Doritos-Crusted Chicken Tenders (Nacho Cheese & Cool Ranch)
Doritos-Crusted Chicken Tenders (Nacho Cheese & Cool Ranch)
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tenders
- 6 ounces Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos
- 6 ounces Cool Ranch flavored Doritos
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 2 cups pickle juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying
For Serving
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing, for dipping
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, sliced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Doritos coating: Combine both Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch flavored Doritos in a blender or food processor. Blend until the chips are finely crushed into a 'Doritos dust'. Transfer the Doritos dust to a shallow bowl, suitable for coating.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Brine the chicken: Place the raw chicken tenders into a medium bowl. Pour pickle juice over the chicken, ensuring it is fully submerged. Let the chicken brine for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator, to ensure juicy and flavorful tenders.
⏱️ 30 min
- 3
Set up dredging stations: While the chicken brines, set up three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place the all-purpose flour. In the second bowl, place the beaten eggs. In the third bowl, place the Doritos dust.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Dredge the chicken: Remove the chicken tenders from the pickle juice, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Pat them dry lightly if excessively wet. First, dredge each chicken tender thoroughly in the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip the flour-coated tender into the beaten egg. Finally, coat the tender generously in the Doritos dust. For an extra crunchy coating, dip the Doritos-coated tender back into the egg and then into the Doritos dust again.
⏱️ 15 min
- 5
Prepare for cooking (Deep-frying method): Pour the vegetable oil into a deep pot or Dutch oven, ensuring it's at least 2-3 inches deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350
- 6
Cook the chicken (Deep-frying method): Carefully place a few coated chicken tenders into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for 4-6 minutes, flipping occasionally, until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the cooked tenders and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining tenders.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 350
- 7
Alternatively, cook the chicken (Air-frying method): Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the coated chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. Air fry for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Cook in batches if necessary.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 8
Serve: Serve the hot, crispy Doritos-crusted chicken tenders immediately with ranch dressing for dipping and sliced dill pickles on the side.
⏱️ 5 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Doritos-Crusted Chicken Tenders (Nacho Cheese & Cool Ranch)
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tenders
- 6 ounces Nacho Cheese flavored Doritos
- 6 ounces Cool Ranch flavored Doritos
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 2 cups pickle juice
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep-frying
For Serving
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing, for dipping
- 1/2 cup dill pickles, sliced
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the Doritos coating: Combine both Nacho Cheese and Cool Ranch flavored Doritos in a blender or food processor. Blend until the chips are finely crushed into a 'Doritos dust'. Transfer the Doritos dust to a shallow bowl, suitable for coating.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Brine the chicken: Place the raw chicken tenders into a medium bowl. Pour pickle juice over the chicken, ensuring it is fully submerged. Let the chicken brine for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 2 hours in the refrigerator, to ensure juicy and flavorful tenders.
⏱️ 30 min - 3
Set up dredging stations: While the chicken brines, set up three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place the all-purpose flour. In the second bowl, place the beaten eggs. In the third bowl, place the Doritos dust.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Dredge the chicken: Remove the chicken tenders from the pickle juice, allowing excess liquid to drip off. Pat them dry lightly if excessively wet. First, dredge each chicken tender thoroughly in the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip the flour-coated tender into the beaten egg. Finally, coat the tender generously in the Doritos dust. For an extra crunchy coating, dip the Doritos-coated tender back into the egg and then into the Doritos dust again.
⏱️ 15 min - 5
Prepare for cooking (Deep-frying method): Pour the vegetable oil into a deep pot or Dutch oven, ensuring it's at least 2-3 inches deep. Heat the oil over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F. Use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the temperature.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 350 - 6
Cook the chicken (Deep-frying method): Carefully place a few coated chicken tenders into the hot oil, ensuring not to overcrowd the pot. Fry for 4-6 minutes, flipping occasionally, until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Remove the cooked tenders and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining tenders.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 350 - 7
Alternatively, cook the chicken (Air-frying method): Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place the coated chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket, ensuring not to overcrowd. Air fry for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Cook in batches if necessary.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 8
Serve: Serve the hot, crispy Doritos-crusted chicken tenders immediately with ranch dressing for dipping and sliced dill pickles on the side.
⏱️ 5 min