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Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders with Homestyle Ranch Dressing Recipe

Name: Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders with Homestyle Ranch Dressing Recipe
Total time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 ea Egg; ⅓ cup Litehouse® Homestyle Ranch Dressing; 2 tsp Ground Black Pepper; 2 tbsp All-Purpose Flour (or gluten-free blend); 1 ½ cup Crushed Cheese Crackers (may substitute gluten-free crackers); ½ cup Crushed Crispy Jalapenos (a packaged salad topper found in produce department or crouton aisle); 1 tbsp Garlic Powder; 1 tbsp Litehouse® Freeze Dried Cilantro; 1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless Chicken Tenders; 1 ea Cooking Spray

February 1, 2018 Jennifer Fisher

30 minutes

Serves: 6

Ready to bake a tray of Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders

In the epic battle between chicken wings and chicken tenders, the later come out victorious at my house every time– it’s just a matter of personal preference. However, whether you’re on Team Wing or Team Tender, there’s no argument that Homestyle Ranch Dressing is the most delicious dip ever created for chicken, and really all the foods, to be dunked, dipped, drizzled or doused. My recipe for Cheddar Jalapeno Chicken Tenders with Ranch Dressing is a winner as an appetizer for your big football party or as a quick, weeknight dinner.

Even if you’ve never made a homemade tender or chicken nugget in your life, this easy recipe will prove that you are a bona fide snack-making champ. The coating for the uncooked chicken tenders takes two simple steps. First a quick dredge in an egg, flour and ranch dressing mixture and second, a shake-shake-shake in a bag filled with the crumbs of cheddar crackers and crispy jalapenos. Prep to oven to plate in just 30 minutes, leaving your more time to stock the fridge with cold beverages for your guests!

I’ve made these Jalapeno Chicken Tenders with Ranch Dressing as a game-day finger food to share with friends and family. They are also quite delicious served on a big salad (with Ranch Dressing, naturally) or in tortillas with salsa for Taco Tuesday! If a little spicy doesn’t work for you, just substitute the crispy jalapenos with French-fried onions (those kind put atop a green bean casserole). Oh, and I almost forgot to mention, these are so much, much lower fat than fried chicken tenders, nuggets and wings – so munch away!

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Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders with Homestyle Ranch Dressing Recipe

February 1, 2018 Jennifer Fisher

30 minutes

Serves: 6

Become the snack-making champ of any game day party with Jalapeno Cheddar Tenders, an easy chicken appetizer done in 30 minutes. Dip in Ranch Dressing for an epic end-zone celebration.

Dipping Jalapeno Cheddar Chicken Tenders in Homestyle Ranch

Ingredients

1 eaEgg
⅓ cupLitehouse® Homestyle Ranch Dressing
2 tspGround Black Pepper
2 tbspAll-Purpose Flour (or gluten-free blend)
1 ½ cupCrushed Cheese Crackers (may substitute gluten-free crackers)
½ cupCrushed Crispy Jalapenos (a packaged salad topper found in produce department or crouton aisle)
1 tbspGarlic Powder
1 tbspLitehouse® Freeze Dried Cilantro
1 ½ lbsboneless, skinless Chicken Tenders
1 eaCooking Spray

For Garnish:

1 eaJalapeno Slices
1 eaFresh Cilantro

Directions

Preheat the oven to 390°F.In shallow dish, whisk together egg, Ranch dressing, flour and ground pepper. Mixture will be thick and glue-ish. Depending on actual egg size, you may need to thin with another tablespoon or so of Ranch dressing.Add cheese crackers, crispy jalapenos, garlic powder and Instantly Fresh Cilantro to heavy-duty gallon-capacity zip-top bag. Use rolling pin to crush contents into medium-coarse crumbs.Taking one tender at a time, dredge in egg mixture and then shake in crumb mixture until coated. Place on rimmed baking sheet that has been coated with cooking spray, or for even more crispness, use a mesh baking tray on top.Bake at 390°F for 20 minutes, or until cooked through at thickest portion of tender. If placed straight on the baking sheet, flip tenders once after 10 minutes of baking. If using a raised mesh tray, no need to flip.Remove tenders from oven, let cook for 3 minutes, garnish with jalapeno slices and cilantro, and serve with a bowl of Homestyle Ranch Dressing for dipping.