Description
These crispy and flavorful Doritos Air Fryer Chicken Tenders combine the spicy zest of Cajun seasoning with the crunch of crushed Doritos and panko breadcrumbs. Perfectly air fried to achieve a golden, crunchy exterior without the hassle of deep frying, this recipe offers a delicious twist on classic chicken tenders that’s quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 8-12 boneless skinless chicken tenders
- 1 large bag of Doritos (to be crushed)
- 1 cup Panko crumbs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 2 tsp Cajun spice
Egg Wash
- 4 large eggs, beaten
Miscellaneous
- Olive oil cooking spray as needed
Instructions
- Crush the Doritos: Place the Doritos in a sealed Ziploc bag and crush them until they reach a texture similar to Panko crumbs.
- Combine coating ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, mix the crushed Doritos and panko crumbs together; set aside.
- Prepare the flour and egg bowls: In one bowl, combine the flour, Cajun spice, and cayenne pepper. In another bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F or use the chicken preset if available.
- Coat the chicken tenders – step 1: Dredge each chicken tender in the seasoned flour, ensuring an even coating.
- Coat the chicken tenders – step 2: Shake off any excess flour from the chicken tender.
- Coat the chicken tenders – step 3: Dip the floured chicken tender into the beaten egg wash, turning so it is fully coated.
- Coat the chicken tenders – step 4: Dredge the chicken tender in the Doritos-panko mixture, pressing lightly to adhere the coating.
- Arrange on baking sheet: Place the coated tenders on a baking sheet, ready for air frying.
- Repeat for all pieces: Repeat the coating process with the remaining chicken tenders.
- Air fry the chicken tenders: Place the tenders in the air fryer basket and cook at 380°F for 12-14 minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from the air fryer and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Ensure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary for even crisping.
- Adjust cayenne pepper amount if you prefer less heat.
- Use a cooking spray lightly on the tenders before air frying for extra crispiness.
- Check the internal temperature of chicken tenders to ensure they are cooked to 165°F.
- The recipe works well with different flavors of Doritos for unique twists.
