My 5-Ingredient Chicken Strips are the easiest Whole30 chicken strips you probably already have the ingredients for! These are kid-friendly – both in flavor and ability to involve the kids in the prep. I make them in a pinch when dinner needs to happen fast.
Why we love these 5-Ingredient Chicken Strips
These chicken strips are Whole30, Paleo, Keto, gluten-free, dairy-free, and egg-free. Plus, they have a nut-free option for those who need it. You can use the air fryer or oven to make these.
Everyone in our family is on board with these – a great kid-friendly option. Also, they keep great in the fridge to chop up for salads or wraps later in the week. Finally, they are freezer friendly as well. Once cooked, freeze in a sealed container for up to 3 months.
The Easiest Chicken to Prep, Ever!
These are a Paleo shake-n-bake. Did anyone else use that in the 80’s?! You put chicken in a bag of seasoning, shake to coat, and then bake it. EASIEST prep ever. Well, these are THAT easy too!
You combine 4 ingredients you might already have on hand. I like to do this in a large reusable bag like a Stasher bag. Then you add the sliced chicken to the bowl or bag and SHAKE. This is a great step to involve your kiddos in.
Once coated, you can cook in the air fryer or oven. Done start to finish in 20 minutes! A great weeknight meal for a busy night.
How to Serve These 5-Ingredient Chicken Strips
We love them paired with my Date Mustard (Whole30 “Honey” Mustard) or Homemade Ranch. Delicious with a side of my Garlic Fries or Mashed Potatoes and Broccoli Salad or Kale Salad on the side. Or, chop up the chicken and use it on top of a salad with my Date Mustard as a dressing.
Ingredients
There’s literally only 5-ingredients in these. You might already have them in your pantry!
- Almond flour – I prefer “super-fine” almond flour to get the best texture. I like this one from Blue Diamond I can get at Sam’s Club or Amazon. See notes for nut-free option!
- Paprika – This spice you can find in most grocery store spice aisles.
- Salt – Don’t overthink it, just regular table salt works great here.
- Pepper – Ground black pepper
- Chicken breasts – Boneless, skinless, cut into strips or nuggets. Size will determine length of cooking time.
5 Ingredient Chicken Strips
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup almond flour see notes for nut-free option
- 1 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 3 large chicken breasts cut into strips
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with parchment or foil. (If using air fryer, skip this step). If you have one, lay a wire cooling rack into the baking sheet and spray with cooking oil. The wire rack helps the chicken cook better on all sides, but is optional.
- Mix all dry ingredients in a large gallon sized reusable ziplock* or medium mixing bowl. *The ziplock keeps it extra kid friendly - just put ingredients in, seal, and let them shake it!
- Put 4-5 chicken strips into the ziplock of dry ingredients, seal, and then shake to toss. Or, if using bowl, press both sides of chicken into the flour mixture to coat. Place coated chicken on prepared wire rack or baking sheet.
- Repeat coating process until all chicken strips are coated and on baking sheet.
- Cook for 20 minutes in preheated oven, flipping halfway through, until no longer pink in center.
- AIRFRYER MODIFICATION: cook at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes, length of cooking time varying largely depending on size of strips/nuggest, airfryer size, and how full you load your air fryer basket.
Notes
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NUT-FREE OPTION: Instead of using almond flour, take 2 cups unsweetened coconut flakes (I find mine at Trader Joes or Thrive Market) and finely chop it down to a coarse flour in a food processor or blender. Then mix with other ingredients and proceed with recipe as written.
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So easy, great option for my egg-allergy kiddo, and husband approved! 🙂
Easy peasy and delicious!
Honest truth? I make these more than we should. Because they are sooo good! Always a hit for our “fast food” but healthy dinner on the weekends.
‘I make these more than we should’ – ha! You and me both. So happy this easy option comes in handy for you. Thank you!
I made these for myself when my sister was in town and ordered pizza for her and the rest of the fam. She tried them and of course was obsessed. Then everyone else started trying them and before you know it they were all gone!
These are definitely a favorite, quick and easy go-to!!
Wow, SO awesome these won over the crowd! Hooray for an easy win, thank you!
These are perfect for busy weeknights and the whole family enjoys them. It is so encouraging to make a healthy meal that gets rave reviews from the fam!!
WOOT WOOT for an easy solution the family enjoys! Thank you!
So delicious and easy to make! Will be adding these to the regular menu!
Made a double batch of these for meal prep and for the freezer. I cut them into nugget pieces and brine them in pickle juice. I NEVER would have thought to use my air fryer to “re-crispify” things before you suggested it. 🤯 It’s a game changer! I am pretty new to having one though. I throw my nuggets and zucchini wedges in there for a quick and easy lunch. (Yes I have zucchini wedges in my freezer too. Are you a sending a pattern? Lol) These nuggets, with pickles, tomatoes, and your date mustard make a Whole30 friendly Chick-Fil-A salad that is out of this world!!! 😊
This recipe is so good. My family loved it. Will definitely be making these again. Thank you.
I love it when this easy one is a family success, thank you!
I love how easy this recipe is! We do ours in the air fryer and they turn out great every time!
Chicken seriously doesn’t get much easier than this. Thank you!
I tried this recipe because it seemed easy to make and my kids love chicken nuggets. I have had trouble with other recipes, which use egg to get the batter to stay on the chicken. I used the air fryer and it worked really well. It stuck a little on the bottom so maybe I will spray a little oil next time! Recipe is a keeper!
I’m so happy this one was an easy win! And yes, a little oil could help with the airfryer sticking. Thank you!
So easy and so delicious! I made in the air fryer and it couldn’t have been simpler. Thanks autumn!
Easy and delicious is truly my favorite combination. Thank you!
I made these tonight for the first time. So easy and so good. I’ll definitely be making them again. Also made the date mustard for dipping. Dinner was a big hit at my house tonight!
I’m so happy these were a hit, thank you!
Made these tonight for the first time! I’ve seen them on your Instagram so many times and finally went for it. Had I opened the recipe sooner and seen how truly simple they are, I would have made them a long time ago!! My bad! They were delicious; a hit with my husband and kids. I wish I had an air fryer to possibly make them crispy (I was afraid to leave them in the oven longer), but they were still really good. I will be sharing this recipe with friends for sure! Thanks 🙂
I’m so happy you dove into this easy recipe and enjoyed it, thank you!
These chicken tenders are the best! The almond flour mixture makes the chicken tenders melt in your mouth! Will definitely keep these chicken tenders in my meal rotation. I also made the date sauce to go with the chicken why have was really tasty too.
Oh. My. Goodness!! How can something so simple be so delicious?! This recipe has become a favorite and now is in our menu rotation. Thank you Autumn!
So simple + so delicious – I love it! So happy it’s a favorite, thank you!
These aren’t just for kids! My husband and I love them!! They are so quick and easy and delicious. They turn out perfect every time and they are great as leftovers.
My boyfriend and I make this recipe at least once a week! Quick and easy weeknight meal and we love the Date Mustard Sauce!
I’m so happy this is on your rotation, hooray!
I just made this, and my boys are begging for more. I could have easily doubled the recipe, and I think they would have eaten it all. This is a fantastic recipe that we will be making again. And super bonus that it is SOOO easy to make
I love a kid win! I’m so happy your boys loved this easy recipe, thank you!
I’m so happy these were a family win! Hooray for an easy option!
Husband and toddler love these (and I do too but they’re the hard ones to please)!! They gobble them up immediately and want more! These are also insanely and shockingly easy to make. Faster than picking up chicken fingers at your local fast food place and so much healthier. Bravo Autumn! These are in the rotation.
“Insanely and shockingly easy to make” and a family win?! Woot!
This is definitely one of my favorite recipes! It’s so easy to make and we use the chicken for so many things: as tenders, cut up on salads, etc. I always send this one to my Whole30 clients who don’t love cooking and now that I work with kids it’s one of my go-to recipes to get the kids involved in the kitchen!
I love that even you find this one so approachable Nikki. And HOW AWESOME that you use this to get kids in the kitchen?! Thanks love!
So easy, so tasty!
These are the easiest and tastiest I’ve tried by far. I always check here first for kid approved recipes!!
I love that this is a go-to place for kid-approved recipes, thank you!
Autumn has yet to let me down with a recipe of hers! 🙂 These chicken tenders are the easiest to prepare and cook, and are so flavorful and delicious! I have cut mine into smaller pieces for my littles – what a tasty and easy way to introduce almonds to your kids! Can’t say enough about this recipe – it is in our recipe rotation and everyone looks forward to it every few weeks.
Aw, I’m so happy my recipes have been winners for your family, thank you!
My family and I eat these once a week. My son always requests them before athletic events. They are easy to make and delicious!
Amazing and easy
This is my go-to breaded chicken recipe; quick, easy, and delicious! Also, using the air fryer is always fantastic!
My family and I eat these once a week. They are so easy to make and are delicious! My son always requests that I make them before his athletic events too.
Aw, I love that they are a family regular and that your son wants them before his sports events!
Loved this super simple, quick busy week night recipe winner. Both my eye rolling teenage boys loved it too! Thank you!
Wow, winning over those eye-rolling teen boys is no small feat. Wahoo that this one did the trick, thank you!
These ones my kids loved! They are so easy and they each take turns shaking the bags.
Easy and my whole family loves these!
So happy this easy one is a family win!
SO easy! And SO yummy! I’m a college student on a budget and time crunch. I love making these and pretty much have the recipe memorized now 😂
My kids love the chicken strips and I love the dipping sauce. Also I can pick up the chicken strips at Aldis which makes dinner easy for this mama of 5
This is one of our family favorite meals. We make it at least once a month! We use the oven method and it’s so easy and delicious. I always double it with our big family.
My 5 year old picky eater LOVED these!! I will definitely be making more.
Woot! Kid wins are my favorite! So happy to hear that, thank you.
Autumn you get all the praise today! I made this with thighs and my 6 year old son said it smelled like KFC, then after tasting said “Yum, it tastes like KFC!” It was a crowd pleaser, thank you thank you!
Hooray!! I love a good kid win – that’s the best! So happy this one was a crowd-pleaser, thank you!
I made these for myself today and I really enjoyed them! I don’t have an air fryer so I used the oven. I feel like they would’ve been crispier if I’d had an air fryer. (Perhaps I should invest…) Nevertheless, the chicken was tasty and my kids tried some and liked them as well! I’m trying to slowly transition them to a paleo diet; the fact that all three of them enjoyed the chicken gives me hope.
I dipped them in the Date Mustard Sauce and I was just super happy with the whole thing. Thank you—I really appreciate all of the hard work you’ve put into these recipes.