Three simple ingredients, apricot preserves, seasoned rice vinegar and dry mustard are combined to make a delicious dipping sauce for these easy 'oven-fried' crispy chicken strips.

Crispy Chicken Strips with Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce

Crispy Chicken Strips:
1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce (optional)
2 pounds chicken breast tenders or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into long strips
1 1/2 cups seasoned dry breadcrumbs
3/4 (3 ounces) cup grated American Grana® Cheese
1/2 cup yellow corn meal
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

 

Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce:
1 cup apricot preserves
3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons dry mustard

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (205°C).
2. For Crispy Chicken Strips: Combine buttermilk and, if desired, hot pepper sauce in a large bowl. Add chicken, mix well. Let stand 10 minutes. Combine breadcrumbs, Grana Cheese, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a shallow pie plate or dish.
3. Using fork, remove one piece of chicken at a time, letting buttermilk drip off; roll in crumb mixture to coat. Transfer to two large nonstick baking sheets or jelly-roll pans. Drizzle melted butter over chicken. Bake 10 minutes; turn. Continue baking 8-12 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and no longer pink in the center.
4. For Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce: Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine preserves, vinegar and mustard; mix well. Serve chicken warm, at room temperature or cold with dipping sauce.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, Inc.