Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders (Under 20 Minutes)
Have dinner on the table in under 20 minutes with these crunchy air fryer Doritos chicken tenders! You dredge the tenders in flour, dip them in an egg wash, coat them in crushed nacho cheese Doritos, and air fry them at 375°F. If chicken has been feeling bland, these flavorful tenders are a great way to switch things up!
Say Goodbye to Bland Chicken!
We’re making crispy Doritos-crusted chicken tenders, and you are going to be obsessed. The crushed Doritos are basically the seasoning, and they make the outside SO crunchy. Easy, cheesy, and delicious! This recipe is all that… and a bag of chips.
Prep takes about 10 minutes, the air fryer takes 6 to 8 minutes, and a pound of tenders serves 4. They come out crunchy, cheesy, a little salty, and juicy inside. Make them for a busy weeknight dinner or set them out on game day.
JordanA Few Ingredient Notes…
- Doritos: I stick with the OG Nacho Cheese Doritos for these tenders. The chips are already cheesy and salty, so I only season the flour with a little salt and pepper. Just trust me, they don’t need anything else! The fun thing about this recipe is you can use any flavor of Doritos you want. If you like it spicy, grab a bag of Flamin’ Hot. Cool Ranch is another good one to try. And if crunchy coatings are your thing, try my honey mustard pretzel-crusted chicken tenders next.
- Chicken tenders: Buying chicken tenders cuts down on prep, but you can also slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips.
- Flour: A light coat of flour dries off the outside of the chicken, so the egg wash sticks to it.
- Eggs and milk: Whisking milk into the eggs makes a thinner wash, so it coats each tender lightly and evenly.
How to Make Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders
- Crush the Doritos with a rolling pin or in a food processor. Stop while there are still some small pieces of chip left. Those little pieces give you the most crunch.
- Shake off the extra egg wash before you coat the tender in Doritos. Don’t skip the shake! If the chicken is still dripping, the wet egg makes the Doritos clump up and slide off in the basket. Coat each tender in the crushed Doritos, pressing gently so they stick to the chicken.
- Lay the tenders in the basket in a single layer with about 1/2 inch between them, then lightly spray the tops with oil.
- Bake! Flip them halfway through, and use tongs to turn them gently so you don’t knock off the crust.
Recipe Tips
- I air fry these at 375°F, not hotter, because the Doritos can scorch before the chicken is cooked through, and trust me, burnt Doritos are not good!
- The coating starts out orange, so checking color alone for doneness can be deceiving. They’re done when the coating looks dry and crisp, and a few edges have turned a darker golden orange. Check the thickest tender with a thermometer. It should read 165°F.
- One reader cooked hers at 380°F for 10 to 12 minutes, and her husband loves them! If your tenders are on the big side, check them at 8 minutes and add a minute or two at a time until they reach 165°F.
- If you have chips left over, my Doritos walking tacos are a fun way to switch things up.
How to Serve
I plate mine on a bed of greens for balance. Ranch is a must for dipping! If you have a little extra time, make my homemade herb ranch dressing. Chill it for at least 30 minutes, so make it before you start breading.
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Air Fryer Doritos Chicken Tenders
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Equipment
Ingredients
- cooking spray
- 1/2 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups nacho cheese Doritos about 1 9oz bag
- 1 pound chicken tenders boneless and skinless
- fresh chopped parsley for garnish
- ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and lightly grease the basket with olive oil. In 3 separate shallow dishes, in this order, add the flour with the salt and pepper, the eggs and milk whisked together, and the crushed Doritos.cooking spray, 1/2 cup all purpose flour, 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 2 eggs, 1/2 cup milk, 2 cups nacho cheese Doritos
- Dredge each chicken tender in the flour, then dip it into the egg and milk mixture and shake to let the excess egg run off. Finally, coat it with the crushed Doritos, pressing gently to make sure they stick. Place the coated tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with about 1/2 inch of space between them.1 pound chicken tenders
- Lightly spray the chicken with olive oil spray and air fry for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the tenders to a serving plate and garnish with fresh parsley.fresh chopped parsley, ranch dressing
- Serve hot with ranch dressing or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Crush the Doritos with a rolling pin or in a food processor. Use a large bowl or a wide, shallow dish for each part of the breading.
- If your air fryer basket is small, cook the tenders in batches so each one has about 1/2 inch of space around it.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days, or freeze them for up to 3 months. Reheat in the air fryer for a couple of minutes per side, and a couple of extra minutes from frozen. The microwave works in a pinch, but the Doritos will get soft.
Nutrition
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