Peanut Crusted Chicken Fingers- One of the most popular kid-friendly foods gets jazzed up with a honey-roasted peanut coating and a Maple Dijon dipping sauce. Extra crunchy and delicious!
This Peanut-Crusted Chicken Finger recipe (I’ve altered it some) is from one of my favorite southern cookbooks published last year, The Southern Pantry Cookbook: 105 Recipes Already Hiding in Your Kitchen
Chicken Fingers can seem a little bland, but not when coated in a mixture of crushed peanuts and panko crumbs and served with a maple-mustard dipping sauce.
Type Of Peanuts To Use
I’ve used Honey-Roasted Peanuts for a little extra flavor but you can also use regular roasted peanuts. The peanuts and panko crumbs are processed in a food processor until finely ground, making them adhere to the chicken better. The addition of a little cayenne pepper spices them up some.
The Peanut Crusted Chicken Fingers are fried in vegetable oil until golden and crispy and then placed in the oven until they are cooked through.
Easy Dipping Sauce
Just three ingredients- mayo, maple syrup, and Dijon mustard, make a simple but delicious sauce.
The peanuts give these chicken fingers a lot of extra flavor and crunch. They’ll be just as popular with adults as they are with kids.
Chicken Fingers never tasted so good!
Oil Temperature
For best frying results, it’s important to keep the oil temperature between 360 and 375 degrees F. If the oil temperature gets too low, the chicken fingers will soak up too much oil and be greasy. If it is too high, the outside will burn before the inside is done. Using a deep-frying thermometer makes it super easy.
How To Serve
I think these Peanut Crusted Chicken Fingers would also be fabulous on a salad with Honey Mustard Dressing.
Storage
Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4 days and can be reheated in a 350 degree oven or an air fryer.
More Chicken Tender Recipes
- Bacon Wrapped Honey Mustard Tenders
- Pickle-Brined Chicken Tenders
- Coconut Macadamia Chicken Tenders
- Ranch Chicken Fingers
- Coconut Chicken Fingers
Peanut Crusted Chicken Fingers
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- salt and pepper
- 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup honey roasted peanuts
- 1/4 heaping teasoon cayenne pepper
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs,, lightly beaten
- Vegetable oil
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, and maple syrup. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until needed.
- Cut each chicken breast lengthwise into 4-5 pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
- Place panko crumbs, peanuts, and cayenne pepper in a food processor and process until finely ground. Pour into a shallow bowl or pie pan.
- Place flour in another shallow bowl or pie pan. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Place eggs in a shallow bowl.
- Coat each chicken piece in flour, dip in eggs, and then coat in peanut mixture, pressing to coat well. Place strips on a baking sheet.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Pour 1-2 inches oil in a Dutch oven and heat oil to 375 degrees.
- Working in batches, fry strips until golden brown, about 3 minutes on each side. Place on baking sheet.
- Bake chicken strips for 10 to 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
- Serve with dipping sauce.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Source: adapted from The Southern Pantry Cookbook: 105 Recipes Already Hiding in Your Kitchen
Sharing this recipe with The Weekend Potluck.
Disclosure: This post contains amazon.com affiliate links.
Made these last night for dinner (without the sauce) and everyone genuinely enjoyed them. I just used plain roasted peanuts instead of the honey ones and accidentally burnt them a bit (oops), but other than that they were really good! I’ll probably add a bit more cayenne next time for a spicier taste.
Oh, these chicken fingers look so good! I love that you added some spice in there too. These are such a fun twist on regular chicken fingers!
I love making chicken fingers at home – that peanut coating sounds awesome!!
Whoa, love this. Great idea the peanut coating. Love this.
Oh my, my girls would LOVE this! I love the easy sauce pairing, too!
We love to make chicken fingers at home and I am always looking for a new recipe. That dipping sauce sounds amazing too! Can’t wait to try these!
Something tells me that this chicken would definitely be a HUGE hit in this house! I absolutely love the idea of putting honey-roasted peanuts in with the panko breading! These look so perfectly golden and crispy!
Panko and peanut crusted chicken??? Oh heavens, Christin I am drooling all over myself here! I recently made some almond crusted chicken – but did not even think of adding panko – these look insanely delicious!
Love this idea! Nuts and panko bread crumbs sounds really delicious. I know my boys will be all about those!!! I am really glad to see that you baked them instead of fried them so I would love them too.
Chicken fingers are my son’s favorite! I love that you coated them with a honey-roasted peanut and panko crust – that’s a fantastic idea! Especially love the cayenne pepper too!