Air Fryer Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders are perfect for the hot Cheetos lovers in your life! This easy 20 minute recipe takes chicken tenders and dresses them up in hot Cheetos crumbs before air frying them to tender, juicy perfection. I love the fact that I only need 5 ingredients to make this!
In just 20 minutes with minimal effort, you can have a plate of crispy air fried chicken tenders coated in flamin’ hot Cheeto crumbs! I’ve noticed something about hot Cheetos – those who love them really love them. When I’ve served these chicken tenders at parties and game days, I’m always shocked at how fast they fly off the plate. They’re pretty addictive, especially for those (like me) who love a bag of hot Cheetos once in a while! The best part? They really couldn’t be any easier to make.
What’s in air fryer flamin’ hot chicken tenders?
You only need 5 ingredients to make this easy recipe! Here are three that really stand out:
- Chicken Tenders: You can buy them already sliced into tenders, or buy chicken breasts and slice those up instead.
- Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Crumbs: Try not to sneak too many bites before you crush up the bag into crumbs!
- Parmesan Cheese: For the very best texture and flavor, consider freshly grating the cheese right off the block.
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How to Store and Reheat
One of my favorite things about the air fryer is that it’s easy to reheat crispy foods and they taste just like they were freshly cooked! Leftover Flamin’ hot chicken tenders will keep well, covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, let the cooked tenders come up to room temperature before placing them in the preheated air fryer at 375°F and heat cook for around 4 minutes until warmed through.
How to Freeze
Once the cooked tenders are fully cooled to room temperature, you can freeze them in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Don’t forget to date and label!
Notes and Tips
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The tenders should be in a single layer, so cook them in two batches if needed.
- If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can make these with slices of chicken breast.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check that your flamin’ hot chicken tenders are cooked through. They should register at 165°F.
- This is such a fun meal. Play with the unique flavors when serving and make your kid’s dinner a dream! I love to serve alongside fun desserts like this matcha ice cream.
Air Fryer Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 1¾ pounds chicken tenders thawed – about 12 (or chicken breast cut into tenders)
- ½ cup Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 large eggs beaten
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- buttermilk ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping optional
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 400℉. Prepare a pan or surface with parchment paper.
- In a shallow dish, mix together Cheeto crumbs and parmesan; add flour to a second shallow dish or bowl; add beaten eggs to a third.½ cup Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs, ½ cup grated parmesan cheese, 3 large eggs, ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Dip each tender into the flour until coated, then into egg until coated, then into Cheeto mixture; pressing down firmly on both sides to make sure breading really sticks. Place each tender onto prepared surface until ready to cook.1¾ pounds chicken tenders
- Coat each tender in cooking spray, front and back–more for a crispier and browned breading.
- Lay each coated tender into Air Fryer basket, not overlapping. You will need to do multiple batches if cooking the full amount.
- Cook for 13-14 minutes, flipping each tender halfway through.
- Remove from basket and allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve with ranch or blue cheese to dip!buttermilk ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping
Notes
- Recipe makes 12 tenders.
- These are actually not very spicy as is. To add a little more spice, consider using less parmesan and more Flamin’ Hot crumbs for the breading. Or add some cayenne (½ teaspoon) to the flour. Or consider adding some hot sauce of your choice to the beaten egg.
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