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Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders

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Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders coated with seasoned crushed tortilla chips and served with salsa. An easy, family weeknight dish!

Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders with salsa

Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders

I love this fun tex-mex twist on chicken tenders! It’s perfect with a Mexican corn salad or a black bean salad. Chicken tenderloins are easy to cook for weeknight dinners because there’s not much prep. They are already cut to the perfect size so all you have to do is bread them and bake or air fryer. If you want more ideas for chicken tenders, try my Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, or these Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders.

Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders with lime wedges

This recipe got two thumbs up from my family. They are easy to make, and take less than 30 minutes – perfect for weeknight cooking! I crushed the tortillas in a ziplock bag and left it a little course for texture. The squeeze of lime on top and salsa for dipping, adds a fun Mexican-American twist to chicken tenders.

How do you get the breading to stick to the chicken tenders?

How To Keep Breading From Falling Off Chicken

  1. Pat the chicken dry.
  2. Dredge in flour.
  3. Dip in beaten eggs.
  4. Coat in the crumbs, pressing the crumbs with the back of a fork.
  5. Carefully transfer to a baking sheet.
Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders ingredients
Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders with salsa

More family-friendly chicken recipes:

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Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders

4.95 from 19 votes
4
Cals:331
Protein:34
Carbs:22
Fat:11
These baked chicken tenders are coated with seasoned crushed tortilla chips, baked until golden and served with salsa. An easy, weeknight chicken dish, great for the kids, or even adults!
Cuisine: American, Tex Mex
Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders with lime wedges
Prep: 5 minutes
20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Serving Size: 2 tenders, 2 tbsp salsa

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ pound chicken tenderloins
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or gluten-free flour*
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 3 1/2 ounces crushed tortilla chips*
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • Olive oil spray
  • 1/2 lime, cut into 4 wedges
  • chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish
  • 1/2 cup jarred salsa, for dipping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • Season chicken tenders with 3/4 teaspoon salt. Place flour on a shallow plate and egg in a medium bowl.  Place tortilla chips, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, garlic powder, cumin, and pepper on another shallow plate.
  • Dredge each tender lightly in flour, then egg (shaking off excess), then chip mixture.  Lightly spray sheet pan with olive oil, place tenders on pan and spray the top with olive oil. Bake about 8 to 10 minutes on each side or until cooked through.
  • To serve: Place 2 tenders on each plate, garnish with cilantro. Serve with 1 lime wedge and salsa for dipping.

AIR FRYER Directions:

  • Spray the chicken on both sides with oil. Air fry in batches as needed in a single layer 5 to 6 minutes on each side.

Last Step:

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Notes

*Check labels for gluten-free.

Nutrition

Serving: 2 tenders, 2 tbsp salsa, Calories: 331 kcal, Carbohydrates: 22 g, Protein: 34 g, Fat: 11 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 137 mg, Sodium: 695 mg, Fiber: 1.5 g, Sugar: 2 g

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