Chicken Fingers and French Fries… The healthier way.


This recipe may be the reason I haven't gained 30 pounds yet during this pregnancy :)
I hardly EVER crave fast food but just like during Ryan's pregnancy I have craved chicken nuggets and french fries for a few months now!
My sweet husband knows it's so "not me" to head out to fast food and get chicken nuggets ( HA I'm so embarrassed to say I have never done that ) so I have perfected them at home.
Naturally, I make this dinner about once a week these days HA.

It is one of Aaron's all-time favorites ( he requests it all the time ) and my Ryan loves it more than the fries and chicken nuggets from Chick-fi-la.

It's one of the easiest things you will ever make and SO SO tasty!
I hope you love it as much as we do.

The chicken finger recipe credit goes to my incredible mamma!
Teaching us healthy eating from a young age, we hardly ever went to fast food joints and she made it all freshly BAKED ( not fried ) at home!
I grew up on these things!

As far as the fries - I just kind of made them up and they are wonderful so we go with it!



Make French Fries First.


Step 1 : Peel Potatoes

Step 2 : Cut potatoes into strips

Step 3 : Spray cooking sheet with PAM and sprinkle potatoes with Kosher Salt.


Step 4 : Cook at 475 degrees for about 40 minutes.
( After about 20 minutes turn fries to the opposite side with spatula )
The fries should almost be looking burnt and be very crispy :)


Like so ^^ Wahhhhlaaa.



Baked Chicken Fingers
Recipe for 2 LARGE chicken breasts
( If I am making more than 2 LARGE Chicken Breasts I double the mixture recipe :)


Step 1 : Cut fat off chicken breasts, wash chicken and cut chicken into strips.
I like the strips really thin!


Step 2 : Get 2 bowls.

In BOWL ONE COMBINE-

1 CUP Italian Bread Crumbs
2 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 teaspoon Garlic Powder


BOWL TWO -
Pour a little olive oil in bowl two.


Should look something like this ^^

Step 3 : LIGHTLY ( emphasize LIGHTLY ) baste chicken with olive oil. The chicken will be slightly damp from washing and doesn't need a lot of olive oil. The crumbs mixture will stick :)

Step 4 : Then toss chicken ( one by one ) in bread crumb mixture.

Step 5 : Spray Cookie Sheet with PAM ( I use foil and then spray foil with PAM - just to prevent sticking! )


Step 6 : Bake at 350 Degrees for 20-25 minutes.
After about 25 minutes I put the oven up to BROIL and leave them in for another two minutes.
It's the BEST when they get really crispy on the outside!


WAAHHLLAAA! 
Serve with ketchup. :) 
( and we are guac addicts so we make fresh guacamole with everything - I would HIGHLY recommend fresh guac with these chicken fingers! )

P.S.  Some people have asked what I do for veggies on the side of a meal. I grew up ALWAYS having a veggie at dinner!
Usually I will make a green salad for Aaron and I but this time around I just steamed some carrots and broccoli.
Ryan LOVES steamed carrots so that's one way I can get him to eat veggies!


I LOVE this meal because it is kid, husband, and health friendly all around!
I hope you enjoy our family fav!!

P.S. We go in for our anatomy scan TOMORROW to find out the gender of our baby!
I can hardly stand it I'm so excited to see this sweet baby of ours!
Keep up with my Instagram for updates! AH!

Karina Marie Powell

10 comments:

  1. Thanks for the recipe, can't wait to try it! So excited to hear what you are having! I am 22 weeks along with a baby girl (we have 2 boys and 1 girl already). Thanks for keeping me inspired to keep up my running and LOVE every recipe we have tried (especially the pizza and PB smoothie!)!

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  2. Mmmm yummy! Can't wait to try this.
    Im so excited to hear what you're having! I'm 23 weeks along now and we found out we are having a girl just 4 weeks ago! So I understand your excitement. Enjoy!

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  3. AMAZING recipe! I can't wait to try it out x

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  4. I am going to try this! My family loooves fried chicken in any form so this is perfect!

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  5. trying these asap! you need to post more of your healthy recipes! i've loved every one I've tried! that chili soup you posted awhile ago is still one of our faves!

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  6. Yum! I have been making baked chicken fingers at home since Mia was born (I never really went out for them before, but love that you've NEVER done that!) but I'm loving the option of having 2 different recipes for this! That just means I can make it more often because it's always a hit with my people when I do!
    Also, the fries!! Can't wait to try making them asap! I always do homemade tortilla chips/strips now because of you ;)

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  7. Any suggestions on how to go about cooking them when you only have one oven... Since they are at different temperatures?

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    1. Nicole! Yes, I just cook the fries first, put them in a dish and cover them so they stay warm and then change the oven temp and cook the chicken. :) The chicken cooks quicker, hence why I do the chicken last. One day we will have a double oven :) HA

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  8. I am going to try this!! My daughter loves chicken fingers and if I can do a healthier version, then I'll be so happy!! Do you have a recipe for your guac?

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    1. YES! You should totally try it! Ryan loves them so much! I do, I will be posting soon! My husband is the guac master and I will make him write it down!! Thank you for the suggestion, I really appreciate it!

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