Baked Crispy Chicken Fingers

If you love the taste of fried food but want to avoid consuming too much oil, this recipe is perfect for you! Since the chicken is baked in the oven, you can achieve a perfectly crispy texture without needing extra oil. Even better, the cornflakes used as the main coating ingredient make the exterior both light and wonderfully crunchy.

So, what’s the secret behind this recipe?

For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when they think of chicken fingers is a crispy exterior. The coating is what creates that crunch. However, the most important thing to pay attention to here is using plain cornflakes. Supermarkets sell many different types of cornflakes, but most of them contain sugar or honey. Sweetened cornflakes can disrupt the flavor balance of the chicken. Using unsweetened, natural cornflakes allows the spices to stand out and prevents the sugar from burning during baking and turning the dish into something less healthy.

The Lightness of Oven Baking

In classic crispy chicken recipes, frying is usually the preferred method. In this recipe, however, the chicken is baked in the oven, making it much lighter and healthier. When baking the chicken, using cooking spray helps distribute the oil evenly over the coating. If you don’t have spray oil, you can achieve the same effect by drizzling small amounts of oil over the chicken with a teaspoon.

The Power of Spices

Several spices are used in this recipe to flavor the chicken.

Lemon zest adds a fresh aroma and balances the spices with its subtle citrusy note. I used dried lemon zest prepared with the method I described in my article “How to Store Lemon Zest,” but if you don’t have any on hand, freshly grated lemon zest works just as well.

Sweet paprika and red pepper flakes add a mild sweetness that pairs beautifully with the natural corn flavor of the cornflakes.

Thyme and black pepper are essential in chicken dishes. Thyme, in particular, creates an irresistible aroma as it bakes in the oven.

The Secret to a Crispy Coating

When crushing the cornflakes in a food processor, be careful not to turn them into a very fine powder. Keeping them slightly coarse will create a crunchier texture on the chicken. The ideal consistency is somewhere between large flakes and fine crumbs.

What to Serve With It

Instead of classic French fries, you can serve these delicious crispy chicken strips with a tangy vegetable garnish or a fresh green salad.

If you’d like to prepare a healthier dipping sauce, simply mix yogurt, mustard, and hot pepper sauce. This creates a delicious alternative to heavier mayonnaise-based dips.

Enjoy...

Enjoy your meal...