Description
These Doritos Air Fryer Chicken Tenders feature crispy, flavorful chicken coated with a spicy Cajun flour mix and a crunchy blend of crushed Doritos and Panko crumbs. Air fried to golden perfection, they deliver a deliciously addictive snack or meal that’s quick to prepare and healthier than traditional frying.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 8-12 boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 large bag of Doritos
- 1 cup Panko crumbs
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp Cajun spice
- 4 eggs, beaten
- Olive oil cooking spray, as needed
Instructions
- Crush Doritos: Place the Doritos in a sealed Ziploc bag and crush them until the texture is similar to Panko crumbs, providing a crunchy coating.
- Mix Coatings: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed Doritos and Panko crumbs; set aside for breading.
- Prepare Flour and Egg Bowls: In one bowl, mix the flour, Cajun spice, and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (or select the chicken preset temperature) to ensure even cooking.
- Dredge Chicken in Flour: Take a chicken tender and coat it evenly in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
- Dip in Egg Wash: Dip the floured chicken tender into the beaten eggs, making sure it is fully coated.
- Coat with Doritos-Panko Mix: Dredge the egg-coated tender in the Doritos and Panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere the crumbs.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the coated chicken tenders on a baking sheet to prepare for air frying.
- Repeat for Remaining Tenders: Continue the dredging and coating process for all chicken tenders.
- Air Fry: Place the tenders in the air fryer basket and cook for 12-14 minutes until crispy and cooked through. Spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray if desired for extra crispiness.
Notes
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow even cooking and crispiness.
- Adjust cayenne pepper according to your preferred spice level.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
- Spraying olive oil lightly before air frying can enhance crust crispiness without adding much fat.
