Spicy Oven-Baked Chicken Tenders: Fiery Flavor Without the Frying

Baked Fiery Chicken Strips 🌶️

Overview:

Love those spicy chicken strips you get at restaurants? Craving them but worried about the calorie load from frying? Fear not! Here’s a baked version that’s just as fiery and satisfying but with a healthier twist. This recipe, inspired by Taste of Home Cooking School, delivers the perfect balance of heat and flavor without all the excess grease.

Nutritional Information:

• Calories: 250.6 per serving
• Fat Content: 7.9g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.1g
• Cholesterol: 81.1mg
• Sodium: 474.7mg
• Carbohydrates: 15.8g
  • Fiber: 1.5g
  • Sugar: 0.2g
• Protein: 27.9g

Recipe Details:

• Servings: 4
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 11 minutes
• Total Time: 21 minutes
• Difficulty: Beginner Cook
• Cuisine: Chicken
• Keywords: Poultry, Meat, High Protein, Healthy, Spicy, < 30 Mins, Oven, Easy

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). 🔥

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2. Prepare butter mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the butter, margarine, and cider vinegar. Stir well to create a flavorful liquid mixture. Set aside for later use. 🥣

3. Prepare coating: In a shallow dish, mix together the yellow cornmeal, cayenne pepper (adjust according to your spice preference), and salt. This will be your crunchy coating for the chicken strips. 🌽

4. Coat chicken: Dip each chicken strip into the melted butter mixture, ensuring it’s thoroughly coated with the liquid goodness.

5. Apply cornmeal mixture: After coating with the butter mixture, roll each chicken strip in the cornmeal mixture. Make sure to evenly coat the chicken for maximum crunchiness. 🍗

6. Bake: Place the coated chicken strips on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for 9-11 minutes.

7. Flip and bake: After the initial bake, flip the chicken strips over and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy. 🌟

8. Check for doneness: To ensure the chicken is fully cooked, pierce it with a fork. If the juices run clear, it’s done! 🍴

9. Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven and let it cool for a minute or two. Serve hot and crispy, optionally with your favorite dipping sauce on the side. Enjoy your fiery chicken strips! 🎉

Serving Suggestions:

• These Baked Fiery Chicken Strips are perfect for serving as an appetizer at parties or as a flavorful main dish alongside your favorite side salads or roasted vegetables. 🥗
• Pair them with a cooling dip like ranch or blue cheese dressing to balance out the heat. 🍗

Tips:

• For an extra kick of heat, add more cayenne pepper to the cornmeal mixture.
• Make sure not to overcrowd the baking sheet to ensure even cooking and maximum crispiness.
• If you prefer boneless chicken thighs, feel free to swap them in for the chicken breasts.
• Experiment with different spice blends to customize the flavor to your liking.

Final Thoughts:

With these Baked Fiery Chicken Strips, you can indulge in your spicy cravings guilt-free. They’re easy to make, packed with flavor, and sure to be a hit with family and friends. So why wait? Fire up your oven and treat yourself to a batch today! 🔥🍗