Chinese Chicken Fingers - The Cozy Cook (2024)

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by Stephanie on August 29, 2017 (Updated September 13, 2023)246*This post may contain affiliate links. Read more »

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These homemade Chinese chicken fingers are JUST like from a restaurant. Crispy and golden on the outside and filled with juicy chicken on the inside. Perfect with sweet and sour sauce!

Be sure to try my Crispy Crab Rangoon and Chicken Fried Rice!

Okay. I have a question for you guys. It’s about Chinese Chicken Fingers. (Go figure.)

…Do they haveChicken Fingers like this on the Chinese food menu by you? (And if I may, where are you from?)

I’m beginning to wonder if this is a regional thing, because if it is, then you’re going to have to move to New Hampshire.

The thick, golden brown batter is so crunchy and satisfying, I don’t even know how I managed to take a picture of these without just dropping my camera and mowing them down. (It wasn’t easy.)

The secret to these guys is in the self rising flour.

Self Rising Flour vs. All Purpose Flour

  • Self rising flour contains a leavening agent that helps make baked goods rise. It’s often used to make biscuits and other fluffy baked goods.

Homemade Self Rising Flour

  • 1 + 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt for each cup of flour.

Chinese Chicken Fingers - The Cozy Cook (2)

Try These Next!

Sweet and Sour Chicken
Crab Rangoon
Firecracker Chicken

Chicken Fried Rice
Chinese Chicken Salad
Beef and Broccoli

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Chinese Chicken Fingers - The Cozy Cook (9)

Chinese Chicken Fingers

4.92 from 59 ratings

Servings: 25 chicken fingers

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These homemade Chinese chicken fingers are JUST like from a restaurant. Crispy and golden on the outside and filled with juicy chicken on the inside. Perfect with sweet and sour sauce!

Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

  • 2 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup self-rising flour
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1.5 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 cup Seltzer water
  • 1 quart canola oil

Instructions

  • Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl and mix them until well-combined.

  • Slowly add the seltzer water and mix until well combined. The batter should be slightly thicker than pancake batter. If needed, add more seltzer water or flour to adjust the consistency.

  • Cut the chicken into strips and sprinkle with salt.

  • Dunk the chicken into the batter, ensure each piece is thoroughly covered.

  • Carefully lower the chicken into a preheated deep fryer and cook for about 10 minutes, until golden brown. They will be white for a while before they turn brown and start to look like real chicken fingers, have faith and be patient. You want that rich gold color! Serve warm, with sweet and sour sauce.

Notes

You want a nice, thick batter. To thicken more, add more flour. To decrease in thickness, add more seltzer water.

You'll need an oil thermometer if you’re not using a Deep fryer. Bring the heat up slowly until the oil is between 350 and 375 degrees F.

Be sure to try my Popcorn Chicken recipe next!

Nutrition

Calories: 117kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 10g, Cholesterol: 5mg, Sodium: 150mg, Potassium: 35mg, Vitamin A: 5IU, Vitamin C: 0.1mg, Iron: 0.1mg

Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Chinese

Author: Stephanie

30 Minute Meals Appetizers + Snacks Chicken Recipes Copycat Recipes Dinner New Years Recipes Our Favorite Recipes Side Dishes Takeout Recipes

posted by Stephanie on August 29, 2017 — 246 Comments »

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246 comments on “Chinese Chicken Fingers”

  1. Maureen January 17, 2024 @ 2:01 am Reply

    This is for the person asking what to use in place of seltzer. I have been making homemade chicken fingers for 38 years and I always use ice water instead of seltzer. The baking powder gives the batter lift without needing carbonation.

    • Stephanie January 17, 2024 @ 10:14 am Reply

      Ice water can be used, yes! But the carbonation in seltzer provides additional benefits aside from additional lift, (though the additional airy lift is fantastic)! The carbonation also helps reduce the gluten development, which makes the finished product less chewy.

  2. Robyn Perkins November 8, 2023 @ 10:59 am Reply

    I never have seltzer water, what can I use instead, sprite?

    • Stephanie November 8, 2023 @ 11:07 am Reply

      Hi Robyn! I have never used Sprite, I’m very intrigued by that idea! I would love to hear how it goes if you try it!!

Chinese Chicken Fingers - The Cozy Cook (2024)

FAQs

How long to cook store bought chicken fingers? ›

Preferred Method.
  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Place frozen chicken strips on baking sheet.
  3. Heat 18 to 20 minutes.

How do Chinese get their chicken so crispy? ›

The chicken is then air-dried for 10 to 12 hours before being flash-fried, then oil-poached. The skin gets its signature crispiness from 10 to 12 minutes of basting with scalding hot oil right before serving.

How many calories are in one Chinese chicken finger? ›

It has also known chicken tenders, chicken goujons, chicken, chicken strips, tenders, chicken fillets, or chicken fritter. Chicken Finger (1 piece) 220.0 calories, 120.0 calories from fat.

What are Chinese chicken fingers made of? ›

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, combine the egg and beer, then mix it into the flour mixture. Season your chicken with salt and pepper and lightly flour. Heat your oil to about 375°F.

How do you know when chicken tenders are fully cooked? ›

All frozen, stuffed, raw poultry products should be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 ºF. Using a food thermometer is the only sure way of knowing food has reached a high enough temperature to destroy foodborne bacteria.

How do you know when chicken fingers are done? ›

No matter what type of chicken you're cooking, all chicken, even frozen breaded chicken, needs to be cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The best way to ensure this is with a digital instant-read thermometer.

What kind of oil do Chinese restaurants use? ›

Chinese cooks normally use soybean oil, vegetable oil, or peanut oil, all of which have a high smoke point. Peanut oil usually has a pleasant nutty flavor and is suitable not only for stir-frying but also for deep-frying. Canola oil, which has a high smoke point but a neutral flavor, is also a good choice.

Why is chicken from Chinese restaurants so soft? ›

You may have wondered how Chinese restaurants come to have such soft, silky textured meat in their dishes? Rather than stir-frying the meat and searing it all over until browned, they use a special technique called velveting.

Does cornstarch help make chicken crispy? ›

My not-so-secret tip to the best fried chicken is a combination of FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, and BAKING POWDER. When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.)

Are fried chicken fingers healthy? ›

Consuming excess fried chicken fingers or tenders may lead to higher cholesterol and sodium levels, increasing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.

Can chicken fingers be healthy? ›

Vitamins and Minerals

Fried chicken tenders are an excellent source of selenium, niacin, vitamin B6, and phosphorus, each providing more than 40% of your daily value set by the FDA.

How many chicken fingers is a serving? ›

Chicken Fingers: A typical serving of chicken fingers (usually 3-4 pieces) can contain around 300 to 400 calories.

Is there a difference between chicken fingers and chicken tenders? ›

In summary, the difference between chicken fingers and chicken tenders lies in the cut of the chicken and the way they are prepared. Chicken fingers are made from the inner fillet of the chicken breast, while chicken tenders come from the pectoralis minor muscles located beneath the breast.

What country invented chicken fingers? ›

United States

What part of the body is chicken fingers? ›

The whole or half of the breast deboned. Also known as chicken fingers, chicken goujons, chicken strips or chicken fillets, tenders are chicken meat prepared from the pectoralis minor muscles. These strips of white meat are located on either side of the breastbone, under the breast meat (pectoralis major).

What temperature do you cook chicken fingers? ›

Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, until the juices run clear and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer. Transfer the chicken tenders to a plate or cutting board.

How long to heat chicken fingers in oven? ›

Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 ℉.
  2. While things heat up, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the baking tray without crowding them.
  3. Bake refrigerated chicken tenders for 10-15 minutes and frozen tenders for 20-25 minutes. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces,
Aug 24, 2023

How long to cook frozen breaded chicken? ›

Oven from frozen

Instructions: 200°C/Fan 180°C/Gas 6 32-35 mins Place on a baking tray in the centre of a pre-heated oven.

What temperature should chicken strips be cooked at? ›

*165˚F IS THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN MUST REACH TO BE SAFE TO EAT.

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