Happy Sunday! Chicken nuggets, chicken strips, chicken tenders – SOME variation is on the menu of just about any restaurant I’ve ever been in, not to mention in the grocery store. It’s super easy and fast to whip up a batch yourself! With our busy, busy lives and families often having to be in ten places at once, meals and snacks are always a challenge, aren’t they? You’ll be ready with a plateful of these tender, delicious chicken snacks in the fridge, fragrant with Italian breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese!
This recipe is a specialty of Mr. Smarty Pants. Yes, my hubby knows his way around a kitchen! Not only is he a grill master, he makes simply the best scrambled eggs in the world, these can’t stop eating them chicken snacks and several other great dishes I’ll be sharing in the months to come. I attribute his kitchen comfort level to a class he took WAY back in high school – bachelor survival. How charming and quaint is that? Not to mention a Mom who ensured her boys were self-sufficient – something for which I shall remain forever grateful!
I’m fairly certain it was the desperation of years of running to games, Scouts, dance lessons, Sunday school and a zillion other things, combined with the constant plea of “chicken nuggets” from our kids, that pushed my hubby to make these. It’s so cute when he’s proud and happy that one of his specialties gets gobbled up!
Italian Fried Chicken Snacks
Ingredients:
- 5 boneless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ cups Italian bread crumbs
- ¾ cups finely grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 2 eggs
- ¼ cup milk
- Blend of light canola oil and olive oil, for frying
Cut chicken breasts into pieces – not bite-sized pieces, fairly generous sized chunks.
Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and garlic salt in a large, Zip-loc top plastic bag.
With a fork, whip together the two eggs with ¼ cup of milk. Heat canola and olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat.
Now, the fun part! Dip chicken pieces in egg/milk mixtures and place 2-3 at a time in the plastic bag of breadcrumbs and close. This kind of harkens back to the days – WHOA, stop the presses! Did I really just say harkens? Where did THAT come from?? I guess because it reminds me of the days of making Shake ‘n Bake with my mom! Well, you’re going to take that bag and shake, shake – shake, shake – shake it like a Polaroid picture. (The only words I know from that song!) It helps to have music playing when making this recipe. Yes, old dancers never die – they just take their act into the kitchen and help their husbands make chicken! Ok – I digress, back on track!
Place chicken pieces into the heated oil. It’s important to keep the heat at medium to make sure the best part – the coating – stays ON the chicken. Depending on the thickness of the chicken, cook approximately 7-8 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Place cooked chicken pieces on a large plate covered with paper towels to absorb excess oil and cool.
This plateful is just the first cooked batch – I abandoned my shaking to run off with the plate and take photos, much to Mr. Smarty Pants’ relief.
These oh so yummy chicken snacks are delicious hot. They’re delicious cold. Throw them on top of a salad. Make a that’s Italian chicken sandwich! Oh and for dipping? Defrost a jar of your own super incredible marinara sauce. What, you don’t have a stash in the freezer? Well, here’s a link to our family recipe so you can stock up – my pleasure!
Thanks so much for visiting today and I hope you have a great Sunday! I’ll be shaking around the kitchen today coming up with something to tempt your taste buds for next week. Oh, and there’s a fun surprise coming up tomorrow!
Linking up at these great parties!!
Cindy, these chicken snacks look and sound SO good….and fun to make! ? I love that your husband took a Bachelor Survival course- I think it “took”! ? I have pinned his recipe…want to make sure I have it AND that amazing marinara sauce you are so sweet to share- thank you!
Love, Joy
Joy, you are so sweet, thank you! Yes, the bachelor survival definitely took ? These chicken snacks are good and disappear fast, so we always try to make a pile of them. Thank you so much for visiting and pinning! Hugs!
I love this recipe! As much as I hate frying food (although, if I had an actual fryer, I probably wouldn’t mind doing it) I might have to make these! Pinned!
Thanks, Julie! These are so easy and really delicious – great to throw on a salad for lunch, too! Thanks so much for visiting and for the pin!
These do look yummy and might just need to find their way into our deep fryer very soon!! We have all the ingredients so…. sharing this with my own “fry Daddy” Hubs. ?
xoxo
Thanks, Claire! Not sure how these will do in a deep fryer since they’re not battered, but you’ll let me know! These are totally kid approved too, and a great make-ahead dish for those busy?!? days. Always appreciate your visits and kind comments! xoxo
They would be great – they have the egg mixture and the bread crumbs so that’s all we need to deep fry ’em up! Pan fried sounds delicious too of course {probably healthier, darn it!} I just tend to make Hubs do it on the burner outside on the grill because I hate the house smelling like oil. lol
Oh this chicken looks and sounds great and it would go perfectly with that awesome marinara sauce.
Thanks for sharing! I always look forward to your recipes.
Have a lovely week!
Oh, Angie, thanks so much! It makes me so happy that you enjoy my recipes. I think you’ll like this chicken and it’s a great make-ahead dish! You have a wonderful week, too, and thank you so much for visiting!
Cindy,
I have the same background as you and I love Italian food. These chicken snacks are lovely.
Annamaria
Hi Annamaria! Thank you so much and I am so happy that you visited! I just popped over to your lovely blog and look forward to following you via email – always love to connect with a new blogger friends and especially one who loves Italian food! ? Look forward to getting to know you and hope you have a wonderful week!
Oh my…this is just the most fabulous (and fast) chicken dish to make! Love everything about it, Cindy. You’re lucky he makes really great scrambled eggs…they are pretty tricky! I finally have it down pat…especially after making them EVERY day (my lil one’s favorite bedtime snack). But even the restaurant people can’t seem to make good scrambled eggs! Am I right? (lol)
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Thanks, Gloria – it’s a good partner to your fish sticks! And you are SO right about scrambled eggs, I can order them out and my daughter will only eat her Dad’s eggs….lol. Thanks for visiting and hope you have a happy Monday!
These look so good. We must try it.
Debi and Charly
Hi Debi and Charly – thanks so much for visiting! This recipe is super easy and delicious! I’m so happy you connected with me and a quick question – do you have follow by email enabled, because I was unable to register on your site via email? Will find another way to follow in the meantime! Look forward to getting to know you both and have a wonderful week!
Kelly says
These look great! Also, I really like the font you are using for your titles here. Very pretty! Thanks for linking up at http://www.happywifey.net! I will try to host every Monday ?
Hi Kelly – thank you so much for visiting and for hosting the party! ? Have a wonderful weekend and hope to see you at your next party!
Yum! I’ll take these for dinner any night
Thanks, Emily! Now, this is something super easy and good to have on hand when those little ones get a bit older and your days are (even more) hectic! Hope all is well, new baby is sleeping well and enjoy your weekend!
Those look oh so fabulous! And easy! Will have to try them..and I love anything with Marinara sauce! ?
Nancy
Hi Nancy – this are pretty delicious and definitely easy! I’m with you – put marinara on it, and I’ll eat (almost) anything! Thanks so much for visiting and have a fabulous weekend! ?
We make something very similar to this, Cindy! It’s a huge, huge hit with my family ? Thanks so much for sharing at All my Bloggy Friends – I can’t wait to see what you share this week!
Thanks, Jamie! I saw your chicken and you know, great cooks and minds think alike! ? It’s such a family favorite, isn’t it and great to have on hand! Thanks for the party and see you…wow, tomorrow already! ? Have a great evening!
These look delicious! And as an Italian, I’m drawn to anything that says Italian in it. LOL I chose these for my host favorite for Foodie Friends Friday! ?
Zannie, you are just too sweet – thank you so much! Us Italian girls love our Italian food, don’t we? This chicken is super delicious, easy and I wish we could make it last longer around here! ? Hope you and Bruce have a great weekend!
Jim Crowell says
These look great! Do they freeze well?
Also thanks for sharing with Foodie Friends Friday!
Hi Jim – thank you so much and I love joining in at Foodie Friends Friday! Wrapped well, these do freeze nicely, but I have to be honest – we gobble them up way more often than we get to freeze them! Thank you so much for visiting and have a wonderful week!
These sound delicious! Thanks for sharing at Saturday Dishes. Hope to see you tomorrow with a pumpkin dish.
Wishes for tasty dishes,
Linda @ Tumbleweed Contessa
Thank you, Linda, so much and for hosting the party! I had a lot going on yesterday though will pop over to the party today! Hope you have a happy Sunday and thank you so much for visiting!