Buffalo Chicken Tenders (2024)

• Cheez-It Crackers: I prefer to use the hot & spicy variety, but any cheesy cracker works well as a breading ingredient.
• Parmesan Cheese: Enhances the cheesy flavor.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: You could use regular bread crumbs as well, but Panko breadcrumbs are great for a nice hearty crunch.
• Seasonings: Garlic powder and salt are all you need, but feel free to add more seasonings if you like.
• Butter: Gives your tenders a fantastic buttery flavor that pairs well with the hot sauce.
• Hot Sauce: Use your favorite hot sauce--Frank's RedHot is a classic choice for buffalo sauce!
• Mayonnaise: Helps the breading adhere to the chicken tenders.
• Chicken Tenderloins: If you can't find actual chicken tenderloins at the grocery store, you can also buy chicken breasts and cut them into the appropriate shape and size.
• Dipping Sauce: Pair your tenders with blue cheese or ranch dressing.

Recipe Tips

See Also

Crispy Baked Buffalo Chicken Breasts | foodiecrush.comBaked Buffalo Chicken (Juicy & Easy!) | Wholesome YumThe Best Buffalo Chicken Thighs - Little Sunny KitchenBaked Buffalo Chicken

• Use a meat thermometer to check that your tenders reach an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
• To more easily crush the crackers, blitz them in a food processor. Just be sure not to over-process them! You want decent sized chunks and crumbs rather than a powder.
• For a spicier result, add some cayenne pepper, chili powder, black pepper, or red pepper flakes to the breading mixture.
• Pair your tenders with additional buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, blue cheese dip, or something even more decadent like Garlic Parmesan Sauce.
• Feel free to use Greek yogurt instead of mayo for a slightly lighter take on this recipe.
• This recipe can be halved or doubled fairly easily. I've found the leftovers keep well and are easy to reheat in the oven or the air fryer. Allow leftover to cool and transfer to an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
• You may need to adjust the cook time depending on the size of your chicken pieces.
• Serve alongside celery sticks or carrot sticks.

Recipe FAQ's

• 2 cups hot and spicy Cheez It crackers crushed
• 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 2/3 cups panko bread crunbs
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 tablespoons butter melted
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• 2 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
• Ranch or blue cheese dressing

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a wire cooling rack on a baking sheet and spray it with nonstick cooking spray. If you don't have a rack just place them on a baking sheet sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

• Place cheez it in a ziplock freezer bag and smash the crackers up (you want about 2 cups crushed). You can also place them in a food processor and pulse them several times, (Careful not to over-process them)

• Place the cheez it, parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder and salt.

• In a small bowl add the melted butter and hot sauce and mix until combined.

• Pour the butter mixture into the breading and mix until combined.

• Pat the tender dry with paper towels

• Brush a layer of mayonnaise over the chicken tenders, be sure to coat evenly then place the tender into the bread crumbs and press firmly to make sure the coating sticks.

• Place the breaded tenders onto the rack on the baking sheet.

• Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.

• Serve them with ranch, blue cheese or buffalo sauce.

• You can substitute mayonnaise for Greek yogurt.
• This recipe can easily be halved but the leftovers are delicious and heat up well.
• I use larger chicken tenders; if yours are super small you'll have to adjust the cooking time.
• Air Fryer: Place a single layer of breaded chicken into the basket of a preheated air fryer. Spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray. Fry for 12 minutes at 400 degrees, flip them spray the tops, and fry for another 12 minutes