Mr. How Sweet is always asking for “healthy” chicken fingers.
The secret is crispiness. The chicken needs to be crunchy and still heart-healthy.
Here’s clue #27 that shows how Mr. How Sweet’s requests can be childlike: when he says “I want healthy chicken fingers,” he means they must be nutritious but taste like something battered and deep-fried. That’s the only way he’ll eat them.
Mission accomplished.
This version was inspired by Active Foodie’s lightened-up buffalo chicken strips, a recipe Mr. How Sweet requests almost every weekend.
Honestly, he would eat the exact same thing forever if I let him.
These tenders are very tasty, but they do require patience—coating each piece takes time. It would go faster if Mr. How Sweet didn’t insist on 16 tenders per meal.
I knew he loved ginger, so I thought this honey-ginger take would be perfect. Honey and ginger are a delicious pairing: the ginger adds a bright tang while the honey brings a touch of sweetness.
Crispy Honey Ginger Chicken
Ingredients:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders
2 cups low-fat buttermilk
1/4 cup honey, plus extra for drizzling
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons ground ginger (divided)
1 teaspoon seasoned salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder (divided)
Instructions:
Combine the buttermilk, 1/4 cup honey, 1 tablespoon ground ginger, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder in a shallow dish. Cut the chicken tenders in half or into thirds and add to the buttermilk mixture. Marinate for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor.
Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
In a large bowl, mix the panko, remaining ground ginger, remaining garlic powder, seasoned salt, and flour. Dredge each chicken piece in the panko mixture until well coated, then place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pieces. Lightly spray each piece with cooking spray or brush with a little olive oil to help them crisp.
Bake for 10 minutes, flip each piece, reapply cooking spray if needed, and bake for another 10–15 minutes until golden and cooked through.
Finish by drizzling a little extra honey over the chicken pieces before serving.
This weekend I made nearly 50 tenders—he wanted seven for each lunch this week. It may sound extreme, but this is my life every day.