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Simple pretzel-crusted chicken baked on a sheet pan until crispy and delicious. The salty pretzel crumbs are the secret. But my spicy honey mustard cheese sauceโwell, itโs even more special. Melty cheddar cheese with mustard, honey, and cayenne for some spiciness. Itโs the perfect appetizer for game day snacking that doubles as a fun family dinner.
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And just like that, Monday night football is back. Sunday, Monday, and even Thursday nights in September and October have always held some special memories for me. Any night thereโs a football game on, my dad and brothers always have the game on in the background. For me, this is comfort. It reminds me of those cozy fall nights back home in Cleveland.
On game nights, my dad would often make his homemade chicken fingers, or on very rare occasions, weโd actually order out and pick up BW3โs boneless chicken wings and baskets of fries.
I used to love those easy effortless meals. They certainly made game night more fun!
Very excited to have these fall nights back! My mom suggested some boneless wings for dinner a few weeks back and thatโs when I thought up this recipe. She LOVES a boneless breaded chicken.
I make mine with the yummiest pretzel coating and a spicy honey mustard cheese sauce that really gets everyone excited. You can serve these just as is, enjoy them as an appetizer, or make them into a dinner with a big fall salad, and maybe a side of rice or homemade french fries.
YUM!
These are the details
Step 1: prepare the coating
Take a whole bunch of salted pretzel twists and blend them into crumbs using a food processor. To the pretzels, add flour, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
Using a bit of flour in the mix ensures the chicken gets coated.
Step 2: coat the chicken
Next beat an egg in a shallow bowl. Add the crumbs to another bowl. Toss the chicken with the egg, then dredge each piece of chicken through the salty pretzel crumbs.
I like to use chicken tenders for this. Tenders are super easy because you wonโt have to cut the chicken. Theyโre ready to go!
Bake the chicken with olive oil until theyโre crispy all around, usually about 20 minutes.
Step 3: to make the cheese sauce
I warm together butter and flour, then add milk and a melty cheddar cheese. Finish with dijon mustard, honey, and cayenne pepper and stir until everything is warm and melty.
Absolutely nothing fancy, but oh so good! Itโs a bit spicy but sweet, tangy, and cheesy too! Oslo loves hot sauce, so he loves this sauce too. For anyone who doesnโt love a little heat, ketchup works too!
Step 4: serve
Serve the chicken with the warm cheese sauce. You can drizzle the sauce on the chicken or dip the chicken in the sauce. Itโs so delicious, you might as well just do both!
FAQ:
Can I use chicken breasts instead of tenders?
Yesโslice into even strips so they bake at the same rate. Press firmly into the crumbs for the best crust.
How do I keep the coating from getting soggy?
Space pieces on the pan and avoid crowding; a wire rack over the sheet pan helps. Reheat on a rack in a hot oven to re-crisp.
Is the cheese sauce spicy?
Itโs lightly spicy from cayenne. Reduce or omit cayenne for mild, or add hot sauce at the table for extra heat.
Can I make the sauce without cider?
Absolutelyโuse whole milk for a classic creamy sauce. Cider adds tang; milk keeps it mellow and extra cheesy.
Looking for other Monday night/game night recipes? Try these!
One Skillet Saucy Chicken Tortilla Enchilada Rice Bake
Crockpot Crispy Chicken Tinga Tacos with Avocado Jalapeรฑo Crema
Sheet Pan Honey Mustard Salmon with Caesar Roasted Potatoes
One Skillet Cheesy Green Chile Chicken
Sheet Pan Honey Buffalo Chicken with Broccoli
Baked Garlic Parmesan Boneless Wings
Lastly, if you make Pretzel Chicken Fingers, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I always love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And, of course, if you do make this recipe, donโt forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Pretzel Chicken Fingers with Honey Mustard Cheese Sauce.
Ingredientsย
- 3 cups finely crushed salted pretzel twists
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons flour or gluten-free flour
- 1 large egg, beaten
- 2 pounds boneless chicken tenders
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Cheese Sauce
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup hard cider or apple cider , (whole milk is good too)
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar or Monterey jack cheese
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructionsย
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425ยฐ F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.2. In a shallow bowl, mix the pretzel crumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, pepper, and flour. In a separate bowl, beat the egg, add the chicken, and toss well to coat.4. Dredge the chicken through the crumbs, covering fully. Place on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until crisp all around.5. Meanwhile, make the cheese sauce. In a saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the cider and cheese until the sauce is smooth. Stir in the dijon, honey, and cayenne. 6. Serve the chicken with lots of warm cheese sauce for dipping.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Needed more flavor, and the cheese was too sweet.
Hey Kate! I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe, thank you for the feedback! Is there anything else I can do to help? xT
Made this for dinner tonight and the whole family loved it! It can definitely be challenging to find something to make for dinner that all 3 kids like, so I was happy this past the test!
Hey Sarah,
Happy Wednesday! So glad your family enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xT
Hey Tieghan,
This was delicious but when I made the cheese sauce it came out almost like a paste? Still delicious but just not like your sauce. Any ideas?
Hey Brandon,
Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for sharing your notes! Hmm, sorry about the cheese sauce. Did you use freshly grated cheese or cheese from a bag? Have a great fall weekend! xT
Just made this for dinner and wrote a review with a few of my tips on my blog! https://whatnatisdoing.com/recipe-roundup-what-i-made-this-week-9-30-24/
Great transition to fall recipe!
Hey Natalie,
Awesome! Thank you so much for trying this recipe, love to hear that it was enjoyed! x
This looks terrific. Perfect for the Super Bowl. When you use chicken tenders (whether in this recipe or others) do you cut out the sinew in each one?
Thanks Hilary! I don’t cut anything out of my chicken. I hope you love this recipe! xT
Hello! What is the difference between using cider/apple cider and milk for the cheese sauce? Do you prefer one over the other?
Hi Yves,
I love using apple cider in the fall as it gives this a touch of sweetness and a little more depth, but milk is just as delicious! I hope you love this recipe! xT
Can you use GF pretzels in this?
Hey Nicole,
Totally, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe! xT
If I make the sauce with cider do I need to change the amount of h9ney? I donโt want it to be too sweet.
Hi Elle,
It’s such a small amount of honey that I didn’t find it to be too sweet:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Very nice recipe chef ๐๐๐.I had them for supper .Thank you for your effort ๐ป๐๐
Hi Jasson,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it was a winner! Have a great week:)