STICKY FINGER CHICKEN {WINGERS COPYCAT}

If you’re craving a finger licking good dish that’s both flavorful and gluten free, Sticky Finger Chicken is the answer! This recipe takes tender, juicy chicken and coats it in a savory-sweet sauce that’s sure to satisfy your taste buds. Whether you're following a gluten free diet or simply want a tasty, crowd pleasing meal, this sticky chicken recipe is sure to be a hit.

(Instagram Video)

Why we love Sticky Finger Chicken:

We love Sticky Finger Chicken because it brings together the best of both worlds—bold flavors and satisfying textures. It’s the kind of dish you crave after a long day, and the one you’ll reach for again and again. It’s easy to make, full of flavor, and guaranteed to make your taste buds do a happy dance. 

From the first bite, it offers a perfect combination of flavors and textures that make it irresistible. The crispy outer layer coated in the sweet, sticky glaze is what makes each bite so addictive.

Ingredients 

• Chicken Breasts - Chicken is an excellent source of high quality protein, which is essential for muscle growth, repair, and overall body function. Protein plays a vital role in supporting the immune system, maintaining healthy skin, and promoting hair and nail growth. Chicken provides all the essential amino acids your body needs, making it a complete protein source. By using chicken in your Italian Shake and Bake, you’re giving your body the building blocks it needs for optimal health. **You could sub other cuts of chicken such as thighs or tenderloins.
• Gluten Free flour blend - The texture of the coating is just as important as its flavor. Good Flour Co designed their mixes to give a light, tender texture that contrasts perfectly with the juicy chicken inside. This mix usually helps lock in moisture while frying, so you’re left with chicken that’s both crispy and succulent.  Fried Chicken Mix from Good Flour Co. another plus, this mix is also gum free!
• Sea Salt - Sea salt has a more complex, delicate flavor compared to regular iodized salt, which can taste overly sharp or artificial. The natural minerals give sea salt a nuanced, rich taste, allowing you to use less while still achieving a burst of flavor. This makes it perfect for seasoning your breading without overpowering the dish. My favorite and recommended salt is from Redmond. Redmond Sea Salt is unrefined, meaning it retains the natural trace minerals found in seawater, such as magnesium, potassium, and calcium. (code GFMACROS)
• Garlic Powder - Garlic powder brings a concentrated, rich garlic flavor to the breading without the strong pungency of fresh garlic. It infuses the chicken with a savory depth that complements the other seasonings, enhancing the overall taste profile of the dish. 
• Black Pepper - Black pepper is known for its warm, slightly spicy heat that elevates the flavor of any dish. It helps balance and round out the overall taste, making your breading more complex and exciting.
• Eggs - Eggs help the flour stick more effectively to the surface of the food while the protein in eggs helps the flour adhere more evenly, leading to a more consistent coating. The eggs also contribute to a crispier, golden-brown exterior. This is particularly desirable in air-fried and fried foods. *see note for an egg free version.
• Cooking spray - One of the main advantages of air frying is achieving a crispy texture without the need for deep frying in a large amount of oil. Cooking spray helps ensure that your chicken gets an even coating of oil, which leads to a crispier and more evenly browned exterior. The spray ensures that the skin or breading on the chicken cooks to perfection, giving you that satisfying crunch without the greasiness.
• Brown Sugar (or coconut sugar) - Brown sugar promotes a nice caramelization when the sauce is cooked or applied to meat, contributing to a sticky, glossy finish that clings well to chicken. The sugar pairs well with the buffalo sauce, rounding out the overall flavor.
• Buffalo Sauce - Buffalo sauce offers a balanced level of heat that enhances rather than overwhelms the dish. It delivers a mild to moderate spice, making it perfect for those who enjoy a little kick without turning up the heat too high. Its heat level is enough to give your sticky finger chicken a punch, but not so intense that it distracts from the other flavors in the sauce. 
• Water - Adding a small amount of water can make the sauce more liquid, which helps the flavors of the sugar and buffalo sauce meld together more evenly. The water helps dissolve the sugar, so it’s incorporated smoothly into the sauce, allowing the sugar’s caramel-like sweetness and the buffalo sauce’s tanginess to blend seamlessly.

Notes:

The sauce can also be adjusted to your liking—whether you prefer a sweeter sauce, a tangier kick, or a bit of spice. Plus, it pairs wonderfully with a variety of sides, from rice and vegetables to a simple salad or even French fries. You can also make extra sauce for dipping. 

For an egg free option, swap out the eggs for canned coconut milk. 

Don't have an air fryer? Bake at 425° for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. 

For a paleo option, you could also sub the flour blend for tapioca flour. I have done this successfully as well. I have also used the Kodiak Gluten Free mix with great success. 

Make it a meal:

To make this dish a meal, we like to add some of the following to each  plate:

Roasted broccoli

Jasmine rice 

Brown rice

Mixed veggies

A simple salad 

French fries

{STICKY FINGER CHICKEN - WINGERS COPYCAT}

Serves 4

366 Cal | 5g F | 45g C | 37g P

24oz chicken breasts, cut into strips

3/4 c (84g)  Good Flour Fried Chicken Mix 

2 tsp Sea Salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp black pepper

2 eggs

3/4 c (120g) brown sugar or coconut sugar 

2 Tbs (30mL) Franks buffalo sauce

4 tsp (20mL) water

1) Preheat airfryer to 425°

2) Line air-fryer with parchment paper, if desired.

3) In a shallow bowl, combine flour blend, salt, garlic powder and black pepper. Mix well.

4) In a small bowl, whisk eggs.

5) Create an assembly line of chicken strips, mixed eggs (or coconut milk), flour mixture and air frying basket. 

6) Dip each piece of chicken in the whisked eggs, then coat in flour and place on prepared air frying basket.

7) Place air frying basket into air fryer and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. 

8) In the meantime, make the sticky finger sauce by whisking the sugar, buffalo sauce and water together in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, be sure to stir constantly. Sauce should thicken up.

9) Once the chicken is cooked, add the chicken to a large bowl. Pour the pause over the chicken and toss to coat the sauce.

10) Serve and enjoy! 

If you try this recipe, leave a comment and let me know what you think! I also love seeing what you make, please tag me on Instagram! This helps me to create more for each of you!