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You guys, I am such a mess.
Well technically right now I am very clean, but that is only because I have not started cooking/baking yet.
Yesterday before I got in the shower I glanced in the mirror and just kind of laughed at myself. I mean I had food all over my clothes, my face and in my hair. You name it and I probably had it on me. Chocolate, ice cream, BBQ sauce, greek yogurt, ketchup, strawberry stains, smudged avocado, really I could go on and on.
Oh and I almost forgot the flour in my hair that makes me look like I am getting gray hair at nineteen. Oh wait, was it flour or powdered sugar. I can’t remember, it might have been both or actually come to think of it, I think it was baking soda.
Yup, it was baking soda. I had a little accident that involved a five-pound bag of baking soda. It dropped and pretty much just went everywhere. I guess I did not do such a good job of shaking it all out cause like I said, it looked like I was getting gray hairs.
Here’s the deal. I basically run around the kitchen like a crazy person all day and use my clothes as napkins. Sometimes I will be standing right next to the sink and I’ll still just wipe that little bit of peanut butter across my butt and that teaspoon of chocolate down my back.
Honestly, it is ridiculous. By the end of the day I look like a four-year who raided the kitchen and got into every last ingredient.
And no, I am not the only one in the kitchen all day. There are people coming in and out at all times. People I know, family and friends, and then sometimes people I am just meeting for the first time. Yes, it can be embarrassing. Especially when there is something smeared across my face or hardened chocolate stuck in my eyebrows.
I think I should wear an apron.
The funny thing is, that I have like five aprons and one really cute one that was way too expensive one from Anthropologie.
I feel funny wearing aprons though, I guess I just like completely ruining my clothes. Which brings me to these chicken fingers. The day I made these I manage to swipe the killer Cajun BBQ sauce all over the back of my shirt and across my chest. Really I have no idea how this happened, but I looked like I rolled in the stuff.
I mean it’s really, really good, crazy good actually. It is sweet and spicy with an awesome Cajun kick!
I would have preferred to have it in my mouth, not all over me.
Why is it that chicken fingers are so fun??
They make you feel like a kid again. Remember those days when you starve yourself playing in the pool all day and then run to the snack bar for some chicken fingers, ketchup and fries. Yeah, that was a good summer day.
These chicken finger are nothing like the ones I used to get when I was ten. Nope for one, these are baked (remember, I hate frying) and two, they’re rolled in Cajun BBQ sauce and then breaded with crunchy corn flakes and grated cheddar cheese.
Ah huh, I am serious.
You guys, these are hands down the best chicken fingers I have ever had.
They smell incredible and oh my gosh the Cajun BBQ is out of this world!! It is so good and the cheddar cheese compliments the flavors so well. Plus, everything is better with a little cheese!
Really though, these are so good and so incredibly easy.
The BBQ sauce takes ten minutes, breading the chicken takes ten minutes and then you cook um for fifteen minutes.
Done. Easy peasy meal. I love easy peasy meals, especially ones that make you feel like your ten again!
Cajun BBQ Cheddar Chicken Fingers
Servings: 8 Servings
Calories Per Serving: 240 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Cajun BBQ Sauce
- 1/2 cup beer
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup ketchup
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons pepper
Chicken fingers
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
- 2 cups corn flakes crushed into fine crumbs
- 1/2 cup cheese its or gold fish crushed into fine crumbs
- 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup freshly grated cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon creole seasoning
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a small sauce pot combine the beer, water, ketchup, brown sugar, cajun seasoning, creole seasoning, pepper and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Remove from the heat and set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 475°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray or brush it with the olive oil.
- In a bowl combine the buttermilk and 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup of the cajun BBQ sauce (save the rest for dipping the chicken fingers in later), add the chicken and toss well.
- Pulse the corn flakes and cheddar crackers in the bowl of a food processor or add to a ziplock bag and crush with a rolling pin or meat mallet. Add the crumbs to a large bowl and add in the panko bread crumbs, flour, cheddar cheese, cajun and creole seasoning. Stir to combine.
- Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, and dredge through the crumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken has been used. Make sure not to crowd your pan, if necessary use two baking sheets. Spray each chicken tender with non-stick spray or a mist of olive oil.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, then gently flip using kitchen tongs and spray the other side. Bake for 10-12 minutes more, then remove from oven and serve with the remaining Cajun BBQ sauce.
Cause being ten is awesome!
I am convinced we’re the same person, Tieghan. I, too, fall victim to crazy-stained clothing from cooking, baking and eating. Without a doubt, I always leave the house in jeans with huge, questionable brown stains (I SWEAR they’re chocolate) on my pants or something dribbled down my shirt. I clearly am incapable of being a clean person. Or a person who could resist these chicken fingers because OMG, I need them! I haven’t had them in such a long time, and hello, cheddar bbq? Yes.
haha! Sounds just like me Hayley! Thanks girl!
You are so funny! I needed a good laugh after a long week. I get the same way…ingredients all over me and I don’t realize it until my husband points it out. Aprons? I’ve tried those…I manage to get everything dirty but the apron. Lol.
Now for these chicken treats…love. That crust looks amazing and I can’t wait to try them. 🙂
Haha!! You sound like me! Glad I could make you laugh!!
Thanks Tina!
You’re only 19! You sound so mature for your age! And your blog is amazing! I remember starting my food blog at 17 and it definitely wasn’t 1/4 as awesome as yours is. Keep up the great work 😀
Aw thank you so much Mimi!! That means a lot!
I have an entire pantry shelf of the cutest aprons…and yet I don;t ever wear one, and I usually arrive at school pickup with food all over me:) these look delicious. Oh, I almost forgot. made your Thai Shrimp Curry on Saturday…to die for. Seriously the best thing I’ve eaten in a LONG time.
Haha!!
Yay to the thai shrimp!! I am so glad you liked it! That makes me so happy! Thanks for giving it a try Heather!
Baked chicken fingers. My weakness! Tieghan each of your recipes gets better and better. We must have the same tastebuds or something. 🙂 Oh and I’m typing this with cream cheese glaze on my chin. I’m a mess, too.
Thank you Sally! You have know idea how much that means to me!! Really, I am seriously excited you like my stuff!
Oh and I bet that cream cheese glaze taste insanely delicious if you made it!! Can’t wait to find out what it goes on!
Ha, I have so many aprons and never wear them! Seriously, you need to make me dinner. 😉
Hehe!! I would happily make you dinner…… if only we did not like miles and miles apart 🙁
These look so good. I am a bit believer in making my own chicken fingers, and the combination of corn crunch and cheese here is calling my name.
Thank you Shaina!! Homemade chicken finger beat the frozen ones by a landslide! Plus, they are way healthier!
How did I not realize you were only 19?! You are amazingly talented, my friend. I am beyond impressed 🙂 Your chicken fingers look awesome, one of my favorites and even better with this flavor combo!
Ha! Thanks Tracey! I don’t talk about my age a lot because honestly I am a little self-conscious about it. I don’t want people to not take me seriously because of my age, but I am starting to feel a little more comfortable with it!!
Thank you so much for you kind words and chicken fingers our some of our favorites too!!
Those chicken tenders look perfect and the sauce sounds awesome! Great job 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
Thank you so much! The sauce is SO good!
I guess I need to go to the grocery store today, this looks amazing!!!
Thank you so much Corrie! Hope you love these!
I never wear aprons either, and every day I cook I realize that I should probably start wearing aprons. Especially when I bake right before a date and end up going out with flour all over my jeans. These chicken fingers look amazing and I love that they’re baked and not fried!
Haha! Really we need to learn to wear aprons!
Those chicken fingers look so crispy and good! I really like the BBQ sauce and cheddar combo on them!
Thank you Kevin! That Cajun BBQ sauce is so simple, but it has so much flavor!
You know it’s really bad when you start using your sleeves to wipe food crumbs on because every other piece of clothing real estate has been used. I need to start wearing an apron too…berry stains and bbq sauce can be a pain to get out. These chicken fingers look absolutely perfect and definitely take me back to summer camp. Love them!
Ha, I know! I have ruined som shirts recently! Thank Julia!
These chicken fingers look DELISH!!! Seems I forget my apron a lot too – oh well, I guess at least we are having fun cooking!!!
Yes! I so agree! Thanks Robyn!!
These sound awesome! And who cares if you’re messy, as long as your food is delicious? 🙂
Thats my thinking too!