Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders

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Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders are easy to make and taste great. They are a very fun and tasty alternative to the usual chicken strips you normally make at home.

If you are looking for an easy dinner but want to change up the traditional chicken strips, then try these Hot Cheeto Chicken Strips, you won’t regret it.

Chicken Tenders covered with hot Cheetos.

Table of Contents

Why you should make this Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders recipe

Easy to Make – These Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders take about 30 minutes to make.
Tasty – Hot Cheetos and chicken go great together. These chicken strips are spicy and delicious!
Fun – There is something really fun about eating chicken that tastes like a hot Cheeto!

If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this Chicken and Waffles recipe.

Ingredients Needed

Chicken Tenders
Milk
Eggs
Red Hot Cheetos
All-Purpose Flour
Sweet Paprika
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper

Chicken Tenders, Milk, Eggs, Red Hot Cheetos, All-Purpose Flour, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Salt, Pepper.

How to Make Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders

The complete list of ingredients, quantities, and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and then place an ovenproof rack over top. Set aside.

Place the Cheetos in a food processor and blitz until finely ground. It’s okay if the texture isn’t completely uniform. (You can also use a large ziptop bag and crush the Cheetos with a rolling pin.)

Place the Cheetos in a shallow dish and set aside.

In a second shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk. Set aside.

In the final shallow dish, stir together the all-purpose flour and seasonings.

A close up of a piece of cake on a plate, with Chicken and CHEETOS

Dip each chicken tender in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg mixture, then finally coat completely in the Cheeto crumbs.

Cheeto-coated chicken tenders on a foil baking sheet.

Place the Cheeto-coated chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake for 18-22 minutes, until chicken tenders reach an internal temperature of 165F.

Storage

Store these flaming hot chicken tenders in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Tips For Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders

I found that the best way to coat these chicken tenders is to use one hand for dipping them in the flour and egg mixture, and then using my other hand to dip them in the Cheetos. This prevents cross-contamination as well as makes coating chicken easier.
Also, it’s important not to crowd the baking sheet when baking these, or else they won’t crisp up.
If you are using frozen chicken tenders be sure to add additional baking time.
Make sure your chicken tenders reach an internal temperature of at least 165F.

Substitutions and Variations

If you don’t have chicken tenders on hand, you can make your own by cutting up chicken breasts.
If you don’t have Cheetos on hand, regular bread crumbs are a great substitute.
Not a fan of spicy foods? Use regular Cheetos in place of the red hot Cheetos for a milder flavor.