Chicken fingers were practically invented for a houseful of kids! Adding black and white sesame seeds really grabs children’s interest without adding any work to one of the simplest recipes you’ll find. Make sure you buy true chicken tenders, which are incredibly tender flaps of meat from under the chicken breast. Many “tenders” are just sliced-up breast meat.

Black and white chicken fingers with maple, honey and chili drizzle

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Chicken fingers:

• ¾ cup honey, heated
• 1 cup black and white sesame seeds
• ¼ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper
• 1 pound chicken tender

Maple, honey and chili drizzle:

• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup honey
• 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste
• ½ tsp Tabasco sauce, or to taste

Method:

Chicken tenders:

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Pour the honey into a small shallow dish. Combine the sesame seeds, salt and pepper in a second small shallow dish.

Coat the chicken tenders, working with 1 tender at a time. Dip half of a chicken tender in the honey and then dredge it in the sesame-seed mixture. Transfer the chicken tender to the prepared baking sheet. Coat the rest of the chicken tenders the same way.

Bake the tenders until they are golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes.

Drizzle:

Combine all ingredients and serve with chicken fingers.

Courtesy Dean McDermott
The Gourmet Dad
@imdeanmcdermott