Craving a fun and flavorful twist on classic chicken fingers? Look no further than these irresistible Dorito chicken tenders!
Just imagine the satisfying crunch of Doritos paired with juicy, tender chicken. My family can’t resist this incredible combination.
They’re perfect for game-day parties or a quick, easy weeknight dinner.
Why You’ll Love These Dorito Chicken Tenders
Full of Flavor: Crushed nacho cheese Doritos provide a bold, zesty coating for your chicken. They take the tenders to a whole new level of deliciousness.
Kid-Friendly: This fun twist on classic chicken tenders is sure to be a hit with kids. Fortunately, the “kids at heart” will love them, too, so they’re perfect for Super Bowl Sunday.
Easy Prep: This recipe is a breeze to prepare with simple ingredients and straightforward instructions.
Oven-Baked Crunch: Baking the tenders on a wire rack ensures a crispy, crunchy coating.
Ingredients
- Chicken Tenderloins: These tender, juicy strips of white meat chicken are the star of the show. Fresh is best. If using frozen, be sure to thaw them first.
- Nacho Cheese Doritos: Finely crush these cheese-flavored tortilla chips to coat the chicken. They’re the secret weapon that adds a bold, cheesy kick and irresistible crunch.
- Eggs: Whisked eggs will help the crushed Doritos adhere to the chicken.
- Milk: A splash of milk in the egg wash amplifies the savory richness of the cheesy, crunchy coating.
- All-Purpose Flour: A light dusting of flour gives the egg wash something to cling to. It also helps ensure an even distribution of Dorito yumminess.
- Seasonings: I use a mix of garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. They amp up the flavor.
- Cooking Spray: Spray the wire rack with cooking spray. This will guarantee a crispy, golden-brown crust without fatty oil.
How to Make Dorito Chicken Tenders
Follow these simple steps to make these tasty tenders.
1. Prep the oven and sheet. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray.
2. Prep the ingredients. Crush the Doritos and place them in a shallow dish. Use a second shallow dish to whisk together the eggs and milk. In a third, combine the flour and seasonings.
3. Coat the chicken. Pat the tenders dry with paper towels. Then, dip each one in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture. Then, coat them with the Doritos.
4. Bake. Place the tenders on the wire rack and spray the tops lightly with cooking spray. Bake them for 15 to 20 minutes or until they’re fully cooked through.
5. Serve. Serve the Dorito tenders immediately with your favorite sauces. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Dorito Chicken Tenders
When making your chicken tenders, incorporate these tips into the process:
- Crush the chips finely. Seriously. Ensure the Doritos are crushed into a fine (even an ultra-fine) crumb. That’ll help ensure they stick to the chicken.
- Get out the trusty meat thermometer. Consuming undercooked chicken can make you very sick. The best way to prevent this is to check the chicken’s temperature, which should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- No chicken tenderloins? That’s okay! You can also use regular boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Cut them in strips to turn them into tenders.
- Give ’em a flavor boost. Marinate the chicken beforehand. You can soak them in buttermilk, ranch dressing, or a mix of mayo and seasonings before breading them. This will give them more flavor.
- Give ’em a good flip. If you are using a wire rack like the recipe suggests, this isn’t necessary. However, if they’re lying flat on a pan, flipping them once halfway through will ensure even cooking.
- Try fun Doritos flavors. Try Cool Ranch or Spicy Nacho. You can also add cayenne pepper or taco seasoning to the tenders for an extra kick.
- Dip to your heart’s content. I like BBQ sauce. However, you can use ranch, honey mustard, buffalo sauce, or even sour cream and onion dip!
How to Store
Have leftover Dorito chicken tenders? Keep them for later instead.
To Store: Let the chicken tenders cool completely. Then, store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To Freeze: Place cooled chicken tenders on a baking sheet and flash-freeze them until solid. Then, transfer to a freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.
To Reheat: Reheat chilled tenders in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes. You can also use the air fryer at 350 degrees for 5 to 7 minutes. Reheat frozen tenders the same way but for a few minutes longer.
Dorito Chicken Tenders
4
servings10
minutes20
minutes629
kcalThese Dorito chicken tenders are crispy, crunchy, and full of nacho cheese flavor! After 20 minutes in the oven, you’ll have an irresistible meal everyone will love.
Ingredients
1 pound chicken tenderloins
1 large bag nacho cheese Doritos, finely crushed
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray.
- Place the crushed Doritos in a shallow dish. In another shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk. In a third dish, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper.
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Dip each tender first in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, then coat well with the crushed Doritos. Place the coated tenders on the prepared wire rack.
- Spray the tops of the tenders lightly with cooking spray. This will help them get extra crispy in the oven.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is crispy and browned. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Serve the Dorito chicken tenders immediately with your favorite dipping sauces. (Ranch, honey mustard, buffalo sauce, etc.) Enjoy!
Notes
- Crush the Doritos in a food processor or by placing them in a zip-top bag and crushing them with a rolling pin.
- The wire rack helps the heat circulate around the tenders, making them crispy all over. If you don’t have a wire rack, you can bake them directly on the foil-lined pan and flip halfway through.
can this be done in the air fryer?