I don’t know about you, but I still love Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. They’re such a good spicy snack, but why not turn them into a meal? It may sound crazy, but these Air Fryer hot Cheeto chicken tenders are amazing! I dipped chicken tenders in Flamin’ Hot Cheeto dust and air-fried them to crispy perfection. They’re perfectly spicy and totally fun to eat. Plus, they only use 5 ingredients and take just 20 minutes to make.
Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken
I love coating chicken tenders in everything from Cornflakes to coconut, so why not Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, too? These air fryer chicken tenders are just as crisp as if they were deep fried but without all that greasy oil. In my family, we’re big spice lovers, so these Hot Cheeto chicken strips are always a big hit. Simple to prep, I always have a big batch ready for game day!
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How to Store and Reheat
Leftover hot Cheeto chicken tenders will keep well, covered in the fridge for up to 3 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
- If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can make these with slices of chicken breast.
- 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.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The tenders should be in a single layer, so cook them in two batches if needed.
- Use an instant-read thermometer to check that your flamin’ hot chicken tenders are cooked through. They should register at 165°F.
Air Fryer Hot Cheeto Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs beaten
- 1¾ pounds chicken tenders (about 12 tenders) thawed if frozen
Optional Dipping Sauces
- Buttermilk ranch dressing
- Blue cheese dressing
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400℉. Prepare a pan or surface with parchment paper.
- In a shallow dish, mix together the 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 freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 3 large eggs, ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Dip each tender into the flour until coated, then into the egg until coated, then into the Cheeto mixture, pressing down firmly on both sides to make sure the breading really sticks. Place each tender onto the 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 the 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 dressing, Blue cheese dressing
Notes
- Nutritional information does not include optional sauces.
How to Make Hot Cheeto Chicken Step by Step
Prep the Dredging Station: Preheat your air fryer to 400℉. Prepare a pan or surface with parchment paper. In a shallow dish, mix together ½ cup of Flamin’ Hot Cheeto crumbs and ½ cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese; add ½ cup of all-purpose flour to a second shallow dish or bowl; add 3 large beaten eggs to a third.
Dredge the Tenders: Dip 1¾ pounds of chicken tenders into the flour until coated, then into the egg until coated, then into the Cheeto mixture, pressing down firmly on both sides to make sure the breading really sticks. Place each tender onto the prepared surface until ready to cook.
Cook the Tenders: Coat each tender in cooking spray, front and back– more for a crispier and browned breading. Lay each coated tender into the 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!
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