Description
These Crack Chicken Tenders are crispy, cheesy, and packed with flavor, making them a quick and comforting dinner option. Coated in a creamy ranch mixture and a crunchy cracker-cheese crust, they bake to golden perfection for a meal the whole family will love.
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds chicken tenders
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt or mayonnaise
- 1 packet (1 ounce) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup crushed Ritz crackers or panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil or cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- In a bowl, mix Greek yogurt (or mayonnaise) with ranch seasoning until smooth.
- In another bowl, combine cheddar cheese, Parmesan, crushed crackers, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Dip each chicken tender into the yogurt mixture, coating well, then press into the cheesy cracker mixture to coat thoroughly.
- Place coated tenders on the prepared baking sheet and lightly spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through (internal temp should reach 165°F).
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces.
Notes
- Use panko for extra crunch if you don’t have Ritz crackers.
- Try pepper jack cheese for a spicier version.
- Coating can be prepped ahead and kept refrigerated until baking.
- Best reheated in oven or air fryer to keep coating crispy.
- Serve with ranch, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or ketchup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
