Sarah Thomas-Drawbaugh, Recipe Developer and Food Blogger, Healthyish Foods
Prep Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Serves: 15 Fries
Skip the drive-thru and make these homemade chicken fries. They are perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy in the center. Dip them in your favorite sauce or tuck them inside of a wrap for a tasty sandwich.
Quick Homemade Ground Chicken:
If you do not have ground chicken handy, you can simply add Smart Chicken breasts or tenderloins to a food processor and buzz until it is free from any large pieces.
Ingredients
1 lb. Smart Chicken Ground Chicken, Tenderloins or Boneless Skinless Breasts
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon olive oil
Breading Station:
2 eggs, whisked
⅓ cup cornstarch
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1.5 cups panko breadcrumbs
2-3 cups vegetable oil, for frying
Directions
Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set it aside. Add ground chicken to a large mixing bowl. Season it with onion powder, garlic powder and salt. Add one tablespoon olive oil and mix everything until it’s well combined.
Wet your hands with water and form the fries. You want them to be about ¼ – ½ inch thick in diameter and about 5-6 inches long. Place the fries on the baking tray lined with parchment paper. Makes about 15-16 fries. Place the fries in the freezer for 20-30 minutes.
While the fries are freezing set up the breading station. Add cornstarch, salt, paprika, and black pepper to one plate. Then, add two whisked eggs to a second plate.
Next, add panko breadcrumbs to a third plate. Once lightly frozen, dredge the fries through the cornstarch mixture, then the whisked egg, followed by the panko breadcrumbs. Repeat this process for all fries making sure all sides are well breaded.
Heat a neutral oil in a large pan to 325°F. We used vegetable oil. Add two-three fries at a time making sure NOT to overcrowd the pan. Fry the fries for 2-4 minutes or until they are golden brown on all sides and cooked through to 165F. Place the golden-brown fries on a paper towel to absorb any excess oil. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!