Doritos Chicken Tenders

Doritos Chicken Tenders are crispy, flavorful, and baked to golden perfection with a crunchy Doritos coating. An easy, kid approved dinner or snack everyone loves.

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This post was last updated 2/2026.

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Shopping list:

• chicken tenderloins
• garlic powder
• paprika
• seasoned salt
• black pepper
• nacho cheese Doritos
• breadcrumbs
• eggs
• milk
• cooking spray

Doritos Chicken Tenders are a fun, crunchy twist on a classic dinner that everyone gets excited about. Juicy chicken tenderloins are seasoned, dipped in an egg wash, and coated in a crispy mix of crushed Doritos and breadcrumbs before being baked until golden and crunchy. They’re easy enough for a busy weeknight but feel special enough that no one complains when they show up on the dinner table.

The first time I made these, my daughter Hazel was instantly obsessed. She kept sneaking back to the pan for “just one more,” and now she asks for them by name whenever we’re planning dinners for the week. Whether we’re serving them with ketchup, ranch, or honey mustard, these Doritos Chicken Tenders are always a hit and Hazel approved every single time.

Looking for more easy chicken breast recipes? Try my Chicken Caesar Sandwich or Pan Fried Chicken with Mushroom Gravy!

Need some more kid friendly dinner ideas? Check out these Taco Tater Tots or Air Fryer Fish Sticks!

Keep scrolling for the full printable recipe 💙

Recipe tips and substitution ideas:

• You can use chicken breasts or thighs sliced into strips in place of chicken tenderloins. Let the coated chicken rest for a few minutes before cooking to help the breading adhere. Spraying the tops lightly with cooking spray helps them brown evenly, whether baking or air frying. Always cook in batches so the chicken stays crispy instead of steaming.

• Air fryer instructions: Preheat the air fryer to 400° F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray and arrange the coated chicken tenders in a single layer, leaving space between each piece. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden, crispy, and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F. Cook in batches as needed to avoid overcrowding.

• You can switch things up by using different Doritos flavors like Cool Ranch, Spicy Nacho, or Flamin’ Hot or crushed flavored potato chips for a fun twist. Panko breadcrumbs can replace regular breadcrumbs for extra crunch, and crushed cornflakes or pretzels work if you’re out of chips. For a dairy free option, swap the milk for unsweetened almond, coconut or oat milk.

• For easy crushing, place the Doritos in a zip top bag, press out the air, and use a rolling pin to crush them into fine crumbs, this keeps the mess to a minimum and gives you control over the texture. You can also use a food processor and pulse the chips in short bursts until crumbly, being careful not to over process them into powder.

Our favorite kitchen equipment and supplies used with this recipe:

• Parchment Paper Baking Sheets
• Bounty Paper Towels
• Silicone Whisks
• NutriChef 3 Piece Cookie Sheets for Baking
• Food Processor 

Yield 4 servings

Author Hot Eats and Cool Reads

Prep time

15 Min

Cook time

22 Min

Total time

37 Min

Doritos Chicken Tenders

These baked chicken tenders use crushed Doritos for an extra-crunchy, bold twist on a classic favorite. Perfect for busy weeknights, game day, or dipping in your favorite sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 pound chicken tenderloins
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 ½ cups crushed nacho cheese Doritos
• ½ cup breadcrumbs
• 2 large eggs
• ¼ cup milk
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly coat with cooking spray.
2. Pat the chicken tenderloins dry with paper towels and place them on a plate. Season with garlic powder, paprika, seasoned salt, and black pepper, rubbing the seasoning evenly into the chicken.
3. In a shallow bowl, combine the crushed Doritos and breadcrumbs.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until well combined.
5. Dip each chicken tenderloin into the egg mixture, allowing any excess to drip off, then coat evenly in the Doritos mixture, pressing gently so the coating adheres.
6. Arrange the coated chicken on the prepared baking sheet.
7. Bake for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown, crispy, and cooked through.
8. Serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.

Hot Eats and Cool Reads is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe you try from this blog/website. You may not always have the same results I do due to variations in ingredients, humidity, altitude, cooking temperatures, typos, errors, omissions, or individual cooking abilities. 

You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful. I am not a certified nutritionist and make no claims to the contrary. Each individual's dietary needs and restrictions are unique to the individual.

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