Pretzel Crusted Chicken Tenders

These pretzel crusted chicken bites are a great party appetizer but the family will love them for a main course, too! This recipe is one of my favorite 30 minute meals. It’s quick, easy and super tasty!

I recently saw a recipe for pretzel crusted chicken breasts on Rachel Ray. It inspired me to make a version of it with small pieces of chicken.

These bite sized pieces of chicken make an easy appetizer that can be skewered and dipped into your favorite sauce.

What I love most about these little nuggets is that the center is moist and tender, but the outside has a contrasting crunchy texture. Keep reading for the recipe.

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Ingredients for this pretzel crusted chicken nuggets recipe

To make these pretzel coated chicken bites, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• 1 ½ pounds skinless, boneless chicken tenders
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh basil
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups finely crushed pretzels
• Nonstick coconut oil spray

How to make this homemade chicken nuggets recipe

These pretzel chicken tender bites are baked in the oven. To start, preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Then line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or a sheet of parchment paper.

Take your chicken tenders and cut them into 1 ½ inch pieces. Then you’ll need three bowls to set up your dipping stations.

In the first bowl, combine the flour, salt, and pepper and the fresh herbs. In the second bowl, scramble your eggs. For the third bowl, you’ll need to prepare your crushed pretzels.

Put the pretzels in a plastic bag and roll over it with a heavy duty rolling pin. In a few seconds, you’ll have crushed pretzels just ready for your third dipping station.

Coating the chicken is done in three steps. First, roll the chicken pieces in the seasoned flour bowl.

Then, dip dunk it into the eggs and finally, roll it in the crushed pretzels. All these layers add a lovely to the crunchy texture to the outside.

COOKING TIP: Use two hands for the dipping procedure or you will have a mess. Use your left hand to roll in flour and dip in the egg, and drop them into the pretzels and use the right hand to roll.  Believe me, it will be much less messy!

 

Once you’ve dipped them, put your chicken bites on the prepared baking sheet. Lightly spray each one with nonstick spray. 

I used a coconut oil baking spray. It saves so many calories on oil and gives the finished chicken tenders a lovely crunchy texture.

A spray of coconut oil allows the coating to brown nicely and you won’t miss the extra fat at all. The lack of oil also lets the flavor of the pretzel shine through.

Then bake in your preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove them from the oven, flip them and spray again with cooking spray.

Continue baking until the outside is crisp and the centers are cooked through, about 6-8 minutes more. Be sure the chicken is cooked through.

Remove them from the oven and serve with toothpicks (if you’re making them as an appetizer). Be sure to serve them with with ranch or honey mustard dressing for dipping.

The inside of these pretzel crusted chicken tenders is so unbelievably moist and tender.  

Time for a taste test

Every bite of these delicious pretzel crusted chicken nuggets has a juicy center and loads of crunchy pretzel coating. The crunch is what makes these such a hit at parties.

We know that all kids love chicken nuggets. These homemade pretzel crusted chicken bites add a crunchy pretzel coating and the kids will be asking for you to make them again tonight.

And we don’t have to tell them that these are a healthier version of their favorite. Promise!

These pretzel crusted chicken bites make a great main course, fun lunch and fantastic BBQ party appetizer. They will be gone in seconds!

Serve these delicious chicken bites with a homemade dipping sauce like a homemade ranch dressing, or honey mustard dressing.

Once you have made your own chicken nuggets, you will never want to eat fast food nuggets again. They are that good!

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Looking for an easy appetizer your kids will love? Try making the pretzel crusted chicken bites recipe on Recipes Just 4U! 🥨🍗😋 #EasyAppetizer #ChickenBites #HomemadeChickenNuggets #ChickenNuggetsRecipe Share on X

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