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)
Video
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.
Nutrition
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!
Oh wow, this is so clever :) I really love this idea!