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Baked Cheddar Ranch Chicken Tenders

Incredibly tender, juicy flavorful Baked Cheddar Ranch Chicken Tenders coated in the most AMAZING ranch/cheese cracker breading!   These chicken tenders are so finger-lickin'-good they will fly off the plate!

Prep Time
30 mins
Cook Time
30 mins
Total Time
42 mins
Servings: 10 chickden tenders
Course: Dinner , Baked Goods
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 10 chicken tenderloins
Marinade
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tablespoon Hidden Valley® Original Ranch Seasoning & Salad Dressing Mix
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Breading
  • 3/4 cup Ritz crackers (12 crackers approx. 1/2 cup crumbs)
  • 3/4 cup cheese crackers (42 crackers approx. 1/2 cup crumbs)
  • 1/2 cup panko
  • 1/2 cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • 2 tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • pinch cayenne optional
Ranch Dip
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 tablespoon milk or more to taste
  • 2 teaspoons Hidden Valley® Original Ranch Seasoning & Salad Dressing Mix

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Mix Marinade ingredients in a freezer size plastic bag. Add chicken and marinate in the refrigerator 2-8 hours.
  2. Meanwhile, whisk together all of the Ranch Dip ingredients in a medium bowl. Store in the refrigerator.
  3. When ready to prepare, remove chicken from refrigerator. Line a baking sheet with a baking rack and spray rack with nonstick cooking spray.
  4. Prepare breading by grinding crackers to the size of panko breadcrumbs. Add all breading ingredients to a large bowl and mix to combine.
  5. Working with one chicken tenderloin at a time, remove from buttermilk with left hand and allow excess marinade to drip off (or I like to dab with a paper towel) and add to breading. With you clean right hand, firmly press breading into chicken. Add to greased baking rack. Lightly spray chicken with nonstick cooking spray. Repeat.
  6. Bake at 400 degrees F for 12-18 minutes depending on size (until fully cooked/internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F) then broil to desired crispiness.
  7. Serve with Ranch Dip.