Cheez-It Chicken

Cheez-It Chicken Tenders – Tender chicken tenderloins dipped in a delightful mix of flour, eggs, and honey mustard, then coated in crushed Cheez-It crackers and baked to crispy perfection. It’s the ultimate comfort food with a cheesy twist. Pair it with your favorite sides for a deliciously crunchy dinner that’s sure to become a family favorite.

plate of cheez-it crusted baked chicken tenders with text overlay

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Oven Fried Cheez-It Chicken

These Cheez-it Chicken Tenders are a new family favorite! They are a flavor explosion in every bite. Coated in a mixture of flour, eggs, and honey mustard, chicken tenderloins become golden and crispy in the oven. But it’s the crushed Cheez-It crackers that take this dish to a whole new level. They add that perfect crunch and a cheesy, savory goodness that’s just impossible to resist. Each bite offers a satisfying combination of tender chicken with a hint of sweetness from the honey mustard and the irresistible cheesy kick from the crackers. Add this recipe to your menu ASAP! Your family will thank you.

baked chicken tenders on a baking sheet with honey mustard

How to Make Cheez-It Chicken Tenders

This dish is effortless to make with only a few simple ingredients. Line a baking sheet with foil and set a baking rack inside. Set aside. 

Place flour in a shallow dish. Season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk together eggs and honey mustard in another shallow bowl. Place cheez-it crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely crushed. Pour crackers into a separate shallow bowl.

Dip chicken tenderloins in flour; dip into the egg mixture and coat in cracker crumbs. Place chicken on the baking sheet. Spray chicken with cooking spray.

Bake in a preheated oven until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF. Sprinkle with parsley.

Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

  • You can use any boneless chicken you enjoy in this recipe.
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins.
    • Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165ºF.
  • I crush my cheese crackers in the food processor. Don’t have a food processor? You can place the crackers in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
  • For extra flavor, add parmesan cheese to the cracker crumbs.
  • Can I make Cheez-it Chicken in the air fryer? Yes! Bread the chicken and place them in the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken strips in batches at 375ºF for 8 minutes.
  • Drizzle the chicken with melted butter instead of spraying the chicken with non-stick spray.
  • Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
baked chicken tenders on a baking sheet

What to Serve with Cheez-it Chicken

When it comes to serving up this chicken, you’ll want some sides that complement its crispy, cheesy goodness. 

  • One fabulous choice is a classic macaroni and cheese. Its creamy, cheesy nature pairs perfectly with the crunchy chicken. 
  • A fresh and crisp garden salad with a zesty vinaigrette dressing is a fantastic choice. The contrast of the light and tangy salad alongside the rich, cheesy chicken creates a well-rounded meal.
  • Consider serving it with french fries or sweet potato fries for a classic combination.
  • And don’t forget your favorite dipping sauces, such as honey mustard or ranch dressing.

No matter what you serve alongside this chicken, It’s a meal that’s sure to satisfy both kids and adults alike! Looking for more side dish ideas? Here are some popular recipes from the website:

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plate of cheez-it crusted baked chicken tenders with text overlay

Cheez-It Chicken

Yield: 4 people
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Cheez-It Chicken Tenders – Tender chicken tenderloins, dipped in a delightful mix of flour, eggs, and honey mustard, then coated in crushed Cheez-It crackers, and baked to crispy perfection. It's the ultimate comfort food with a cheesy twist. Pair it with your favorite sides for a deliciously crunchy dinner that's sure to become a family favorite.

Ingredients:

  • -lb chicken tenderloins
  • ¼ cup honey mustard dressing
  • 2 large eggs
  • cup all-purpose flour
  • ¼ tsp garlic powder
  • salt and black pepper, to taste
  • cups Cheez-It cheddar crackers
  • cooking spray

Instructions:

  • Preheat oven to 475°F. Line a baking pan with nonstick aluminum foil and top with a baking rack.
  • Place flour in a shallow dish. Season with garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Whisk together eggs and honey mustard in another shallow bowl.
  • Place cheez-it crackers in the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely crushed. Pour crackers into a separate shallow bowl.
  • Dip chicken tenderloins in flour; dip into the egg mixture and coat in cracker crumbs. Place chicken on the baking sheet. Spray chicken with cooking spray.
  • Bake, for 12 to 15 minutes, until golden brown. Check for an internal temperature of 165ºF.

Notes:

  • You can use any boneless chicken you enjoy in this recipe.
    • Boneless skinless chicken breasts, chicken thighs, or chicken tenderloins.
    • Use an instant-read meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of 165ºF.
  • I crush my cheese crackers in the food processor. Don’t have a food processor? You can place the crackers in a ziplock bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
  • For extra flavor, add parmesan cheese to the cracker crumbs.
  • Can I make Cheez-it Chicken in the air fryer? Yes! Bread the chicken and place them in the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken strips in batches at 375ºF for 8 minutes.
  • Can drizzle the chicken with melted butter instead of spraying the chicken with non-stick spray.
  • Store leftover chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Steph

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baked chicken tenders on a baking sheet with text overlay

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Comments

  1. Approximation how many Cheez-Its are on a cup? I'm trying to figure out the night into and the program I'm using (my fitness pal) says 17 Cheez-Its or you can list each individually.

  2. Approximation how many Cheez-Its are on a cup? I'm trying to figure out the night into and the program I'm using (my fitness pal) says 17 Cheez-Its or you can list each individually.

  3. I do a similar recipe as well. Try putting a piece of butter over each piece of chicken…absolutely delish!

  4. this recipe was a good idea, but the crumbs don't stick. it ended up just being plain chicken because all the cheeze-it crumbs fell off. very disappointing.

  5. I actually did this 20 years ago because I got a box of cheese its that had apparently been shipped pretty roughly and was half crumbs. I forgot how good these were, I need to make them again.

  6. I love cheeze-its but never thought of using as breading – I need to widen my vision. These look and sound delicious and easy to make as well.

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