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Chicken Parm Bites

Source of Recipe

From "Tasty Ultimate" by Buzzfeed, Inc.


Recipe Introduction

"What's not to like about chicken stuffed with mozzarella cheese and then deep fried? Whip out your sharpest knife here, as it's important to make a precise cut in the chicken tender so stuffing the cheese is as easy as possible."

List of Ingredients

â—¦ 1 pound chicken tenders, halved crosswise
â—¦ 6 ounces low-moisture mozzarella cheese
â—¦ Vegetable oil, for frying
â—¦ 2 cups panko bread crumbs
â—¦ ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (2 ounces), plus more for serving
â—¦ 1 tablespoon garlic powder
â—¦ 1 tablespoon dried basil
â—¦ 1 tablespoon dried parsley
â—¦ 1 tablespoon kosher salt
â—¦ ½ cup all-purpose flour
â—¦ 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
â—¦ 1 cup prepared marinara sauce


Recipe

Using a sharp paring knife, carefully cut slits in the "core" of the chicken pieces, making sure to not cut all the way through to the opposite side. Cut the mozzarella into pieces that will fit inside the slits, then stuff them inside the chicken pieces. Fill a large pot with vegetable oil to a depth of 1 inch. Attach a deep-fry thermometer to the side and heat the oil over medium-high heat to 350° F.

Meanwhile, whisk together the bread crumbs, Parmesan, garlic powder, basil, parsley, and salt in a medium bowl. Place the flour in one shallow dish and the eggs in another. Working one at a time, dredge the chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip in the egg, allowing any excess to drip off, and finally dredge in the bread crumb mixture, pressing to coat all over. Set the coated chicken on a wire rack and repeat to coat the remaining pieces.

Working in batches, fry the chicken pieces, turning once, until fully cooked and golden brown, about 4 minutes total. Transfer the chicken pieces to paper towels to drain. Repeat with the remaining chicken, letting the oil return to temperature after each batch. Arrange the chicken on a platter. Sprinkle with more Parmesan and serve hot, with marinara sauce alongside for dipping.

Makes 18 bites