Thai Sticky Chicken Fingers (Printable Version)

Crispy breaded chicken tossed in sweet, spicy Thai-inspired glaze

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.3 lbs chicken tenders or breast strips
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/2 tsp black pepper

→ Breading

04 - 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
07 - 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

→ Sticky Thai Sauce

08 - 1/3 cup sweet chili sauce
09 - 3 tbsp soy sauce
10 - 2 tbsp honey
11 - 2 tbsp rice vinegar
12 - 1 tbsp sriracha
13 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
14 - 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
15 - Juice of 1 lime

→ Garnish

16 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
17 - 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
18 - Lime wedges

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly oil it.
02 - Pat the chicken strips dry with paper towels. Season evenly with salt and pepper on both sides.
03 - Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs mixed with shredded coconut.
04 - Dredge each chicken strip in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with panko mixture. Place on prepared baking sheet.
05 - Lightly spray or brush coated chicken with oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, turning once halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
06 - While chicken bakes, combine sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sriracha, garlic, ginger, and lime juice in small saucepan. Simmer over medium heat for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly until slightly thickened.
07 - Transfer hot baked chicken fingers to a large bowl. Pour sticky Thai sauce over and toss gently until evenly coated.
08 - Arrange coated chicken on serving platter. Sprinkle with fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce balances sweet, spicy, and tangy so perfectly youll want to put it on everything
  • Baked instead of fried means way less mess but still that irresistible crunch
02 -
  • Dry chicken is non-negotiable, any moisture and the breading will separate during baking
  • Let the sauce cool for just a minute before tossing, it thickens up slightly and clings better
03 -
  • Use one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep your fingers from getting completely coated in breading
  • Press the panko mixture firmly onto each piece, dont just sprinkle it on