Description
Dorito Crusted Chicken Tenders are a crispy, flavorful twist on classic chicken tenders, coated in bold Chilli Heatwave Doritos for a spicy, smoky kick. Perfect for a quick and irresistible meal, these tenders can be baked or air fried to achieve a crunchy exterior and juicy interior that everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 600 g Chicken Tenders (or slices of chicken breast for a leaner option)
Breading
- 200 g Chilli Heatwave Doritos (for bold flavor)
- 50 g Plain Flour (helps egg adhere and creates a crispy layer)
- 2 pieces Eggs (beaten)
Seasonings
- 1.5 tsp Smoked Paprika (for smokiness)
- 1.25 tsp Salt (to enhance flavors)
- 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper (offers a kick of heat)
- 0.5 tsp Onion Powder (for depth of flavor)
- 0.5 tsp Garlic Powder (for aroma)
- 0.5 tsp Black Pepper (adds warmth)
Other
- Oil Spray (for crispiness without excess oil)
Instructions
- Preparation: Begin by gathering all necessary ingredients and equipment to streamline your cooking process.
- Preheat oven (if baking): Set your oven to 200°C (400°F) to be ready for baking the chicken tenders later.
- Crush Doritos: Place the Chilli Heatwave Doritos into a zip-lock bag and crush them into large pieces using a rolling pin, ensuring not to powder them fine for better texture.
- Season chicken: Lightly season the chicken tenders evenly with 1/4 teaspoon of salt to enhance flavor.
- Prepare breading stations: Arrange three shallow dishes: one with the flour combined with smoked paprika, remaining salt, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper; one with beaten eggs; and one with the crushed Doritos.
- Coat chicken: Dredge each chicken tender first in the seasoned flour mixture, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally roll thoroughly in the crushed Doritos to ensure an even crust.
- Cook using preferred method: For air frying, place the coated tenders spaced apart in the air fryer basket, spray lightly with oil, and cook at 200°C (400°F) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through for even crispiness. For baking, arrange tenders on a parchment-lined baking tray, spray with oil, and bake in the preheated oven for 15-18 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Check doneness: Ensure the tenders are hot in the center and crispy on the outside before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute chicken breast slices for tenders if you prefer leaner meat.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to modify the spice level.
- For extra crispiness, do not overcrowd air fryer or baking tray.
- Use oil spray to keep the breading light and crispy without adding excess fat.
- Ensure chicken temperature reaches 75°C (165°F) for safe consumption.
