Thursday, November 18, 2010

Oven Fried Chicken Tenders - and a giveaway!


Contest is closed - the winner is Kim from Stirring the Pot!  Congrats Kim!

I remember the day I brought my daughter home from the hospital.  I was elated and excited - and scared to death.  No matter how many books you read or how many classes you take, you can never really be prepared for that moment that you realize that you are a mom and that you are in charge of the life of another human being.

As your child grows up, you realize that some things come naturally, some things you run to your mom, sister or best friend for answers, and other times - your child will leave you scratching your head, not knowing what in the world you are supposed to do.

Before I had any kids, I had this idea in my head that I would never have one of what I call "chicken nugget" kids.  You know the kind - the ones that will only eat one food and no matter what the rest of the family is eating, that child has his or her chicken nuggets (or whatever the food may be!)  I was going to have a well-rounded child that was a good eater.  And, really, for the most part, I've been pretty lucky.  At 1, she was eating anything - from enchiladas to egg rolls.  But as she's gotten older, her eating habits have definitely changed.  And this week - at almost 22 months - all I can get my daughter to eat are goldfish crackers, toast, and fruit snacks.  Oh, and chocolate - she'll rarely turn down chocolate!

So baffled at what I am supposed to do, I decided to make her chicken fingers for dinner.  Every child likes chicken fingers, right?  As I was cooking, I was writing this blog post in my head about how as a child, it was always a treat to get chicken fingers, and how I was finally able to get my child to eat something besides goldfish crackers and fruit snacks.  And all the words from that blog post went down the drain as she spit them right out.  I sure am hoping that this is just a stage that she will quickly get over!!

But don't let her be the judge of the taste of these chicken fingers.  I love making chicken fingers with panko bread crumbs, because you can bake them in the oven and still get the crunch that usually only comes with frying!  This is a chicken finger dinner you can feel good about feeding your children!


Oven Fried Chicken Tenders
adapted from Progresso.com

serves 4

1.25 pounds chicken tenders or chicken breasts, cut into strips*
1/4 cup flour
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1 cup Progresso Panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt and pepper
cooking spray

Preheat the oven to 425F.  Line a baking sheet with foil, then put a baking rack on top.  Spray the baking rack with cooking spray.

In one shallow dish, place the flour.  In a second shallow dish, mix the egg and the water.  In a third shallow dish, place the panko bread crumbs, the Parmesan and salt and pepper.

Dip each chicken strip into the flour, then the egg mixture, then the bread crumb mixture.  Place on the cooling rack.  Spray lightly with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until no longer pink and the coating is golden brown.

*Chicken tenders are usually so much more expensive than chicken breasts, so I'll just take each breast and cut it into strips.  Depending on the size of the breast, you can usually get 3-4 strips per breast.

---------------------------------
Giveaway time!!  CONTEST CLOSED

If you have never cooked with Panko bread crumbs before, you really need to give them a try!  Head over to Progresso's website for a coupon for $1 off any Panko bread crumb flavor. And check out how you can win a trip for 2 to Napa to join Chef Michael Chiarello for a food-filled weekend!

Want to win a box of Progresso panko bread crumbs and Michael Chiarello's new cookbook Bottega?

Here's how you can win:

1.  Leave a comment and let me know if you've used panko bread crumbs before and your favorite way to use them.  If you've never used them before, just let me know!
2.  Subscribe to Taste and Tell via Twitter, Facebook or RSS feed.  Leave a separate comment for each.

This giveaway will end next Wednesday, November 24th at 11:59pm Mountain time.  The winner will be notified via email, so make sure there is a way for me to get a hold of you!

Disclosure - This giveaway was provided by My Blog Spark via General Mills.

121 comments:

  1. I have never tried Panko bread crumbs. They sound great! Your chicken tenders look so good!

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  2. I've actually never used Panko bread crumbs, despite all the awesome recipes I've seen them used in. I've always just used the good o'le bread crumbs. Looks delicious!

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  3. I love panko breadcrumbs! They worked great when I made eggplant parmesan...the eggplant stayed super crispy.

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  4. hi there! i've never used panko bread crumbs but i reallllly want to try this recipe- i love love chicken fingers :) xoxo jcd (jillian dot dieter at gmail dot come)

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  5. I have never used panko crumbs. I've read alot of recipes that use them. I think baked fish would taste great with lemon pepper panko crumbs.

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  6. I use panko a lot! I use it to bread fish and chicken. It's my favorite!

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  7. I also follow your rss feed

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  8. I use panko when I make fish. My kids love it!

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  9. I follow your blog with RSS feed. Thanks!

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  10. Never actually used panko, only regular bread crumbs. Thanks for the giveaway.


    Chris

    zekks at yahoo dot com

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  11. I LOVE panko bread crumbs!

    We use them on cut up okra and on cheese sticks!





    stephanie.yanik (at) gmail.com

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  12. I follow you on facebook!





    stephanie.yanik (at) gmail.com

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  13. We've always used them for tonkatsu or chicken katsu. We also use them for eggplant tempura. rhisomers(at)gmail(dot)com

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  14. I follow you on Twitter (ps152). rhisomers(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I'm a Facebook fan. rhisomers(at)gmail(dot)com

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  16. I like to use panko as a topping for my mac and cheese or with a chicken roll up!

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  17. I use panko bread crumbs as a topping for mac and cheese. (Um, what's for lunch?)

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  18. I subscribe to your blog using an rss feed. So handy!

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  19. I have used panko before in my turkey meatballs! I love how delicate the breading looks here. Enter me!

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  20. My favorite way to use Panko breadcrumbs is baked buffalo chicken tenders. I don't have a plain version though, so this looks great. Definitely more toddler-friendly than the buffalo ones.

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  21. Haha I guess you just can never really tell what your child is going to do next! These chicken fingers do sound delicious though!

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  22. I've never tried Panko bread crumbs...being a poor college student I generally stick to store brand!

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  23. And I just liked you on Facebook!

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  24. And I'm a subscriber to RSS (I think...at least I follow your blog on Blogger...not sure if there is a difference)

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  25. LOVE panko! I put them on zucchini slices and bake them in the oven! Just like fries!

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  26. I love panko breadcrumbs! I use them pretty much anytime a recipe calls for breadcrumbs. :)

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  27. I subscribe to your rss feed. Thanks for hosting this giveaway.

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  28. I've used panko bread crumbs twice: once to make cocnut crispy shrip, and eggplant parm.

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  29. I love panko breadcrumbs. Used it for years dip large shrimp in tempura batter, dredge in panko crumbs and deep fry till lightly browner. Drain on a bakers rack. Enjoy!

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  30. I've only tried panko with eggplant parmesan. I would love to try these chicken tenders!

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  31. I've used Panko hundreds of times. We love the simple, light flavor and crunch it imparts. Our favorite use for them at the moment: chicken schnitzel. Delicious!

    Cheers,

    *heather*

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  32. I use them to bread anything from chicken and fish, to tofu fingers...I've also used them as a great filler for crabcakes and tuna/salmon cakes (great way to stretch the meat!).

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  33. I've never used Panko before, but I'd love to try them! My family loves Tilapia, and I think Panko would work great!

    mdlangmead at gmail dot com

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  34. Liked you on Facebook!

    mdlangmead at gmail dot com

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  35. I love them on my stuffed mushrooms.
    mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net

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  36. I subscribe through google. Thanks!
    mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net

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  37. i have used panko quite a bit, i love it in meatballs!

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  38. my husband uses them all the time...our favorite is mango chicken....he breads the chicken and then sautees it in a sauce of mango jam and soy sauce....it is amazing!

    ykatrina at hotmail dot com

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  39. Your chicken tenders look so yummy. I'm a sucker for any food that gets dipped. :)

    I love panko...I use it mostly for topping pasta or as a coating when I'm pan-frying chicken breasts.

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  40. I subscribe to your RSS feed through google reader.

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  41. I use Panko crumbs a lot. I make oven baked chicken fingers, much like the recipe that you just posted. I also put them into meatballs instead of bread crumbs.

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  42. I have used Pankco bread crumbs on chicken fingers. They are yummy! cityplanner03@gmail.com

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  43. I subscribe to your RSS feed through google reader. cityplanner03@gmail.com

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  44. I love panko crumbs. I use them for breading and meatballs. I really love the texture.
    -carriechilton@gmail.com

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  45. I've used panko as breading before. Love them for that. I've also used them in something but can't remember what. I think it was zucchini pancakes.

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  46. I love panko! Especially on pan fried fish - yum!

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  47. I use panko in a similar way to your recipe. I usually mix panko with some fresh grated parmesan and herbs and use it to bread chicken, which I then cook in a little melted butter with lemon juice and garlic until they're browned on both sides, then I finish them off in the oven. Easy and delicious!

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  48. I brought my daughter from the hospital exactly 2 months ago and I still can't believe I'm her mother :))) I wonder if she's going to be another foodie in our family. Thank you for the great recipe, I've been looking for more chicken recipes as I need to eat a lot of chicken to encourage lactation! ;-)

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  49. I have used them to make Chicken Parmesan and fish (which didn't turn out so great--but I don't blame the crumbs.) I can't wait to make these tenders! They look so good--and so very crowd pleasing.

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  50. ...and of course you are snug in my feed.

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  51. I just tried panko for the first time last week in pretzel baked chicken. It was great and I can't wait to give this recipe a try too!

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  52. I used them to make mozzarella sticks...they were delicious.

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  53. I use them on shrimp and bake in the oven. The shrimp comes out ral crispy.

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  54. I've used it on shrimp and on chicken. It's so much more fun than bread crumbs.

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  55. The homemade chicken tenders look great. I like to make them homemade too! Don't give up on your toddler's changing food habits. My daughter was eating all kinds of great food as a baby and then wanted to quit eating a lot of it when she turned 2. She spent the day with a sitter and I had a hard time controlling what she actually ate during the day. A year later she wouldn't hardly eat anything except pasta and chicken nuggets. She's almost 10 years old now and we're still fighting with her about eating different foods. I always wish I would've handled it different back then. Stay your ground :) It will be worth it.

    I love panko and use it in place of breadcrumbs as a binder and also as a coating. It's fantastic!

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  56. I love using Panko bread crumbs to make chicken parmesan! Yum!

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  57. My baby is 21 and chicken fingers are still his favorite food. :)

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  58. oh the joys of motherhood, I have been really lucky with my girls, they eat everything, but they do love their chicken nuggets..and we always use panko to make them,..they do get really crispy, so I always have them onhand..great giveaway
    sweetlife

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  59. I have only used panko once and it didn't go so well... maybe it is time for another go!

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  60. I love panko! My favorite use is chicken parmesan and green beans parmesan.

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  61. I love panko too! If I don't have any from scratch breadcrumbs, it's what I grab at the store.

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  62. I've never used them but would love to try them in this recipe.

    katiemur@gmail.com

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  63. I follow you on Facebook.

    katiemur@gmail.com

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  64. I've never used them before but heard such great things, would love to try them!

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  65. I love using panko bread crumbs as a coating for pork chops that have been rubbed with a mustard-based spice mixture.

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  66. Panko is so handy to have in the pantry. I made baked zucchini fries to dip in marinara - delish!

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  67. Panko bread crumbs are the BEST as a topping for mac and cheese--no doubt!

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  68. I follow you on Twitter :)

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  69. I hear you! I have a 2 yr old kiddo and she is just the same. She was a good eater until she was 15 mths old and I used to feel proud and glad:) But then things started to change. Give her the tastiest of the things and she will spit opting to eat bland pasta w/o any sauce. I guess that's how they are!

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  70. Never used Panko bread crumbs before. Would love to try.

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  71. I always use them to make onion rings!

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  72. I've never used them but i totally wish I had some right now to make these chicken fingers for the kiddos!!!

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  73. I have never cooked with panko bread crumbs before but I'd love to try to make those chicken tender!

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  74. I use them to make homemade fish sticks that are baked in the oven - delicious!

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  75. I use them to coat my chicken, there great!
    tshaw6580@yahoo.com

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  76. I follow you on twitter
    tshaw6580@yahoo.com

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  77. I follow you on facebook
    tshaw6580@yahoo.com

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  78. I follow your RSS feed with my google reader
    tshaw6580@yahoo.com

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  79. I love panko breadcrumbs. I use them in my meatloaf cupcakes and panko makes them so much more moist!!

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  80. I love Michael! I use panko breadcrumbs on top of my baked mac & cheese! It definitely is the best combo!

    I also use them in my meatballs - keeps it light!

    email: oliepants@gmail.com

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  81. I've never used them before but have been meaning to hunt them down in my local grocery store for a while now. All my Canadian friends swear by them, so I figure it's about time I try them out.

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  82. And following you on Twitter now, too, woo!

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  83. I love to cover the shrimp I use in a scampi dish with panko crumbs. It gives an extra crunch that makes the meal!

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  84. I have never used the panko crumbs before. I will have to give them a try sometime.

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  85. I use panko in baked vegetable tempura, black bean patties, pan-fried flounder, etc. It's great stuff!

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  86. although i've heard great things about them, i've never actually used panko crumbs. sad, right?
    on a happy note, i was and still am a chicken nugget gal, and these are great!

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  87. I've not tried these but I would love to!

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  88. I am following you on twitter @rusthawk.

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  89. I am subscribed to your RSS feed.

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  90. I have used the plain flavored panko...I use them to top casseroles to give them a nice crunchy topping. Great giveaway, thanks.

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  91. Panko is A-mazing. First time I used them was on homemade fried zucchini. Yum. I also love Panko on chicken, sometimes it's a nice alternative to bread crumbs.

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  92. The way it looks crisp is what makes one drool.

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  93. I love panko bread crumbs on top of macaroni and cheese.

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  94. I love to use panko for ANY kind of coating - on fish, on chicken or pork, or even as a crumbly topping on casseroles. My fiancee doesn't like them much though. I swear sometimes I think that man is crazy!

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