Description
Smoky bacon cheddar crusted chicken fingers bring crispy, savory perfection right to your dinner table. Crunchy coating and cheesy goodness make this recipe a total crowd-pleaser that disappears faster than you can plate it.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken tenders
Breading Components:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup cooked bacon, crumbled
Seasoning Mix:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Binding Ingredient:
- 2 large eggs
Cooking Preparation:
- Cooking spray or oil for greasing
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a light spray of cooking oil.
- Combine 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup cheddar cheese, ¼ cup crumbled bacon, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper in a shallow bowl.
- Beat 2 large eggs in a separate dish for coating the chicken.
- Dunk each chicken tender into the beaten eggs, ensuring complete coverage.
- Roll the egg-coated tender in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help the crust adhere firmly.
- Arrange the crusted chicken tenders on the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each piece.
- Lightly mist the tops of the tenders with cooking spray to help them become extra crisp.
- Bake at 400°F for 20-25 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and the crust turns golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let rest for 3-5 minutes before serving with your preferred dipping sauce.
Notes
- Always use thick-cut bacon for maximum flavor and crunch in your crust.
- Ensure chicken tenders are patted completely dry before dipping to help the coating stick perfectly.
- For a gluten-free version, swap panko breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds.
- Let the chicken rest for 3-5 minutes after baking to help the crust set and stay crispy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 365 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 135 mg