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National Chicken Finger Day

Food · July 27

A day for chicken fingers: strips of breaded, fried chicken breast, usually eaten by hand and dipped in a favorite sauce.

National Chicken Finger Day falls on Tuesday, July 27, 2027. That is 273 days away.

Chicken fingers are strips of chicken breast, coated in breading or batter and fried until the outside turns crisp and golden. They have no actual fingers, of course, though the shape explains the name well enough.

The appeal is mostly about contrast. The coating crackles, the meat inside stays tender, and the whole thing is sized to be picked up and eaten without a fork. Most diners, drive-ins and family restaurants keep them on the menu, often in a basket with fries and a slice of toast or a roll.

Then there is the sauce, which many people treat as the real decision. Honey mustard, ranch, barbecue sauce and ketchup are the usual choices, with buffalo sauce for anyone who wants heat. Some people dip every bite. Others stick to one sauce for life.

At home, they are simple to make. Cut chicken breast into strips, dredge them in seasoned flour, dip them in beaten egg, and coat them in breadcrumbs or crushed crackers. They can be pan fried, deep fried or baked on a sheet pan in a hot oven, and buttermilk is a common soak beforehand for extra tenderness.

The names shift from place to place. Chicken strips, chicken tenders and chicken fingers usually mean close to the same plate, and the menu tends to settle which word a town prefers.

Ways to celebrate

• Try making chicken fingers at home with a crushed cracker coating.
• Set out three dipping sauces and pick a favorite.
• Order a chicken finger basket at a local diner.
• Share your go to sauce pairing with friends.

Dates

Categories: Food days