Tortilla Crusted Chicken

These tortilla chip crusted chicken breast tenders are breadless as they are coated in tortilla chips. 

It is no doubt that my favorite food ever is chips. Yes, tortilla chips. Specifically Tostitos Thin and Crispy. I am telling you, they are the superior chip. But, you know what is better than an at home chip, Mexican restaurant unlimited chips with salsa. OMG the best! I could go on and on, forever, about my love for tortilla chips; however, I will spare you and stop there.

Anyways, I used my favorite food ever to create these tortilla crusted chicken tenders! They are salty and sweet, from the chips, yet crispy and delicious. Paired perfectly with some salsa, taco sauce or queso!

I always have tortilla chips on hand; therefore, this is a great recipe to have when I need to whip up some dinner on a short notice.

Quick Tips from Allie Carte

• Use this for any cut of chicken from tenderloins (seen here), to nuggets, to full chicken breasts.
• This is great for other types of meat such as pork chops.
• Substitute your favorite chip. This recipe is great with Doritos, flavored Lay's, or just about any of your other favorite chips.

What You Need for Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Breast Tenders 

I made these in the oven because I was making a ton of servings (meal prep); however, these are really good in the air fryer. If making these in the oven, you will need an oven safe cooling / wire rack, aluminum foil and a baking tray slightly larger than the rack.

Now, for the ingredients:

• Tortilla chips
• Flour
• Seasonings
• Egg whites
• Chicken tenderloins
• Cooking spray

However, we can go over some suggestions and substitutions.

Tortilla Chips

This is a breadless chicken tenders recipe; therefore, we will be breading the chicken in tortilla chips!

It is no doubt that my favorite food ever is chips. Yes, tortilla chips. Specifically Tostitos Thin and Crispy. I am telling you, they are the superior chip. However, you can use any brand of tortilla chip for crusted chicken. I prefer these as they are thin and easy to ground finely.

I used approximately 30 chips or 56 grams of chips, which equaled just under a half cup of crushed up chips.

Another substitution is to use your favorite chip. This would be amazing with Doritos or a flavored Lay's. Lay's has so many flavors from cheddar to jalapeño; image how delicious that would be for this chicken.

Flour

Use flour to help the tortilla chips bind to the chicken. You should use all purpose flour; however, you can substitute a cup for cup gluten free flour or another type of flour.

Egg Whites

Again, use the egg whites to help bind the tortilla chips to the chicken. I prefer liquid egg whites as they are a no mess solution to a whole egg. In addition, they are very liquid whereas a whole egg can get clumpy. However, you can substitute a whole egg, just whisk it first.

If you are allergic to eggs, or do not have any, you can substitute water, melted butter or almond milk.

Chicken Tenderloins

This recipe is specifically for tortilla chip crusted chicken breast tenders. However, you can use this recipe to make chicken nuggets, by cutting up the tenderloins. In addition, you can use whole chicken breasts or another alternative.

Seasonings

For the seasonings, I am keeping them pretty neutral with a touch of Mexican flare.

• Seasoned salt
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Cumin
• Paprika
• Chili powder

However, you can substitute or adjust the seasonings as you see fit.

How to Make Tortilla Chip Crusted Chicken Breast Tenders 

I made these in the oven because I was making a ton of servings (meal prep); however, these are really good in the air fryer, we can go over both ways. If making these in the oven, you will need an oven safe cooling / wire rack, aluminum foil and a baking tray slightly larger than the rack.

Oven Version

Start by preheating the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking tray with aluminum foil, then, add the wire rack on top. Grease the wire rack with cooking spray.

Place the tortilla chips in a sealed baggie and crush them as much as you can, until they form a fine crumb. This will act as the coating as these are breadless chicken tenders.

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken tenderloins with just a little bit of the seasoned salt.

Grab two small shallow bowls. In one, pour the liquid egg whites. In another, combine the tortilla chips, flour and seasonings.

One by one, cover a chicken tenderloin in the egg whites. Then, press all sides of the chicken into the tortilla chip mixture, creating tortilla crusted chicken. Place the crusted chicken on the wire rack. Repeat for each chicken tenderloin trying not to let them touch.

Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, then, spray with cooking spray. Bake again for 5 more minutes.

Then, flip the chicken over and spray again with cooking spray. Bake again for 10 minutes, or until fully cooked.

Air Fryer Version

Start by preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees. Grease the air fryer with cooking spray.

Place the tortilla chips in a sealed baggie and crush them as much as you can, until they form a fine crumb. This will act as the coating as these are breadless chicken tenders.

Sprinkle both sides of the chicken tenderloins with just a little bit of the seasoned salt.

Grab two small shallow bowls. In one, pour the liquid egg whites. In another, combine the tortilla chips, flour and seasonings.

One by one, cover a chicken tenderloin in the egg whites. Then, press all sides of the chicken into the tortilla chip mixture, creating tortilla crusted chicken. Place the crusted chicken on the wire rack. Repeat for each chicken tenderloin trying not to let them touch.

Air fry for 3 minutes, then, spray with cooking spray. Air fry again for 3 more minutes.

Then, flip the chicken over and spray again with cooking spray. Air fry again for another 6-8 minutes, or until fully cooked.

Sauce

So, what sauce should you pair with these chicken tenders? These are paired perfectly with some salsa, taco sauce or queso! I chose a salsa con queso. They are amazing with different G Hughes sauces, they are my favorite. Try the Polynesian sauce, BBQ sauce, honey mustard, or sweet chili sauce.

If you want to make your own sauce, I have tons! Try out some copycat sauces such as my copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian sauce, copycat Cane's sauce, or my copycat Chick-fil-A sauce. In addition, you can try some of my homemade sauce like my Nashville hot chicken sauce, firecracker sauce, or a classic ranch dressing.

Sides

Now, what side should you pair with the chicken? For our carb-y side, try my Instant Pot Mexican rice, air fried fries, or herb roasted fries.

For the vegetable side, try air fryer crispy corn, spicy sugar snap peas, or some carrot fries.

More Recipes

I know this really is not a "Mexican style" dish whatsoever. However, it does have tortilla chips and I do pair it with salsa con queso; therefore, I will provide some more similar type recipes. After this, try out my Doritos bake, my famous queso smothered chicken casserole, or nacho casserole.

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Tortilla Crusted Chicken

These tortilla chip crusted chicken breast tenders are breadless as they are coated in tortilla chips. 

Sauce

Try out some copycat sauces such as my copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian sauce, copycat Cane's sauce, or my copycat Chick-fil-A sauce.

In addition, you can try some of my homemade sauce like my Nashville hot chicken sauce, firecracker sauce, or a classic ranch dressing.

Sides

For our carb-y side, try my Instant Pot Mexican rice, air fried fries, or herb roasted fries.

For the vegetable side, try air fryer crispy corn, spicy sugar snap peas, or some carrot fries.

More Recipes

After this, try out my Doritos bake, my famous queso smothered chicken casserole, or nacho casserole.

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