feeding my obsession. [quinoa crusted chicken strips w. bbq honey mustard]
I’ve always been obsessed with chicken tenders–served with lots of ranch, of course. Growing up, my brothers and I ordered chicken fingers every time our family went out to dinner…every time. But one night at dinner, my mom forced us to order something else on the menu. We had no idea what to get!
A few years ago, my mom fed my obsession and sent me a three-ingredient recipe for homemade chicken strips. Since then, these chicken tenders have been my go-to recipe for game day appetizers or dinner parties; that was until I found this recipe for quinoa crusted chicken strips. Although more labor intensive than the other recipe, these chicken strips were incredibly flavorful and delicious, especially when paired with the slightly sweet BBQ honey mustard.
- Quinoa crusted chicken strips recipe:
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- 1½ lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- ½ cup low-fat buttermilk
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1 tsp. salt
- BBQ honey mustard recipe:
- ⅓ cup Dijon mustard
- ¼ cup honey
- 3 tbsp. BBQ sauce
- Juice of ½ lime
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.
- Spread the cooked quinoa on the prepared baking sheet and bake until toasted, golden brown and crispy, 25-30 minutes. Let cool, then transfer all but ⅓ cup to a food processor. Process the quinoa until half of it is ground into flour, and the other half is in small pieces, 1-2 minutes.
- Increase oven temperature to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet (might need two) with foil and spray with olive oil.
- Add the quinoa crumbs and the reserved ⅓ cup of quinoa to a large bowl, then add the Panko bread crumbs. Season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- For the BBQ honey mustard: In a medium bowl, combine the Dijon mustard, honey, BBQ sauce and lime juice. Mix well and season with salt and pepper. Set aside
- In a separate bowl, combine the buttermilk and ¼ cup of the BBQ honey mustard sauce (recipe below). Add chicken strips to the mixture and coat.
- Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, then dredge in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Place chicken on the prepared baking sheet or sheets. Repeat process until all the chicken has been used.
- Bake chicken for 10-12 minutes, then gently flip using tongs and bake for another 10-12 minutes. Remove chicken from oven and serve with the remaining BBQ honey mustard.
