Guilt Free Chicken Strips & Sweet Potato Fries

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One thing I have always been rather fond of when we eat out at a fast food place are the chicken fingers/strips.  At McDonalds you can get the with your choice of dips.  I always choose the sweet chili and the sour cream and then I double dip.  They are so delicious, but not very healthy I’ll admit.

Neither are the chips that come along with them.  The recipe I am showing you today is a much healthier option! And, I believe, every bit as tasty, if not tastier! You won’t even miss the dips!

Everything is baked instead of fried, and so you are virtually free to enjoy them without a lot of guilt!  The chicken is marinated in buttermilk for several hours which helps to keep the meat moist and tender!!

After marinating they are rolled in nicely spiced cornflake crumbs to coat and then sprayed with a bit of cooking spray prior to baking which really crisps up the coating nicely!

The sweet potato fries are shaken in a bag with a bit of oil and spice . . .  and yes, baked along side of the chicken strips.  I won’t lie to you and say they are as crispy good as the deep fried ones, because in all honesty they are not, but they are still plenty tasty anyways, with lots of nicely spiced flavour from the use of onion and garlic powders and paprika. Once they are marinated coated, etc. the whole duo cooks relatively quickly in about 15 minutes.  Win/win I’d say!!!

1 tsp paprika

Place the chicken tenders and buttermilk into a shallow bowl large enough to hold them.  Turn to coat in the buttermilk then cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours, giving them a turn every now and then.

Preheat the oven to 220*C/425*F/ gas mark 7.  Line a large baking tray with aluminium foil.  Spray lightly with cooking spray.  Set aside.

Cut the sweet potato, lengthwise into chips. Peel or not as desired. (If keeping the peel, scrub really well.) Place them into a bowl and toss together with the olive oil, the 1/4 tsp garlic powder, salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper to coat evenly. Spread out onto the baking tray in an even layer, leaving space for the chicken.

Crush the cornflakes in a food processor or in a bag with a rolling pin.  Place them into a large plastic bag.  Add the remaining garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and black pepper.  Shake to combine. Add the chicken tenders, one at a time, and shake them in the bag to coat with the cornflake mixture generously, Place them on the baking sheet next to the sweet potatoes. Spray th chicken pieces with coking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through, golden brown and no longer pink inside, and the fries are browned. (Turn the fries halfway through the cooking.)  Divide between four plates and serve immediately.

Yes, I am trying to eat healthier.  These are diabetic friendly and quite delicious, with approximately 35g carbs per serving, for both the chicken and the chips.  As a once in a while treat, they can be enjoyed almost guilt free, sans dips. The chicken strips are nice and crisp on the outside and yet tender and juicy inside. With a healthy serving of mixed vegetables on the side they went down really well!  Bon Appetit!