Thai Sticky Chicken Fingers (Printable)
Golden chicken fingers with a crispy coconut-panko crust, glazed in sweet chili Thai sauce with hints of garlic, ginger, and lime.
# What You'll 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 + 1 tbsp 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 black pepper.
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, then coat thoroughly with panko mixture. Place on the prepared baking sheet.
05 - Spray or brush the coated chicken lightly 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 a 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 the sticky Thai sauce over and toss gently until each piece is evenly coated.
08 - Arrange on a serving platter, sprinkle with fresh cilantro and toasted sesame seeds. Serve immediately with lime wedges on the side.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The way the panko and coconut create this shatteringly crispy exterior that somehow survives the sauce
- This sauce balances sweet heat and tang so perfectly youll want to drizzle it on everything
02 -
- The sauce thickens quickly as it cools so toss the chicken immediately while everythings hot
- Letting breaded chicken sit for 10 minutes before baking helps the coating adhere better
03 -
- Work with one hand for wet ingredients and one for dry to keep your breading station neat
- Line your baking sheet with fresh parchment after flipping to avoid any sticking from the first side