Kid's Menu: Chicken Cheese Sticks

The other day, I decided to make a kid-friendly meal that was healthy, fun and low-cost. (Yes, no kids yet, but with one on the way, it's time to think up some great kid-friendly recipes!).

Since kids love chicken tenders and cheese sticks, I thought that combining the two would be a surefire family-friendly meal perfect for everyone once baby makes three. And they were a hit with my husband, a man with "kid taste," so I thought I'd share the recipe here.

Chicken Cheese Sticks

To begin, you'll need to preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Then, you can begin to gather the ingredients you'll need, listed below:

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 string cheese sticks
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• cooking spray

First, coat the bottom of a sheet pan with cooking spray. Next, cut the chicken breast into about 6 one-inch by five-inch slices, by cutting lengthwise. Now, take a chicken piece, place it between two cutting boards (or use a tenderizer), and pound the heck out of it. The chicken should flatten to about a half inch thickness, and it should be wide enough to wrap around one quarter of a cheese stick (about four inches wide). Continue pounding the rest of the breast pieces.

When the chicken's pounded into submission, cut each cheese stick into four pieces, cut lengthwise. Wrap each chicken piece around a cheese quarter, dip each in the beaten egg and coat with seasoned bread crumbs. Pop into the oven for twenty minutes.

These easy, cheesy chicken strips are sure to be a hit! The cheese melts perfectly, the crust browns beautifully and the chicken remains tender. For a weeknight meal, the prep time and cook time is rather minimal; perfect for families on the go.

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