Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce
Tender chicken strips, marinated in buttermilk and hot sauce, bake up crisp while creamy cheese grits provide a rich, mellow base. A robust chorizo reduction with peppers, onions, and a touch of cream ties it all together with smoky heat and savory depth. Serve Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce for a cozy weekend dinner or a crowd-pleasing brunch.
- Prep20 mins
- Cook30 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 48 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 9 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 69 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 17
- Heart Health
- 37
- Metabolic
- 33
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 34
- Performance
- 39
- General Wellness
- 1
Pour buttermilk and hot sauce into a large bowl or zip-top bag and mix well. Add chicken and marinate for 4 hours to overnight.
- 2
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Set a wire rack on a baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray.
- 3
Combine bread crumbs, flour, paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and chili powder in a bowl. Remove the chicken from the marinade and dredge it in the crumb mixture. Place the coated chicken on the prepared wire rack.
- 4
Bake in the preheated oven until the centers are no longer pink and the juices run clear, about 30 minutes.
- 5
Meanwhile, add milk, water, salt, and pepper to a large saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and add grits. Cook, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent clumping. Remove from the heat and add Mexican cheese and butter; stir until smooth and creamy.
- 6
While the chicken and grits cook, cook chorizo, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the meat is browned and the vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain the grease from the skillet. Stir in garlic and continue cooking over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- 7
Stir cherry tomatoes, vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce into the skillet, reduce the heat to low, and let simmer until reduced, stirring as needed, about 15 minutes. Add heavy cream, then simmer and continue reducing until the sauce coats a spoon, about 5 minutes more.
- 8
Place grits in a bowl, top with the chorizo reduction sauce, and then top with the spicy fried chicken. Garnish with Cotija cheese.
- Calories 810.36 kcal High 41%
- Protein 32.61 g Good Source 65%
- Carbohydrate 58.71 g 21%
- Total Fat 49.05 g High 63%
- Saturated Fat 16.8 g High 84%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 186.0 mg High 62%
- Sodium 1180.5 mg High 51%
- Dietary Fiber 4.24 g Moderate 15%
- Total Sugars 11.32 g --
- Added Sugars 3.77 g Moderate 8%
- Calcium 298.04 mg Good Source 23%
- Iron 4.44 mg Good Source 25%
- Potassium 426.16 mg Low Source 9%
- Vitamin A 157.94 mcg Moderate 18%
- Vitamin C 28.53 mg Good Source 32%
- Vitamin D 0.93 mcg Low Source 5%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Soy 🌱
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce is made with 29 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 50 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include All Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, and Butter. Each serving provides about 810.36 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce made of?
- The main ingredients are All-Purpose Flour, Black Pepper, Bread Crumbs, Butter, Buttermilk. The full list of 29 is above.
- How long does it take to make Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce?
- About 50 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 30 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 810.36 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 29 ingredients and 8 steps.
- Is Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce healthy?
- Baked Spicy Chicken Strips with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Pan Sauce has an easyChef Pro health score of 41/100. Per serving, it provides 810.36 calories and 32.61 g of protein, or 65% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium, iron and vitamin C. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1180.5 mg (51% of the Daily Value), saturated fat at 16.8 g (84% of the Daily Value) and added sugars at 3.77 g (8% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Soy, Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products
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