Recipe: Italian Bread Crumb Chicken Strips

Recipe: Italian Bread Crumb Chicken Strips

Imagine stumbling upon a recipe that elevates your favorite chicken strips to a whole new level of deliciousness – all thanks to one surprising ingredient: sour cream. It all started with a simple craving for that classic breaded flavor, but without the fuss of using flour and buttermilk. That's when the idea struck me to try Italian breadcrumbs instead. But I needed something to keep the flavor and texture just right. Enter sour cream, the unsung hero of this recipe.

Sour cream might seem like an unlikely addition, but its creamy texture and subtle tang turned out to be the missing piece of the puzzle. It not only helped bind the breadcrumbs to the chicken but also added a richness and depth of flavor that left me craving more.

So, if you're like me, someone who loves to experiment in the kitchen without all the fancy culinary expertise, this recipe is for you. With sour cream as its secret weapon, it's easy to achieve that perfect balance of crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. 

Ingredients:

• 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into long strips
• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Vegetable oil or preferred cooking oil for frying
• Optional: additional seasonings of choice (such as Italian seasoning, paprika, or Parmesan cheese)
• Optional: butter for frying

Instructions:

Prepare the Chicken Strips:

1. Slice the chicken breasts into long strips, about 1 inch wide.
2. Season the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Optionally, you can use a meat tenderizer to tenderize the chicken.
3. Prepare the Dredging Station: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and sour cream until well combined.
4. In another shallow bowl or plate, spread out the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.
5. Dredge the Chicken Strips: Dip each seasoned chicken strip into the egg and sour cream mixture, ensuring it's fully coated.
6. Then, dredge the chicken strip in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere the crumbs to the chicken. Ensure each strip is evenly coated with breadcrumbs.
7. Cooking the Chicken Strips: In a large skillet, heat enough vegetable oil to cover the bottom of the pan over medium-high heat. If using butter, melt it in the skillet over medium heat.
8. Once the oil (or butter) is hot, carefully add the coated chicken strips to the skillet in a single layer, making sure not to overcrowd the pan. Cook in batches if necessary.
9. Fry the chicken strips for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. You may need to adjust the heat to prevent burning if using butter.
10. Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) to ensure doneness.
11. Once cooked, transfer the chicken strips to a wire rack or paper towels to drain any excess oil.

Serve the Italian Bread Crumb Chicken Strips hot with your favorite dipping sauce or alongside a salad or pasta dish.

Not feeling like pan frying? Try the Air fryer version recipe instead!

Italian Bread Crumb Chicken Strips (Air Fryer Version)

Ingredients:

• 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into long strips
• 1 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooking spray or olive oil spray

Instructions:

• Slice the chicken breasts into long strips, about 1 inch wide.
• Season the chicken strips with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Optionally, you can use a meat tenderizer to tenderize the chicken.
• In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and sour cream until well combined.
• In another shallow bowl or plate, spread out the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.
• Dip each seasoned chicken strip into the egg and sour cream mixture, ensuring it's fully coated.
• Then, dredge the chicken strip in the breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere the crumbs to the chicken. Ensure each strip is evenly coated with breadcrumbs.
• Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
• Lightly grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil spray.
• Place the coated chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching or overlapping.
• Cook the chicken strips in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and cooked through.
• Use a meat thermometer to ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) to ensure doneness.

Let me know how this recipe worked for you! Enjoy your homemade Italian Bread Crumb Chicken Strips!