Crack Chicken Tenders: The Crispy, Flavorful, and Addictive Meal Your Family Will Love
These Crack Chicken Tenders are insanely delicious! Coated in a crispy blend of Ritz crackers, Ranch seasoning, and Parmesan cheese, they’re bursting with flavor and totally addictive. Imagine biting into a perfectly crispy, savory crust that gives way to juicy, tender chicken. This easy recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer, Snack, Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 packet Ranch seasoning mix
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 1 cup Ritz crackers, crushed
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven (Getting Ready to Bake): Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Preheating the oven ensures that the chicken tenders cook evenly and prevents them from sticking to the baking sheet.
- Prepare the Baking Sheet (The Easy Cleanup): Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup. Parchment paper prevents the chicken tenders from sticking to the baking sheet and makes cleanup a breeze. Alternatively, you can lightly grease the baking sheet with cooking spray.
- Combine the Coating Ingredients (The Flavor Base): In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, Ranch seasoning mix, garlic powder, and onion powder until smooth. This flavorful mixture will coat the chicken tenders and provide a base for the crispy breading. Make sure all of the ingredients are well combined.
- Crush the Ritz Crackers (The Crispy Coating): Crush the Ritz crackers into fine crumbs. You can do this by placing them in a zip-top bag and crushing them with a rolling pin or by pulsing them in a food processor. You want the crackers to be finely crushed so they adhere well to the chicken.
- Coat the Chicken Tenders (The Breading Process): Coat each chicken tender thoroughly in the mayonnaise mixture, ensuring that it is fully covered. Then, dredge the coated chicken tender in the crushed Ritz crackers, pressing gently to ensure the coating sticks. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated for maximum crispiness. You can use a fork or tongs to handle the chicken tenders to keep your hands clean.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet (The Even Cooking): Arrange the breaded chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them out evenly to allow for even cooking. Avoid overcrowding the pan, as this can cause the chicken to steam instead of bake, resulting in less crispy tenders. The chicken tenders should be in a single layer.
- Bake (The Cooking Process): Bake the chicken tenders in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. The internal temperature of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C). Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature to ensure the chicken is cooked safely. The cooking time may vary slightly depending on the size and thickness of the chicken tenders.
- Cool and Serve (The Final Touch): Allow the chicken tenders to cool slightly on the baking sheet before serving. This allows the coating to set and become even crispier. Serving them immediately after baking can result in a slightly soggy coating. Enjoy these delicious Crack Chicken Tenders with your favorite dipping sauces!
Notes
- Even Coating (The Key to Crispiness): Make sure the chicken tenders are fully coated in both the mayonnaise mixture and the crushed Ritz crackers for maximum flavor and crispiness. If you find that the coating isn’t sticking well, you can lightly pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels before coating them.
- Don’t Overcrowd (The Crispy Secret): Avoid overcrowding the baking sheet, as this can cause the chicken tenders to steam instead of bake, resulting in less crispy tenders. It’s better to use two baking sheets if necessary than to overcrowd one.
- Checking for Doneness (The Temperature Gauge): The most reliable way to check if the chicken is cooked through is to use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C). Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the chicken tender.
- Crispy Coating (The Extra Step): For an extra crispy coating, you can spray the chicken tenders with cooking spray (like Pam) before baking. This will help them to brown more evenly and create a more crispy texture.