Cheez-It Chicken Tenders
Cheez-It Chicken Tenders are a fun and flavorful twist on traditional chicken tenders, featuring a crunchy coating made from Cheez-It crackers. Perfect for a quick dinner or a game-day snack, these tenders are easy to make and can be served with your favorite dipping sauces like ranch, blue cheese, or ketchup.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups Cheez-It Crackers preferably regular, not low-fat
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 to 1.25 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders
- Dipping sauces ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, ketchup, etc.
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to simplify cleanup. Set it aside.
- Crush the Cheez-Its: Place the Cheez-It crackers in a large zip-top storage bag. Seal the bag and crush the crackers by squeezing with your fist or rolling over them with a rolling pin, beer bottle, or similar object until you have fine crumbs.
- Combine Coatings: Open the bag, add the panko breadcrumbs, and stir well to mix. Set this bag aside.
- Prepare the Chicken: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg, kosher salt, and black pepper. Add the chicken tenders to the bowl, tossing them with a fork until all pieces are evenly coated.
- Coat the Chicken: Using the fork, lift the chicken out of the bowl (discard any excess egg). Transfer the chicken into the bag with the Cheez-It mixture, seal the bag, and shake until the chicken is well coated.
- Bake the Tenders: Arrange the coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly. Use any remaining crumbs from the bag to press onto areas that may need extra coating.
- Cooking Time: Bake the chicken tenders for about 15 minutes, flipping them halfway through if desired. Serve hot with your choice of dipping sauces.
Notes
- For added crispiness, consider flipping the tenders halfway through baking.
- Store any leftover chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 4 months (note that reheating may affect crispiness).
Nutrition Information (per serving):
- Calories: 626 kcal
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Protein: 51 g
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg
- Sodium: 1291 mg
- Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 3 g