When you’re ready to up your poultry game from nuggies and cutlets to full-on pieces of roast chicken, look no further than this blast of flavor and juiciness, which provides both the crunch you crave and the moistness that satisfies your (not) discerning toddler. A baste of tahini on the skin + a coating of everything spice are the keys to please here–and the technique works just as well with drumsticks (ideal for toddlers younger than three years) as it does with thighs (to for older toddlers). Novel? Sure. But with a big payoff for very little extra work: it only takes five minutes to prep; cook the chicken in your air fryer and it’ll be on the dinner table twenty minutes later.
(Note: recipe picture for display purposes only. Of course we don’t expect you to serve it just like this to your child (unless he/she is older than five); see “Serve” section below for suggestions on how to plate and present to a toddler.)
If your child is particular about what parts of the bird work for him or her, we recommend cutting slices or pieces from the center, where the segments will be much more uniform in size and texture (and leave you all the best bits at the edges). Serve sided by some warm tomato sauce, or squeeze lemon all over and serve with a creamy sauce (e.g., ranch, yum-yum).
If you like the idea of this recipe but know your child would prefer to eat his/her chicken in cutlet or nugget form, mix the everything bagel spice with equal parts panko breadcrumbs; dip the chicken piece fully in tahini and then roll all over in seasoning/breadcrumb mixture before frying in a bit of oil for 2-3 minutes a side.
For a similar take--but different taste--check out our dry-rubbed barbecue chicken.
Brad (the Dad) is the founder and Chief Recipe Officer of New Dad's Kitchen. His own cooking/feeding journey started humbly during his son's infancy, preparing and managing his son's bottle intake in order to support his wife; it has since blossomed into a full-on passion to feed his child and family delicious and healthy meals that can satisfy both a toddler and his very tired parents.
