Chicken Wing Dings

Diego survived his first week of preschool. More accurately: preschool survived Diego. Ms. Herrera's daily reports have been a masterclass in diplomatic language: "Diego is very energetic" (he cannot sit still). "Diego is enthusiastic about sharing" (he talks nonstop). "Diego has strong opinions about the play kitchen" (he will not let anyone else use it). "Diego made a friend named Lucas" (Diego found another chaos agent and they have formed an alliance that the classroom may not survive).

I asked Diego on Friday what he learned. He said, "I learned that Lucas likes dinosaurs too. And the goldfish crackers are in the top cabinet." Strategic intelligence. The boy has mapped the snack infrastructure on day three. I am equal parts horrified and impressed.

Sofia's second grade is going well — in-person, full-time, the normalcy she has been craving since the pandemic pulled her into remote learning. She came home on the first day and said, "Daddy, school is REAL again. I can see everyone's face." The simplicity of it. The profundity. A seven-year-old celebrating the visibility of human faces. The pandemic cost us things we did not know we had until they were gone.

Diego turned four on Sunday — August 15th. The birthday party was at our house: fifteen kids from the neighborhood and preschool, a dinosaur theme (obviously), and a menu I designed specifically for four-year-olds and their parents: mini hot dogs (grilled, cut for safety), chicken nuggets (homemade — I will not serve processed nuggets at a Rivera party), mac and cheese (stovetop, not smoked — this is kid food, not competition food), fruit, and a dinosaur cake that Elena made with green frosting and a fondant T-Rex on top that Diego refused to eat because "you do not eat Rex."

Four years of Diego. Four years of noise and destruction and love so fierce it fills every room. He is a dinosaur enthusiast, a play-kitchen tyrant, a stick collector, a preschool diplomat, and the second-best eater in the Rivera family (Roberto still holds the title). He is four, and he is exactly who he is supposed to be.

Every year I say I’m going to simplify the birthday menu, and every year I end up right back at the stove making something from scratch — because a Rivera party has standards, even when the guest of honor is four years old and refuses to eat the fondant T-Rex. These Chicken Wing Dings were the move: crispy, golden, handheld, and gone within fifteen minutes of hitting the table. Fifteen kids, zero complaints, and more than a few parents sneaking seconds. If you’re feeding a crowd of tiny dinosaur enthusiasts, this is the recipe.

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 20 min | Total Time: 35 min | Servings: 6

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken breast or tenders, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 1/2 cups seasoned breadcrumbs
Vegetable oil, for frying (about 2 cups)

Instructions

Set up your dredging station. In one shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, beat the eggs with the milk. Pour the breadcrumbs into a third bowl.
Coat the chicken. Working in batches, dredge each piece of chicken in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg wash, letting the excess drip off, then press firmly into the breadcrumbs to coat on all sides.
Heat the oil. Pour vegetable oil into a large heavy-bottomed skillet to a depth of about 1/2 inch. Heat over medium-high heat until a breadcrumb dropped in sizzles immediately, about 350°F.
Fry in batches. Carefully add breaded chicken pieces in a single layer without crowding the pan. Cook for 3—4 minutes per side until deep golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F). Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
Rest and serve. Let the wing dings rest for 2—3 minutes before serving. Serve hot with your choice of dipping sauces — ranch, honey mustard, or ketchup for the four-year-old crowd.

Nutrition (per serving)

Chicken Wing Dings — The Birthday Nuggets Diego Deserved