders in it at once and mix until they are all coated. Then dip them in the bread crumbs one at a time.)
- Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, flipping chicken tenders over halfway through cooking time. Chicken should be an internal temp of at least 165 degrees and slightly browning on the outside when done.
- Enjoy!
Easy Desserts You'll Love
Delicious! Hubby even loved them! I couldn’t get them to really get brown and crispy, but still good.
Yes, it can be tough to get baked things to get browned and crispy. I usually try sticking them under the broiler for a minute or two at the end. Another option that can help is to brown the bread crumbs with a little butter or oil before dipping the chicken in them.