This Pretzel Crusted Chicken Fingers recipe is crispy, crunchy, and full of flavor. The Homemade Honey Mustard is so creamy. This is an easy, family-friendly meal that is ready and on your table in under 30 minutes.
My kids are big fans of pretzels so this was easy for me to almost trick them into eating this chicken. They kept thinking they were just eating a giant pretzel.
This is such a fun meal to make for the family. If you are on the hunt for more fun family-friendly chicken dishes then you have got to try my Coconut Crusted Chicken Strips and my Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets which is a fan favorite in my house!
Table of contents
Ingredients for pretzel-crusted chicken fingers
Here is a photo of all the ingredients you'll need for this healthy recipe. You can find all the quantities in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- chicken breast - boneless, skinless, fat trimmed off and also pounded and cut into ½ inch thick pieces. See below for how to pound chicken.
- whole wheat flour - the flour is used to dredge the chicken before dipping it into the egg and pretzels.
- chili powder - gives flavor to the pretzel combo giving it a little kick.
- garlic powder - gives that added garlic flavor we all love so much without having the chunks of the minced garlic.
- pretzels - crushed, twisted, sticks, or waffle-shaped are the types of pretzels I've used.
- eggs - lightly beaten
Ingredients for homemade honey mustard
- mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt - the base of the dip. Use plain Greek yogurt for a healthier option.
- pure honey - you can't make honey mustard without honey.
- Dijon mustard - you can't make honey mustard without mustard.
- lemon juice - gives an acidic touch to the dip.
How to make pretzel chicken fingers
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. Then pound the chicken. Follow how to pound the chicken below.
Step 2 - Place pretzels on a paper plate with rimmed edges or in a sealable plastic bag and crush with a meat mallet until coarsely crushed or hand your kids the bag and have them go at it 🙂
Step 3 - Set up your workstation. Pour pretzels into a shallow dish. Beat the eggs in another bowl and then set up a third bowl with the flour, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir the flour with the seasonings to combine well.
Step 4 - Dip the chicken into the flour first and shake off any excess flour then dip in the eggs, then roll in the pretzels. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Coat the chicken with cooking spray and bake for about 20 min or until the internal temperature reaches 165.
Step 5 - Meanwhile, while the chicken bakes make your homemade honey mustard. In a small mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, honey, mustard, and lemon juice. Mix well to combine.
Step 6 - Once the chicken is done cooking remove it from oven and place chicken on serving plates paired with the homemade honey mustard dipping sauce.
How do you pound chicken?
Step 1 - Prepare your work surface by placing a cutting board on a sturdy countertop to avoid slipping.
Step 2 - Trim your chicken into 1 ½-inch strips.
Step 3 - Cover your chicken by placing the chicken between two sheets of plastic wrap or inside a ziplock bag. This helps prevent splattering.
Step 4 - Pound the chicken using the flat side of a meat mallet to gently pound from the center outward. Keep a firm but controlled motion and don't smash too hard or the chicken might tear. Aim for consistency about 1 ½ inches thick.
Step 5 - Remove plastic wrap and start breading!
Substitutions and Variations
Whole Wheat Flour - you can also use all-purpose flour, coconut flour, or almond flour for a gluten-free option.
Air Fry Variation - Cook at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Tips and FAQ's
Yes! Use gluten-free pretzels and almond flour.
Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Also, store the honey mustard in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
You can reheat this chicken in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 5-7 minutes, in the air fryer also at 375 degrees for 3-4 minutes for added crispiness, or in the microwave for a minute and a half.
More easy and kid-friendly recipes you MUST try
If you give this dish a try, don't forget to rate the recipe below! Always love hearing what you all think. You can also Stay in touch with me through social media on @Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my healthy recipes!
Pretzel Crusted Chicken Fingers with Homemade Honey Mustard
Equipment
- cutting board
- meat mallet
- baking pans
- mixing bowls
Ingredients
- For the chicken
- 4 large chicken breasts boneless, skinless, fat trimmed off and pounded into ½ inch think pieces.
- 1 cup whole wheat flour or almond flour as a gluten-free option
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
- 3 cups pretzels crushed, you can use twists, sticks, or waffle shaped pretzels
- 2 eggs lightly beaten
- For the honey mustard
- ½ cup mayonnaise or plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup pure honey
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard
- ½ tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed or from a bottle
Instructions
- Step 1 - Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and grease a baking sheet or line with parchment paper. Then pound the chicken. Follow how to pound the chicken below.
- Step 2 - Place pretzels on a paper plate with rimmed edges or in a sealable plastic bag and crush with a meat mallet until coarsely crushed or hand your kids the bag and have them go at it 🙂
- Step 3 - Set up your workstation. Pour pretzels into a shallow dish. Beat the eggs in another bowl and then set up a third bowl with the flour, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir the flour with the seasonings to combine well.
- Step 4 - Dip the chicken into the flour first and shake off any excess flour then dip in the eggs, then roll in the pretzels. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Coat the chicken with cooking spray and bake for about 20 min or until the internal temperature reaches 165.
- Step 5 - Meanwhile, while the chicken bakes, make your homemade honey mustard. In a small mixing bowl combine mayonnaise, honey, mustard, and lemon juice. Mix well to combine.
- Step 6 - Once the chicken is done cooking remove it from oven and place chicken on serving plates paired with the homemade honey mustard dipping sauce.
Notes
- Crush the pretzels in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin or their hands.
- Help dip chicken pieces into flour (with supervision).
- Hand you ingredients or utensils.
- Crack and whisk eggs in a bowl.
- Dip chicken pieces into the egg wash.
- Press chicken into the crushed pretzel coating.
- Cut chicken into strips (if comfortable with a kid-safe knife).
- Mix seasonings into the pretzel coating.
- Help arrange coated chicken on a baking sheet.
Nutrition
Jillian is the creator of Jillian's Healthful Eats. She is the one who cooks all the meals, develops all the recipes, takes all the photographs, and washes all the dishes! She is a very busy wife and mother of 4 who enjoys cooking with her children and instilling in them her love for health and nutrition!
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