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Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders

Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders

The ultimate comfort food, Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders are crispy, spicy, and oh-so-delicious! Perfect for a fun weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these tenders are sure to become a family favorite. With their crunchy coating and tender chicken, you won't be able to resist making them tonight!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

  • ½ cup Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 large eggs (beaten)
  • pounds chicken tenders (about 12 tenders; thawed if frozen)
  • buttermilk ranch dressing
  • blue cheese dressing

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Method
 

  1. Preheat the air fryer to 400℉. Prepare a pan or surface with parchment paper.
  2. In a shallow dish, mix together the Cheeto crumbs and Parmesan; add flour to a second shallow dish or bowl; add beaten eggs to a third.
  3. Dip each tender into the flour until coated, then into the egg until coated, then into the Cheeto mixture, pressing down firmly on both sides to make sure the breading really sticks.
  4. Place each tender onto the prepared surface until ready to cook.
  5. Coat each tender in cooking spray, front and back—more for a crispier and browned breading.
  6. Lay each coated tender into the air fryer basket, not overlapping. You will need to do multiple batches if cooking the full amount.
  7. Cook for 13 to 14 minutes, flipping each tender halfway through.
  8. Remove from the basket and allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve with ranch or blue cheese to dip!

Notes

  • Don’t overcrowd: The air fryer basket should have the tenders in a single layer, so cook them in two batches if needed.
  • Check doneness: Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure your flamin’ hot chicken tenders are cooked through to 165°F.
  • Nutritional information: This does not include optional sauces.