With Super Bowl Sunday just around the corner, I wanted to share a recipe that’s fun, easy, and guaranteed to be a hit with kids and adults alike. Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders have been trending on social media for a while now, and I’m so glad I finally gave them a try! The concept is simple: you make the breading from crushed Cheez-It® crackers. The result is a crispy, cheesy, golden chicken tender that’s baked—not fried. This is a great recipe to get the kids involved in the kitchen. They can help crush the crackers, dredge the chicken, and of course, taste-test the final product. Trust me, they will love these. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Find in Today’s Post
Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders Ingredients
- 2 lbs. Chicken Tenders (or 4-6 chicken breasts sliced lengthwise into 2-inch strips)
- Buttermilk (enough to cover chicken tenders in a bowl)
- A Few Dashes of Hot Sauce, like Frank’s Red Hot or Tabasco
- 1 box Cheez-It® Crackers
- Olive Oil
- Minced Parsley for garnish
- Dipping Sauces
How to Prepare Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Buttermilk Marinade
This recipe has only a few simple steps. The first is to marinate the chicken tenders in buttermilk with a few splashes of hot sauce. Put the chicken tenders, I have about 2 pounds worth, in a bowl and pour on enough buttermilk to cover. Add a few splashes of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, Crystal, or Tabasco. Stir to coat all the tenders with the buttermilk, cover, and refrigerate overnight or for a few hours.
When you’re ready to bake the tenders, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray. If you’re worried about the tenders sticking to your sheet pan, lay a sheet of parchment on the sheet tray and spray the parchment with cooking spray. Set the tray aside.
Step 2: Cheez-It® Breading
One box of Cheez-It® crackers is enough to work with. I decided to mix two kinds of Cheez-It® crackers: hot & spicy and white cheddar. Go with your favorite flavor or flavors. So I added half of each bag to the bowl of my food processor and pulsed until the crackers were a coarse sandy texture.
Step 3
Transfer the Cheez-It® breading to a rectangular baking dish and set up your breading station with the buttermilk chicken tenders, the Cheez-It® breading in the center, and the tray to catch the breaded tenders on the right.
Then, you can work a few chicken tenders at a time; lay the buttermilk-coated tenders in the Cheez-It® breading, turn a few times to evenly coat the tender and place the breaded tenders on the sheet tray. Repeat with the rest of the tenders.
Step 4
Then drizzle olive oil over the tenders. Now bake the tenders for 15-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (temped at 165 degrees F) and the Cheez-It® coating is golden.
Step 5
Let the tenders sit for several minutes to let them cool, and the Cheez-It® coating will crisp up a bit more. While you’re waiting for that, you can chop up some parsley to sprinkle over the top. Once they’ve cooled and crisped up a bit, transfer the Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders to a serving dish. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces. I have Ranch dressing and hot honey mustard.
And that’s it! So Simple! These are great on their own with dipping sauce, and they’re also great sliced up to top a salad. Next time you want to get the kids involved with cooking, or you’re just looking for something fun to serve them for dinner, give these Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders a try! Take care and be well, xo Kelly
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FAQ – Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders
Any flavor works! I used a mix of Hot & Spicy and White Cheddar, but Original, Extra Toasty, or any variety you love will be delicious.
Yes! Slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts lengthwise into 2-inch strips and proceed with the recipe as written.
Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken and helps the Cheez-It breading stick. A few hours is fine, but overnight is even better.
You can bread the tenders and refrigerate them on the sheet pan for a few hours before baking. They’re best served fresh, but leftovers reheat well in a 375°F oven.
Absolutely! Slice the baked tenders and use them to top a salad for a fun, crunchy twist.
Key Equipment Used in This Recipe
Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders Recipe Card
Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs. Chicken Tenders or 4-6 chicken breasts sliced lengthwise into 2-inch strips
- Buttermilk enough to cover chicken tenders in a bowl
- A Few Dashes of Hot Sauce like Frank’s Red Hot or Tabasco
- 1 box Cheez-It® Crackers
- Olive Oil
- Minced Parsley for garnish
- Dipping Sauces
Instructions:
- Place Chicken Tenders in a bowl and pour on enough buttermilk to cover. Add a few splashes of Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, Crystal, or Tabasco. Stir to coat all the tenders with the buttermilk, cover, and refrigerate overnight or for a few hours.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a large sheet pan with cooking spray. If you’re worried about the tenders sticking to your sheet pan, lay a sheet of parchment on the sheet tray and spray the parchment with cooking spray. Set the tray aside.
- Add Cheez-It® Crackers to the bowl of a food processor and pulse until the crackers are a coarse sandy texture.
- Transfer the Cheez-It® breading to a rectangular baking dish and set up your breading station with the buttermilk chicken tenders, the Cheez-It® breading in the center, and the tray to catch the breaded tenders on the right.
- Work with a few chicken tenders at a time; lay the buttermilk-coated tenders in the Cheez-It® breading, turn a few times to evenly coat the tender and place the breaded tenders on the sheet tray. Repeat with the rest of the tenders.
- Then drizzle olive oil over the tenders. Now bake the tenders for 15-25 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through (temped at 165 degrees F) and the Cheez-It® coating is golden.
- Let the tenders sit for several minutes to let them cool, and the Cheez-It® coating will crisp up a bit more. While you’re waiting for that, you can chop up some parsley to sprinkle over the top. Once they’ve cooled and crisped up a bit, transfer the Baked Cheez-It® Chicken Tenders to a serving dish. Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
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