Dorito Chicken Tenders Baked Or Air Fried

Yes, this is me slowly creeping the air fryer out 😅 To be fair I’ve had one for years, I’ve just upgraded it and wanted to show off. It’s big and shiny and there’s plenty of room for chicken tenders! Follow me…

Crushed Doritos Chicken

I boldly claimed on social media that Chilli Heatwave Doritos were in the top 5 greatest crisps of all time. I stand by this. In fact, they’re my personal number 2 favourite of all time (closely behind Thai Sweet Chilli Sensations, of course). Obviously, Doritos work great dunked into copious amounts of Sour Cream and Chive Dip or Onion and Garlic Dip, but they also make the perfect ‘crumb’ for chicken.

How do you crush Doritos for chicken?

My preferred method is a zip-lock bag with a rolling pin, but you can also use a food processor. Failing that, just crush them with your hands in the bag. You’ll want to crush the cornflakes until they mimic the texture of large Panko breadcrumbs. Save a bit of the flaky texture; don’t crush them into a fine dusty crumb.

Dorito Crusted Chicken Tenders

I love using tenders because they’re the perfect snack/finger food, which celebrates everything Doritos stand for!

Chicken Tenders vs Chicken Strips

Strictly speaking, a chicken tender is actually a strip of meat located underneath the breast. It is, as the name suggests, ever-so-slightly more tender than the breast itself. Having said that, you can slice up some chicken breasts into strips, which for all intents and purposes will work perfectly fine!

Dorito Chicken Seasoning

I originally used minimal seasoning with the expectation the Doritos would carry the tenders. Unfortunately, it appears Doritos lose some of their flavour as they bake. As such, you will need a simple seasoning mix to bring them to life and enhance the Chilli Heatwave flavour. We’ll mix it through the flour to stick to the chicken. I also like to season the meat directly with a bit of salt. When coating the chicken, make sure you coat it thoroughly (especially in the Doritos). From there just handle them gently so the Doritos don’t fall off. Process shots: mix flour and seasoning (photo 1), coat chicken tender in flour (photo 2), coat in beaten egg (photo 3), coat in crushed Doritos (photo 4).

Dorito Chicken Tenders

They work perfectly in both the air fryer and oven. If I’m making a big batch I’ll do them in the oven, however the air fryer is a lot quicker. In both cases, they’ll need a light coating of oil to help crisp them up and prevent them from burning. I tend to flip the tenders in the air fryer, but you won’t need to flip them in the oven if they’re on a wire rack. Timings will depend on size, so just be vigilant. Some tiny specs of char are expected but try to avoid too many. Just lower the heat if you need to.

Are they spicy?

There is some cayenne pepper in the flour, but I wouldn’t say these are spicier than the Doritos themselves.

Can I use different flavours of Doritos?

The seasoning mix is based on the Chilli Heatwave Doritos, so stick to them for this recipe. After that, you can experiment with seasoning/flavours if you fancy!

How do I know when they’re done?

They should be golden and crisp on the outside and white/piping hot right through the centre.

Serving Dorito Chicken Tenders

I LOVE these with Ranch. I also love dicing them up and making my Chicken Tenders Sandwich. They’re also of course great with a side of Wedges or Fries! Alrighty, let’s tuck into the full recipe for these Doritos chicken tenders shall we?!