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homemade shake and bake chicken breast tenders in basket with sauce
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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Shake ‘n Bake Coating Mix (Perfect for Chicken Nuggets, Strips, and More!)

Skip the store-bought and make your own all-purpose breading mix! This homemade version works wonders on chicken, fish, pork chops—you name it!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Breading Mix
Cuisine: American
Servings: 32
Calories: 74kcal
Cost: Varies

Ingredients

  • 4 cups dry bread crumbs
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp celery salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic salt
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp granulated dry onion
  • 1 pinch dried basil leaves
  • 1 pinch dried parsley
  • 1 pinch dried oregano

Instructions

Making the Homemade Shake 'N Bake Coating Mix

  • Combine all ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag. Close it tight and shake, shake, shake until everything’s well mixed.
  • Need some now? Go ahead and take what you need. Store the rest in a tightly sealed container or bag in the fridge. This mix lasts up to six months in the pantry, or even longer in the fridge.

Preparing the Shake and Bake Chicken Breast Tenders

  • Preheat your oven to 400°F.
  • Cut your chicken breasts into strips or nuggets.
  • Place about one cup of the coating mix into a clean plastic bag—just the right amount for a 3-pound chicken or 6 to 8 pieces. Add a few pieces of chicken at a time (3 or 4 works best), seal the bag, and give it a good shake until each piece is evenly coated.
  • Lay the coated chicken pieces in a single layer on a foil-lined baking sheet.
  • Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the chicken is perfectly cooked through.
  • Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces (recipes below!)

Notes

Note: The Nutrition Info below is for the Shake 'N Bake coating mix only.

Chicken Nuggets or Chicken Strips:

  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-size nuggets or strips)
  • 1 1/2 cups Shake ‘n Bake Homemade Coating Mix (recipe above)
Follow the baking instructions from above, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try the next recipe for fried chicken fingers!

Fried Chicken Fingers

For the crispy fried chicken lovers out there, this recipe’s got a secret weapon: a buttermilk marinade. It’s finger-licking good!
Ingredients:
  • 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into 1/2-inch strips)
  • 1 egg (beaten)
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 quart oil (for frying)
Instructions:
  1. Place the chicken strips in a large resealable plastic bag.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg, buttermilk, and garlic powder. Pour this marinade into the bag with the chicken, seal, and refrigerate for 2-4 hours.
  3. In another resealable plastic bag, mix the flour, bread crumbs, salt, and baking powder.
  4. Drain the chicken, discarding the buttermilk. Toss the chicken pieces in the flour mixture, seal the bag, and shake to coat.
  5. Heat oil in a large skillet to 375°F. Fry the coated chicken in batches, cooking until golden brown (about 7 minutes) and the juices run clear.
  6. Drain on a cooling rack or paper towels, and get ready to dig in!

 

Dipping Sauces

Every great chicken finger deserves a sidekick, right? These sauces are all about personal preference, so feel free to tweak them to suit your taste buds.
Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce:
  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup white vinegar
  • 2/3 cup water
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp ketchup
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  1. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine all ingredients.
  2. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly until the sauce thickens.
Honey-Mustard Dipping Sauce:
  • 1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp prepared yellow mustard
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 1/2 tsp lemon juice
  1. Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving. It’s the perfect tangy-sweet combo!
Asian Dipping Sauce:
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce
  • 1/2 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 clove garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp chopped green onions
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 2 tbsp Hoisin sauce
  • 1/4 tsp minced fresh ginger (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp sugar
  1. Mix all ingredients together in a bowl until well combined.
  2. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours to let the flavors blend. Heat before serving if you like it warm!

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving coating mix | Calories: 74kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 756mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 108IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
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