Pretzel Crusted Chicken Skewers
Cheesy Pretzel Chicken Kabobs – A kid-friendly chicken on a stick recipe that is loaded with flavor and is fun to make!
Favorite Simple Dinner
It’s time for another Kitchen Conversation with Land O’Lakes! We’re talking about going back to basics for back-to-school. And, even though we don’t want to think about it YET, school is right around the corner. My family is busier than ever each fall, so I like recipes that the whole family can help prepare in a hurry.
My kids and I have been cooking up a storm all summer, making treats with fresh summer berries and grilled backyard favorites.
Now that they are getting older, I’ve loosened the reigns and let them take on a little more responsibility in the kitchen.
The first time we made these baked chicken tenders, we tried three crust variations: just cheese cracker breading, just pretzel breading, and a combination of both.
After tasting all three, the kids decided the cheese cracker coating made the prettiest baked chicken tenders, but the cheese and pretzel coating tasted the best and had great crunch-factor.
Cheesy Pretzel Baked Chicken Tenders on a stick, with Honey Mustard Sauce is a great meal to help your little one feel confident in the kitchen… and get mentally prepared for back to school.
I have a feeling these will be on our menu a lot once school is back in session!
Chicken on a Stick
Both of my kids love to help cook dinner. Especially when it’s a kid-friendly dish that is fun to make, and even more fun to eat!
We recently created these Cheesy Pretzel Chicken on a Stick with Honey Mustard Sauce using cheese crackers, pretzels, and sweet cream Land O Lakes® Butter for a crunchy savory crust.
These baked breaded chicken tenders are perfect for a quick and fun after-school dinner.
Kids’ Favorite Chicken Kabobs
These baked pretzel-crusted chicken skewers are so easy to make that the kids really can do it all.
(If you don’t want your little ones touching raw chicken, thread the chicken tenders on the skewers before they start.)
- They can mix up the Greek yogurt “glue” and paint it on the chicken with a basting brush.
- They can pound the cheese crackers and pretzels into crumbs.
- They can hold the sticks and dip the chicken tenders into the crumbs, then dip them in melted Land O Lakes® Butter for a rich crispy crust.
- An older child can even carefully place the baking sheet in the oven.
- Once the chicken tenders are in the oven, your little one can stir up the honey mustard sauce for a completely child-made dinner.
How to Make This Chicken Kebab Recipe
Ingredients
For the Baked Chicken Tenders:
- Chicken Tenders
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Garlic Powder
- Salt
- Cheese Crackers – any variety
- Crushed Pretzels
- A Few Tablespoons Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter
- Bamboo Skewers (Wooden skewers would work as well.)
For the Honey Mustard Sauce:
- Plain Greek Yogurt
- Yellow Mustard
- Honey
Possible Add-Ins? Consider adding additional herbs and spices like black pepper, ground cumin, onion powder, or paprika.
Instructions
Soak the skewers in water for at least 20 minutes before starting. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup yogurt with garlic powder and salt. Then place the cheese crackers and pretzels in a large zip bag and crush them with a rolling pin. Pour the crumbs onto a plate or shallow rimmed dish. (You can crush them separately and pour them onto separate plates if you like.)
Place the Half Stick of Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter on the baking sheet and put it in the oven to melt the butter, 2-3 minutes. Once melted, tilt the baking sheet around until the melted butter has thoroughly coated the entire surface of the baking sheet.
Insert a skewer through the center of each chicken tender, leaving the longest portion of the skewer on one end for a handle. Use a basting brush to apply a thin coat of yogurt mixture over the entire surface of each chicken tender. Then hold the handle and dip each tender in the cracker and pretzel crumbs until thoroughly coated on all sides.
Press each chicken tender into the melted butter on the baking sheet, then flip and lay on the baking sheet so that both sides of the tender are well coated in butter, to form a crispy buttery crust. Arrange the chicken tenders on the baking sheet, alternating ends, so that all 14 are evenly spread out. Place on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk together the ingredients for the honey mustard sauce and set aside. Serve the baked chicken tenders warm with a side of honey mustard sauce.
Get the Complete (Printable) Pretzel Crusted Chicken Tender Skewers Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does This Recipe Keep?
You can store these tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.
Do I Have To Buy The Chicken Already Cut Into Tenders?
Chicken tenders are a part of the chicken known as the tenderloin, which is naturally shaped in small strips. (They are found under the breast, but are not actually cut out of chicken breasts.) You can buy them in packages in the meat department. However, if you already have boneless skinless chicken breasts or boneless chicken thighs on hand, you can cut them into 1 inch strips to use the strips in place of chicken tenders.
What Side Dishes Go Great With This Recipe?
This is a very basic main dish that can be paired with almost anything that you can think of. You can make rice, southern slaw, fresh fruit cups, air fryer vegetable fries, or your other favorite sides.
Can I Use Metal Skewers?
You could use metal skewers if you have those on hand. They won’t be as child-friendly, so you should also use caution when touching them during/after cooking, so that you or your children do not burn themselves.
Other Great Dinner Dishes
- Grilled Salmon Marinade (How to Grill Salmon)
- Pizza Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
- Homemade Onion Rings in the Air Fryer
- Japanese Ginger Salad Dressing
- Chicken Pot Pie Stuffed Bell Peppers
- Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits by RecipeTips.com
Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, and calcium percentages.
Pretzel Crusted Chicken Skewers (Chicken Kabobs)
Ingredients
For the Baked Chicken Tenders:
- 2 pounds chicken tenders, about 14
- 1/3 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup cheese crackers, any variety
- 1 cup crushed pretzels
- 4 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter
- 14 bamboo skewers
For the Honey Mustard Sauce:
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup yellow mustard
- 1/3 cup honey
Instructions
- Soak 14 skewers in water for at least 20 minutes before starting. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. In a small bowl, mix 1/3 cup yogurt with garlic powder and salt. Then place the cheese crackers and pretzels in a large zip bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour the crumbs onto a plate or shallow rimmed dish. (You can crush them separately and pour them onto separate plates if you like.)
- Place the Half Stick of Land O Lakes® Unsalted Butter on the baking sheet and put it in the oven to melt the butter, 2-3 minutes. Once melted, tilt the baking sheet around until the melted butter has thoroughly coated the entire surface of the baking sheet.
- Insert a skewer through the center of each chicken tender, leaving the longest portion of the skewer on one end for a handle. Use a basting brush to apply a thin coat of yogurt mixture over the entire surface of each chicken tender. Then hold the handle and dip each tender in the cracker and pretzel crumbs until thoroughly coated on all sides.
- Press each chicken tender into the melted butter on the baking sheet, then flip and lay on the baking sheet so that both sides of the tender are well coated in butter, to form a crispy buttery crust. Arrange the chicken tenders on the baking sheet, alternating ends, so that all 14 are evenly spread out. Place on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for 15-17 minutes.
- Meanwhile, whisk together the ingredients for the honey mustard sauce and set aside. Serve the baked chicken tenders warm with a side of honey mustard sauce.
Video
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
Disclosure: A Spicy Perspective has partnered with Land O’Lakes for an exclusive endorsement of Land O Lakes® Butter for their Kitchen Conversation blogger program. This blog post is sponsored by Land O’Lakes.
I’ve been looking for a healthier alternative to frozen chicken nuggets. My kids loved these; they thought the dipping sticks were the best.
Pretzel-crusted chicken skewers recipe is a brilliant recipe! I enjoyed making it and everyone loves its amazing flavor. Thanks Sommer for this wonderful recipe, I’ll surely make this again.
delicious! our fam loved these!!
these are so delicious and fun to make! thank you so much for sharing this recipe!
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Oh wow, this is so clever :) I really love this idea!
My kids are beyond back to school age, but I love pretzels with honey mustard… and chicken tenders. (Plus a new set of baking sheets wouldn’t hurt and I love the lil’ “Gumby”-style whisk & basting brush!) Land’o’Lakes is also from my home state… Minnesota… what’s not to love about this giveaway?!
mac n cheese
Enchiladas!
Homemade mac and cheese
Our favorite is meatloaf. It makes great leftovers for sandwiches.
Chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, and gravy! We can’t get enough!
I love making soups for back to school since they are easy
Pronto Pasta Bake from an old Pampered Chef cookbook. Easy to do ahead and bake later.
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These look delish! Love the chick on a stick
Maltese ethnic dish, pastizzi!
Our favorite dish is one my Grandmother use to make year ago. Macaroni and cheese with stewed tomatoes made from scratch.
Our favorite back to school dish would have to be homemade overnight french toast made the night before for those quick mornings!
I’m a pasta mom when school starts back! Quick and easy!
Mac & cheese
Sandwich made w/fresh tomatoes from the garden & a little mayo on homemade bread
I’m intrigued. Who doesn’t love goldfish? And this kind of reminds of carnival food. I’m in.
To me, back-to-school always meant peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! Not very creative, I know, but there it is. LOL
This looks so good! Paired with lightly cooked or even raw veggies or a salad would be delicious.
We liked to make a quick vegetable soup with fresh produce from the last weeks of summer. It might have peas, green beans, zucchini, and cabbage, although it changes every time. Sometimes we’d add pasta or meat.
This is a recipe that I cant wait to try….well I have t wait until I go to the store and get some pretzels lol.
My daughter is only 14 months old but one thing that my mom always did for my sister and I was to make french toast for us for breakfast for the first day of school. She’s a nurse so sometimes it was oven baked french toast that she could start when she got off of her shift and before we went to school. French toast is still one of my all time fav. comfort foods.
Great giveaway! Fave back to school meal- salads + lean protein like tofu on top with tons of veggies
back to school means yummy sandwiches for the lunchbox—maybe tuna salad.
We love to make tacos! Something about taco night just puts a smile on everyone’s faces.
we always have breakfast burritos
ANYTHING in the crock pot. The crock pot is my busy fall schedule life saver!!
I think my not so little people around here will love these and I can’t wait to try the Honey Mustard sauce with yogart instead of my normal mayo.
I love these – especially the crunchy outside you get with the crushed pretzels!!! I can’t wait to make these for my son – he will flip!!!
Pizza or tacos in our house
Chili and Cornbread is a favorite!
Mexican Chef Salad!
Baked ziti!
I can’t wait to try this recipe for the kiddos- thank you!
Love chicken tenders. They look so yummy!
We enjoy tacos
Anything on a stick and my girls flip! So creative Sommer!
MMMM a yummy pot roast sounds like a great back to school dish.
The night before school starts our family always has a pizza party!
Mushroom Penne
Ravioli Lasagna is their favorite.
nachos
We like making homemade mac and cheese!
This recipe looks awesome for our kids. For our entire family, in fact!
This looks so good! And Thanks for the giveaway
These look like a lot of fun..will add to next weeks new list of things to try.
Pretty much the same usually fruit, and oatmeal,
We always do some kind of pasta dish
As a full time working family we’re “in school” all the time. We like fish dishes and fresh vegetables for snacks!
No special meals, really. Just the same stuff.
Homemade pretzels are a favorite back to school treat here at our house to welcome my little guy home again. Your dish sounds fun!
Well…these Cheesy Pretzel Chicken Pops might be geared for the younger set as it were but I have a feeling that my mature husband will jump on these also. Great idea. Will definitely be needing to “test” a few prior serving. Have a great day.
My kids are more willing to try something on a stick. These are a must try, I know they will be a hit. Everyone can dip in their favorite sauce and be happy.
stir fry
These chicken tenders on a stick totally reminder of the movie What About Mary! We need more meat on a stick! Love these!!
Oh wow, Sommer! These chicken pops look incredibly tasty and totally kid friendly! What a delicious and creative dinner. I love it!
mac & cheese
Mac and cheese.
Tater Tot Casserole is my family’s favorite!
Our fav back to school meal is pancakes and eggs for dinner
banana pancakes is my favorite
We’ve always had shishkabobs as an end of the summer special dinner. Looking forward to doing it again this year. Thanks for the giveaway!
We love spaghetti and meatballs
While I don’t have little ones, my favorite dish that reminds me of back to school is beef stew. It makes me think of fall every time.
Pretzel Dogs are a sure favorite.
the chicken tenders sound fantastic!
our favorite back to school dish is baked potato pancakes!
English muffin pizzas!
Looks good!
That’s a creative idea! Its a good after school snack
This looks yummy! Easy for the whole family to enjoy.
Such a genius to put pretzels. Your kids seems good in the kitchen, how cute.
I have 2 boys and they love to help and it’s so much fun seeing them create food.
What a beautiful face!
And a great recipe. I’ll bet these have a nice salty crunch.
I’ll make some w my niece & nephew this w/end.
Thanks, Sommer!
My daughter isn’t school age yet, but we always love quesadillas as a quick and easy meal.
my kids love eating chicken and rice in the oven- with cream of mushroom on top.
tcogbill at live dot com
My kids are still too little for school but easy crock-pot dinners scream fall to me.
homemade pizza
Spaghetti and meatball.
No kids yet, but we have some favorite dishes in my household. I think Ground Beef enchiladas are one of our many favorites. Can’t wait to have kids and show them how to cook just like my mom did with me!
Homemade chicken tenders. So easy and delicious!
We do a lot of homemade pizza, doesn’t matter what time of year. I usually get it ready while my wife gets the boys, we eat dinner early and are usually off to some activity. Another great meal is breakfast for dinner, one of my favorites for sure!
My grandchildren will love these and I can’t wait to taste them, too.
When my kids were young, macaroni and cheese with hot dogs sliced in were a favorite.
Oven baked BBQ chicken and corn on the cob!
It would be spaghetti and meatballs!
Easy crockpot / one pot dishes that are a snap to prep and clean up with little fuss to putting it on the table!
Kids are grown. They grew up on Mac and cheese and chicken tenders though. These look good.
Those look so delicious! We love baked macaroni and cheese for back to school!
These chicken tenders look great! WE love fajitas for an easy meal.
This is a fun idea, I love pretzels and never thought of using them to coat chicken.
Grilled cheese, it never fails
My kids are all about spaghetti. That’s their favorite dish to have after school.
Quesadillas and anything Italian.
This is such a fun recipe!
Love this post and yes, I get a little nervous when my daughter, who likes chopping right now, is in the kitchen. A few minor burns and scrapes keep her in check though :(
Mac n cheese
oh my goodness – YUM! I’ll definitely be trying these soon!
Sommer, I could go for one of these right now – they look so good!
I can’t believe it’s almost time for back-to-school already!!! So crazy how time flies! Also crazy – how good this chicken looks! Love the pretzel crust!
Will be trying this soon!!
These are perfect for kids and adults..and when i mean adults, i mean myself because I want to eat them all!!
I cannot wait till my kids make their own breakfast!! These look great- my kids would LOVE them!!
Mine kids are grown but the easier the dish the better when you are trying to get their baths and feed them, and get their homework done!
These are perfect! Especially for back to school!
Wow! Love the creative addition of pretzels!
We don’t even have kids and I still see this being a big hit at our house!
Such a fantastic recipe, Sommer! I can’t wait to try it!
My boys would love these! So creative.
Such a fun recipe for back to school!
My kind of fun! Love it when the kids can join us in the kitchen. :)
These are s fun!!
My favorite back to school dish is mac and cheese!
I love using my crockpot on busy days. It leaves little work once I get home!
Love how fun these are Sommer ~ can’t imagine any kid (or adult for that matter) who wouldn’t want one of these!
We love making a big pot of chili!
our favorite back-to-school dish is baked spaghetti – kids love it!
It would be homemade pizza. thanks!
Favorite back to school dish: quick easy quesadillas!
I remember my mother making chicken with creamy mushrooms as a favorite school-time dinner. She would prep it early in the day and I could simply microwave it when I got home from after-school sports practices.
these look fantastic.
i don’t have any children but my husband is a teacher. we are always happy for easy meals after work.
No kids yet, but I’m hoping to make it a tradition to help in the kitchen on the weekends making bread for the week
My kids aren’t old enough to do back to school dishes yet, but I always looked forward to some of the cafeteria food as a kid. Italian Dunkers – cheese bread with meat sauce to dip in. Yum.
It’s pretty adult friendly too!
Such a cute and fun recipe idea for kids, Sommer!