BHA & BHT Free Almond-Crusted Chicken Strips
Crispy, golden chicken strips with a nutty almond crust hit every note you want from a crowd-pleasing dinner — satisfying crunch, bold seasoning, and juicy meat all the way through. The crust is built from almond flour and roughly chopped sliced almonds, which toast up beautifully in a hot oven without a single synthetic preservative in sight. That matters more than it sounds, because BHA and BHT are common additives in packaged breadcrumbs and seasoning blends, making store-bought coated chicken a minefield for anyone avoiding them. Here, every ingredient is whole and straightforward — olive oil, eggs, smoked paprika, turmeric, garlic powder — so you know exactly what's going into the coating. Baking on a wire rack keeps the crust crisp on all sides without deep frying, and a quick flip partway through ensures even browning. A squeeze of lemon at the end brightens everything up and cuts through the richness of the almond crust in the best possible way. This is the kind of recipe that makes clean eating feel genuinely indulgent rather than like a compromise.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 1 ½ lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp ground turmeric
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 large eggs
For the crust
- ¾ cup almond flour
- ½ cup sliced almonds, roughly chopped
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
For serving
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet and lightly brush or spray the rack with olive oil.
- 2
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, turmeric, salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken strips and toss until evenly coated.
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