Description
Cheddar bacon chicken tenders bring serious flavor to your dinner table with crispy, cheesy goodness that’ll have everyone begging for seconds. Packed with smoky bacon and melted cheddar, these tender chicken strips make weeknight meals totally irresistible.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 8 slices bacon
Breading and Coating:
- ½ cup flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray or oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. Lightly coat the paper with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange three shallow dishes for coating: first with ½ cup flour, second with 2 beaten eggs, and third with 1 cup breadcrumbs mixed with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
- Take each chicken tender and roll it through the flour, ensuring complete coverage. Shake off any excess powder.
- Dunk the floured tender into the beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip back into the bowl for an even coating.
- Roll the egg-coated tender in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing firmly to help the crumbs adhere completely to your chicken.
- Transfer each breaded tender to the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between them for even cooking.
- Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of shredded cheddar cheese over each tender, then generously top with crumbled bacon pieces.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 22-25 minutes, until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the coating turns golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let the tenders rest for 3-4 minutes before serving with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Bacon works best when chopped finely and crisped beforehand to ensure maximum flavor and crunch on your chicken tenders.
- Choose sharp cheddar cheese for a more robust taste that stands up beautifully to the crispy bacon and seasoned coating.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds to maintain a similar crispy texture.
- Check chicken’s internal temperature reaches 165°F with a meat thermometer to guarantee safe and perfectly cooked tenders every time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 474 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 760 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg