These Smart Chicken fingers will be the hit at your next Halloween
party or gathering. Actually, they are perfect served anytime of the
year, just leave off the novelty rings and you have a really tasty
appetizer.
1 cup mayonnaise, (I prefer Hellman's)
Sea salt or kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Dash garlic powder
Milk
1 package boneless Smart Chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders
2 cups panko or bread crumbs
Vegetable spray, (Pam)
Plastic Halloween spider rings, or other Halloween novelty rings
Ranch dressing, recipe below
- Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with
parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise and
seasonings, to taste. Thin this mixture with a little milk, one
tablespoon at a time, until you get the consistency of heavy cream.
- Cut the Smart Chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders into thick
strips. You might want to cut strips in half to make smaller
appetizers. Drop the Smart Chicken strips into the bowl and coat them
well with the seasoned mayonnaise. Cover and refrigerate for at least 5
minutes or up to 1 hour.
- Pour the Panko or bread crumbs onto a plate and toss the Smart
Chicken strips well to completely cover them. Put them onto a nonstick
baking sheet. Mist lightly with non-vegetable cooking spray. Place
into the oven. Bake for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until the Smart
Chicken is nicely browned and reaches a temperature of at least 165
degrees F. when a digital thermometer is inserted into each one. When
Smart Chicken is done, put a Halloween novelty ring onto each Smart
Chicken finger and place on serving platter. Serve with homemade or
store-bought Ranch dressing. Makes approximately 8-12 Smart Chicken
appetizers.
Note: You can use any seasoning you like, such as Italian seasoning, curry, steak seasoning, etc.
Ranch Dressing:
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup mayonnaise, I prefer Hellman's
1/4 to 1/3 cup buttermilk
2 Tablespoons Italian (flat-leaf) parsley, minced
2 Tablespoons fresh chives, minced
1 green onion, trimmed and very thinly sliced
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
Freshly ground black pepper
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the garlic, salt, mayonnaise, 1/4
cup buttermilk, parsley, chives, green onions, vinegar and pepper to
taste. If the sauce is very thick, thin the dressing with a couple
tablespoons more of the buttermilk. Use immediately or store covered,
in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days. Serve with Smart Chicken
fingers.
