• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

  • New? Start Here
  • Contact

Sweet Peas and Saffron

meal prep recipes for busy people

  • All Recipes
    • Course
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch
      • Dinner
      • Sides
      • Salad
      • Soups & Stews
      • Drinks
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
      • Grill
      • One Pot Meals
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
      • Nut Free
    • Protein
      • Beans
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Lentils
      • Seafood
      • Pork
    • Recipe Index
  • Air Fryer
  • Instant Pot
  • Shop
    • Shop Meal Plans
    • Shop Favorites
  • Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

    Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Home Meal Prep Freezer
5
/5
45 minutes

Healthy Homemade Frozen Chicken Strips

Nut Free Nut Free Freezer Friendly Freezer Meal Prep Meal Prep
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard23 Comments
Posted: 4/18/16 Updated: 8/28/20

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

These healthy homemade frozen chicken strips can go directly from the freezer into your oven! You'll never want to buy the processed store-bought ones again.

Healthy Homemade Frozen Chicken Strips

I was asked this past week where do my recipe ideas come from?

And most of the time, the answer is 'I don't know!', because I get inspiration from everything that I read, everything around me, produce at the grocery store, something I saw on Pinterest, etc. It all just kind of soaks into my brain, and a recipe idea comes together!

However, in the case of this recipe, I can tell you: inspired by a true story. And that story involves a 5-pm OMG what's for dinner moment by your's truly, a bag of processed chicken strips, followed by feelings of remorse.

How to make frozen chicken strips

How to make frozen chicken strips in the oven

In all truthfulness, those store-bought chicken strips are delicious. Salty deliciousness, with that crispy breading and always perfectly tender interior.

But I'm always left wondering what exactly I just ate, why do they taste so $%^& delicious?! And do you want to read the ingredients on the packaging? No. Trust me, just don't.

So this recipe is inspired by my attempt to see if I could make a healthier version of those chicken strips, using real ingredients and chicken breasts.

I tried out a similar breading technique as I did for these Lemon Parmesan Chicken Strips, and guess what?? I CAN!

How to make homemade chicken strips Healthy Homemade Frozen Chicken Strips that can go directly from the freezer into the oven! Made with chicken breast and whole wheat Panko.

You guys. These chicken strips turned out way better than I could have imagined!

They have the crispy exterior, and are soooo moist. Ben and I were both astounded at how moist these stayed!

These healthy homemade frozen chicken strips were SUPER easy to make: roll in some flour, toss in some egg, then coat in a seasoned Panko mixture. I froze mine on a plate for 3-4 hours before transferring to a large plastic bag. It's really that simple!

I hope you love them as much as I do!

 

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

hand dipping a whole wheat chicken strip into sauce

Healthy Homemade Frozen Chicken Strips

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 25 mins
Total Time: 45 mins
Print Rate
These healthy homemade frozen chicken strips are made with chicken breasts and whole wheat Panko, and they can go directly from the freezer to the oven!
4

Ingredients

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • ½ cup all purpose flour
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup whole wheat Panko regular works fine as well
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon garlic salt

Instructions 

  • Cut the chicken breasts into 1.5-inch wide strips.
  • Place in three separate shallow bowls the flour, the eggs, and in the third bowl, combine the Panko, salt, pepper and garlic salt.
  • Working in batches of 2-3 strips, first roll in the flour. Tap gently to remove excess.
  • Dredge in the egg, then in the Panko mixture. Place on a plate.
  • Freeze for 3-4 hours, then transfer the chicken strips into a large plastic bag.

To Bake

  • Pre-heat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • When oven is heated, arrange the chicken strips on the baking sheet, leaving a few inches between each one.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, flip, then bake for another 15 minutes.
  • Serve immediately.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 batch, Calories: 256kcal, Carbohydrates: 30g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 5g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 129mg, Sodium: 235mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g
Author: Denise Bustard
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
Tag Me On Instagram Rate Recipe
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Email

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

You May Also Like...

  • A stack of chicken quesadillas on a gray plate
    Healthy Chicken Quesadilla Recipe
  • hand picking up a lime tortilla chicken strip from a pile of them on white plate
    Freezer Tortilla Chicken Strips
  • Close up shot of a whole cooked chicken with a few slices off on a gray plate with fresh thyme
    Instant Pot Whole Chicken (Fresh, Frozen)
  • four glass meal prep containers with satay chicken lunch bowls
    Satay Chicken Meal Prep Lunch Bowls
collage image of foods with text saying healthy slow cooker chicken recipes
Previous Post
29 Healthy Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
three strawberry apple crumble muffins on gray counter with fresh strawberries
Next Post
Healthy Strawberry Apple Crumble Muffins

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Have a question? Submit your question or comment below.

Recipe Rating




  1. Jessica says

    Posted on 8/25/20 at Posted on 8/25/20

    Quick question- why do they need to freeze on a plate before putting them in the bag? Can they go straight into the bag or will they stick together?

    Reply
    • Denise Bustard says

      Posted on 9/1/20 at Posted on 9/1/20

      Hi Jessica! If you put them straight into the bag, they can stick together and the breading can fall off. Freezing on a sheet pan first helps the breading stick to the chicken and prevents the strips from sticking together.

      Reply
  2. Patsy says

    Posted on 4/21/20 at Posted on 4/21/20

    Looked nothing like the picture. Batter didn"t cook. Looked just like it did when placed in the oven. Ended up having to brush oil on them.

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/24/20 at Posted on 4/24/20

      Hi Patsy, that's strange to hear. Did you use Panko breadcrumbs?

      Reply
      • Patsy says

        Posted on 5/13/20 at Posted on 5/13/20

        Yes. When the chicken cooks there is so much coating on them so no moisture to help cook the breading. By brushing with olive oil, they brown nicely. We do like the taste of them though!

        Reply
  3. Teresa says

    Posted on 11/9/18 at Posted on 11/9/18

    I found this recipe a month or so ago and just popped a few in the oven - delicious!
    Have you done this as chicken chunks or "boneless wings"? If so, do you have the cooking time/temp?

    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 11/10/18 at Posted on 11/10/18

      Hi Teresa, glad you enjoyed! I don't have any experience cooking boneless wings, unfortunately. This recipe suggests 375 for 20 minutes, so that might work?

      Reply
  4. Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says

    Posted on 4/21/16 at Posted on 4/21/16

    Call me weird, but I love homemade oven-baked chicken nuggets/strips waaaaay better than the deep-fried takeout stuff. They're seriously SO good and you can eat a zillion of 'em without feeling guilty! Love that these can be popped in the oven straight from the freezer!

    Reply
  5. Denise says

    Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

    I feel like after cooking all day we should have dinner figured out, but sometimes us food bloggers can get a little burnt out around 5pm...ha ha! Thanks Ashley!

    Reply
  6. Ashley@CookNourishBliss says

    Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

    This is SO smart to make and then freeze for later! And so much better than the store-bought kind! I love it!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      Thanks so much Ashley! They have already save me from a 5pm meltdown once this week...ha ha!

      Reply
  7. Helen @ Scrummy Lane says

    Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

    I love the idea of having these stashed away in the freezer for 'chicken emergencies', Denise! I never would have thought of doing that, so thanks for the idea!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      Thanks Helen! They are such a lifesaver!

      Reply
  8. Izzy @ She Likes Food says

    Posted on 4/19/16 at Posted on 4/19/16

    I'm kinda obsessed with the color of that basket lol! It's so pretty! These chicken strips also look really good! My husband is a sucker for anything that is coated with bread crumbs and baked so I know he would love these! And, yes, it's usually better not to read the ingredients on processed food lol!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      It was the Oh Joy! line from Target...before Target left Canada 🙁 THanks, Izzy!

      Reply
  9. olivia - Primavera Kitchen says

    Posted on 4/19/16 at Posted on 4/19/16

    I love this recipe, my dear. It is perfect for a healthy appetizer. Pinned it 😉

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      YES! Thanks so much, Olivia!

      Reply
  10. Rachel @ Bakerita says

    Posted on 4/18/16 at Posted on 4/18/16

    Yeeees I love how quick and simple these are - such a perfect weeknight meal, and they look SO good! I've got to prep some of these soon to keep on hand 🙂

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      Thanks Rachel! I was pleasantly surprised at how moist they ended up 🙂

      Reply
  11. Kelly says

    Posted on 4/18/16 at Posted on 4/18/16

    These chicken strips look perfect and so much better than anything from a package! Love this healthier and freezer-friendly version. They would be a hit at our house!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      Thanks, Kelly! It's so much better knowing what ingredients are in them!

      Reply
  12. Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says

    Posted on 4/18/16 at Posted on 4/18/16

    Homemade chicken strips are SO much better than the take-out kind! I'm loving this freezer version. So perfect for when the cravings strike!

    Reply
    • Denise says

      Posted on 4/20/16 at Posted on 4/20/16

      Totally! I am just happy to know I can make them ahead and freeze them!

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

Hi, I'm Denise

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

Meal Prep

Instant Pot

Air Fryer

Freezer Meals

Slow Cooker

Breakfast

Popular

overhead shot of sweet potatoes lined up with text showing number of minutes to cook each

PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

overhead shot of 7 easy stir fry sauces on gray background

7 Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

overhead shot of a variety of seven easy rice recipes with text description

7 Easy Rice Recipes (Stove Top & Rice Cooker)

5 minute asian salad dressing in a mason jar on gray background

5 Minute Asian Salad Dressing

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Get my free Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Reader Faves

overhead shot of blue mason jar filled with crispy chickpeas

ULTRA Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

a stack of fluffy protein pancakes with blueberries on top and syrup being drizzled over them

Perfect Fluffy Protein Pancakes (no banana!)

ingredients to make greek seasoning blend with labels on white background

Easy Greek Seasoning Blend

collage image that says 25 popular meal prep ideas

25 Most Popular Lunch Meal Prep Ideas

As seen on:

Wondering where to start?

Get my Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

Join My Free Meal Prep Challenge!
  • Browse Recipes
    • Dinner
    • Lunch
    • Breakfast
    • Snacks
    • Drinks
    • Air Fryer
    • Instant Pot
    • Freezer
  • Meal Prep 101
    • Shop Meal Plans
    • Meal Prep Basics
    • Meal Prep Challenge
    • Quick Start Guide
Back to Top

Privacy Policy

Disclaimers

Contact

Accessibility

Causes

About

© 2023 Sweet Peas and Saffron
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled Logo by Wooden Spoons