Description
Crispy doritos chicken tenders get their crunch from crushed nacho cheese chips mixed right into the breading, so you get that bold, cheesy flavor with every bite. Your kitchen fills with an irresistible aroma while these cook, and they’re perfect for dipping into ranch or serving alongside your favorite sides.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 2 large eggs
Coating and seasoning:
- 2 cups crushed Doritos
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 0.5 teaspoon salt
- 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
Wet ingredients and cooking:
- 0.5 cup whole milk
- vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Pat your 1.5 lbs of chicken breasts dry using paper towels, then slice them into strips roughly 3/4 inch thick.
- Whisk 2 large eggs together with 0.5 cup whole milk in a shallow bowl until the mixture combines smoothly.
- In another shallow bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper.
- Stir your 2 cups crushed Doritos directly into the flour mixture, making sure the seasoning distributes evenly throughout.
- Take each chicken strip and coat it thoroughly in the flour mixture, tapping off any loose bits.
- Dip your floured chicken into the egg mixture, allowing excess liquid to fall back into the bowl.
- Press each strip firmly into your Doritos coating, rotating to ensure all sides get covered completely.
- Pour 0.5 inch of vegetable oil into a large skillet and heat it to 350°F over medium-high heat, which takes about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Once your oil reaches temperature, carefully lay the coated strips into the skillet in batches, leaving space between each piece so they cook evenly.
- Let the chicken fry for 3 to 4 minutes at 350°F until your coating turns golden and crispy on the first side.
- Flip each strip and continue frying for another 3 to 4 minutes at 350°F until both sides reach a deep golden brown.
- Use tongs to transfer your cooked tenders onto a paper towel-lined plate where they can drain excess oil.
- Allow your tenders to rest for 2 to 3 minutes before serving so the coating stays crispy and the inside stays juicy.
Notes
- Dry your chicken thoroughly before cutting so the coating sticks properly and doesn’t slide off during frying.
- Crush the Doritos into fine crumbs rather than leaving large chunks, which helps create an even, crispy crust that clings to each tender.
- Keep your oil at a steady 350°F throughout cooking by adjusting the heat as needed, since temperature drops when cold chicken hits the pan and affects how the coating browns.
- For a healthier version, bake these on a greased sheet at 400°F for 12 to 15 minutes, flipping halfway through, though the texture won’t be quite as crispy as fried.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 to 12 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 602 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 860 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 52 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg