Quick and Easy Garlic Baked Chicken Fingers

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 08/20/22
Quick and Easy Garlic Baked Chicken Fingers

The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
349 Calories
19g Fat
16g Carbs
27g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 349
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 25%
Saturated Fat 6g 31%
Cholesterol 82mg 27%
Sodium 235mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 16g 6%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Protein 27g
Calcium 109mg 8%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Garlic adds flavor to these crispy oven-fried chicken strips, along with a variety of herbs and Parmesan cheese.

Use half panko crumbs in the recipe for an extra crispy coating. The panko bread crumbs make them super crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside. If you prefer a cornflake crumb coating, add some to the breading mixture or replace the breadcrumbs and panko with them. The pictured chicken strips were made with half panko and half fine dry breadcrumbs.

These chicken strips make a tasty snack for a game day gathering or enjoy them with French fries or chips for an everyday family meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 4 to 6 boneless chicken breast halves, without skin, about 1 1/2 pounds
  • 1 cup fine dry bread crumbs (part panko if possible)
  • 1/3 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese (or about 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese)
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried leaf basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Dash freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Quick and Easy Garlic Baked Chicken Fingers ingredients

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  2. Line a rimmed baking pan with foil and lightly grease or spray it with nonstick cooking spray. Heat the oven to 375 F / 190 C / Gas 5.

    aluminum foil lined baking sheet

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  3. In a small skillet over medium-low heat, melt the butter with the olive oil; add the minced garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and set aside.

    butter and olive oil in a pan

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  4. Cut the chicken breasts into strips about 1 1/2-by-4-inches, and try to keep them somewhat uniform in size.

    chicken cut into pieces

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  5. In a plate or shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper. Stir the mixture until well blended.

    combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, parsley, basil, salt, and pepper in a bowl

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  6. Dip the chicken pieces in the garlic and oil mixture to coat thoroughly, then dip them in the bread crumb mixture, turning until well coated. 

    chicken covered with breadcrumb mixture

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  7. Arrange the chicken strips on the prepared baking pan; bake for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of pieces, until chicken is cooked through.

    breaded chicken on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

  8. The temperature of the chicken should register at least 160 F on a food thermometer inserted into the thickest piece of chicken (not touching the pan).

    Quick and Easy Garlic Baked Chicken Fingers on a baking sheet

    The Spruce / Karen Hibbard

Tip

  • Flatten the chicken breasts slightly to an even thickness before cutting them into strips. To flatten, place a chicken breast between sheets of plastic wrap and lightly pound with the flat side of a meat tenderizer or with a heavy object.

Recipe Variations

  • Use all or part cornflake crumbs in place of the bread crumbs.
  • For extra tangy flavor, add a few teaspoons of Dijon mustard to the melted butter and garlic mixture before dipping the chicken.