Crispy Chicken Strips

If you’re craving something crispy and full of flavor, Crispy Chicken Strips are the perfect choice. These tender chicken strips are coated in a crunchy layer made from toasted cornflakes, seasoned with salt and pepper, and then fried to golden perfection. Paired with a simple dipping sauce, these strips make a fantastic appetizer, snack, or main dish for the entire family to enjoy!

Why This Recipe Works

The roasted cornflakes in this recipe are the key to achieving that perfect crunch on each chicken strip. By lightly crushing them before coating, you create an ideal texture that delivers a satisfying crunch. The flour provides a light base for the egg and cornflake coating to adhere to, and the extra virgin olive oil ensures a crispy, golden exterior without being greasy. The seasoning of salt and black pepper enhances the flavor, while the ketchup and black olives add a simple yet tasty dipping option to complement the dish.

What You’ll Need For This Recipe:

• Chicken Breast: The base of your strips, offering lean and tender meat. Cut into even strips to ensure they cook uniformly.
• Roasted Cornflakes: They create the crispy coating. Roasting gives them a more intense flavor and crunch.
• Flour: Lightly coating the chicken strips in flour helps the egg wash and cornflakes adhere.
• Beaten Egg: Acts as the binder between the chicken and the cornflake crust.
• Salt: Enhances the natural flavors of the chicken.
• Black Pepper: Adds a mild heat and flavor depth to the chicken.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: For frying, ensuring a crisp and golden texture without overpowering the taste.
• Ketchup: A classic dipping sauce that pairs wonderfully with the crispy chicken.
• Pitted Black Olives: An optional garnish for extra flavor, offering a tangy bite to contrast the richness of the chicken.

How To Make This Recipe:

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken Strips

• Start by cutting the chicken breast into strips. Make sure the strips are of uniform size to ensure even cooking. Season them with a pinch of salt and black pepper to taste.
• Lightly coat the chicken strips in flour, ensuring each piece is covered evenly. This flour coating will help the egg wash stick.

Step 2: Coat with Egg and Cornflakes

• Beat an egg in a bowl, and dip the flour-coated chicken strips into the beaten egg, ensuring the entire strip is coated.
• Crush the roasted cornflakes by lightly pressing them with your hands, and then coat the egg-dipped chicken strips with the crushed cornflakes. This will form a thick, crunchy coating around the chicken.

Step 3: Fry the Chicken

• Heat some extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Make sure the oil is hot enough by testing it with a small piece of cornflake; it should sizzle when it hits the oil.
• Carefully place the coated chicken strips into the hot oil and fry until golden brown and crispy on all sides, about 5-7 minutes, depending on the thickness of the strips. Be sure to turn them occasionally to avoid burning the cornflake coating.
• Once the chicken strips are golden and crispy, remove them from the oil and let them rest on kitchen paper or absorbent paper to drain excess oil.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy

• Serve the crispy chicken strips hot with a side of ketchup for dipping.
• Garnish with pitted black olives for an extra burst of flavor, or serve with any other dipping sauce of your choice.

Tips + Tricks & More For Recipe Success:

1. Uniform Sizing: For even cooking, make sure to cut the chicken strips into similar sizes. This ensures that all the strips cook at the same rate.
2. Hot Oil: The oil should be hot but not smoking. If it’s too cold, the coating will absorb too much oil and become soggy.
3. Cornflake Texture: Crushing the cornflakes lightly with your hands creates a mix of small and larger pieces, ensuring a varied texture that adds crunch in every bite.
4. Flavored Coating: Add a bit of paprika or garlic powder to the cornflake coating for additional flavor.
5. Baking Option: For a healthier version, you can bake the chicken strips at 200°C (400°F) for about 20-25 minutes on a wire rack to allow air circulation for an even crispiness.
6. Resting: Let the fried chicken strips rest on paper towels or a cooling rack for a few minutes to avoid excess oil.

How To Serve:

• Appetizer or Snack: Serve these crispy chicken strips as a delicious snack for a movie night or a quick bite during the day.
• Main Course: Pair the chicken strips with fries, a side salad, or coleslaw to make it a full meal. For a healthier option, serve with roasted vegetables or a light quinoa salad.
• For Kids: Serve with a fun side of carrot sticks, celery, or sweet potato fries for a kid-friendly meal.
• Party Platter: These crispy chicken strips make a great addition to any appetizer spread. Arrange them on a platter with various dipping sauces such as ranch, barbecue sauce, or honey mustard.

Time Breakdown:

• Preparation Time: 15 minutes
• Cooking Time: 5-7 minutes per batch
• Total Time: 20 minutes

Nutritional Information (Approximate per serving, 1 strip):

• Calories: 120 kcal
• Fat: 6g
• Carbohydrates: 9g
• Protein: 8g
• Sodium: 250mg

These Crispy Chicken Strips are an absolute crowd-pleaser! Whether served as a quick snack or a full meal, they’re easy to make and always delicious. The crispy cornflake coating and juicy chicken inside make every bite irresistible. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauces for a flavorful experience everyone will love!