Tender chicken strips dipped in a creamy sour-cream and crusted with a fun and yummy cheese nip crust. This is the perfect recipe for both kids and adults!

Cheese Nips Crusted Chicken Tenders

Just when you thought chicken tenders couldn’t get any better, they do!

Out of all the one hundred bazillion recipes I’ve made over the years, this is my 6 year old daughter’s absolute favorite. She had a fun time helping me crush and coat the chicken tenders in one of her favorite snacks.

We made this recipe a few days ago and the family loved it so much so I decided to make more yesterday, 4 pounds to be exact! It’s super easy to make and it’s baked so it’s healthier.

Cheese Nips Crusted Chicken Tenders

This recipe is great for kids but it’s also great for the adult cheese nips lovers, me included! You can use Cheez-It or cheese nips, it really doesn’t matter because they are practically the same thing.

You can crush the crackers in a ziplock bag or by blending them in the food processor for about 1-2 minutes.  Don’t over crumb them because you will loose the crispy texture. I left mine kinda chunky because it makes the crust extra crunchy.

Cheese Nips Crusted Chicken Tenders

4.67 from 9 votes

Cheese Nips Crusted Chicken Tenders

By: Layla
The dipping sauce you see in the photo above is a super easy to make buffalo ranch sauce. It's a mixture of 1 teaspoon buffalo sauce and 3 teaspoons ranch dressing. You can add more or less buffalo sauce to taste.
Prep10 minutes
Cook30 minutes
Total40 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Crush Crackers by placing them in a ziplock bag and rolling over the bag with a rolling pin or by placing them in a food processor for 1-2 minutes( be careful not to over processor them).

    Dip the chicken tenders in the sour cream, be sure to coat both side evenly, then place the chicken in the Cheese crumbs mixture and be sure to coat both sides. Place tenders in a baking dish or tray, Drizzle with the melted butter. Bake at 375 for 25-30 minutes or until golden in color.
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28 Comments

  1. You could totally use Greek yogurt or omit all together. The chicken is probably wet enough for the crushed crackers to stick to. or you could di them in milk or melted butter. Basically anything you really wanted to that sounded good.

  2. This looks so good, Cheez-Its are my favorite! Do you possibly know how many calories are in this recipe?

    1. I have not tried freezing them but I would freeze them after cooking and re-heat in toaster oven.

    2. I have not tried freezing them but I would freeze them after cooking and re-heat in the toaster oven.

  3. These were very bland. I’ll try them again but will add a spice blend (garlic & onion powder, cayenne, etc).

    1. Try them with the hot and spicy cheez it… That’s what we do and my kids love it.

  4. These were delicious! I added some ranch seasoning to the sour cream for an extra zip. I will definitely make these again

  5. Great idea! Is there something I can use to replace the sour cream? Thank you!

    1. I’m going to try cream cheese & maybe thing to sour cream consistency.

  6. Wow i am probably the only guy who likes this, but i am cooking it!

  7. OMG this recipe is so smart! So unique! I want to taste this!

  8. I die for chicken fingers of all kinds, and these are calling my name! YUM!

  9. This is just genius!! When I was pregnant I seriously had a box of cheese nips once a week! I love them! And crushed up on a chicken tender? obsessed!

  10. ooooooh yes!!!! LOVE that you coated these chicken tenders in crushed cheesy crackers! YUM

  11. for REAL?!?! we are officially cheese-soul-sistas Layla, there’s really no other explanation at this point 😉

  12. I can OD on some Cheez-Its! Plus sour cream is a huge weakness of mine. It’s settled, I’m making this!

  13. Awesomeness right here! Gotta give this a try. The kids are sure to love it.
    Pinned!
    Have a great day Layla!

  14. Wow. That chicken looks crazy good. You cooked it perfectly. I’m definitely going to have to try this and put it on my regular dinner rotation. We eat A LOT of chicken!

    1. Thanks Shannon! I’m sure your going to love this recipe!

  15. You’ll be my chicken queen from now on.
    Sorry that it sounded so creppy ohhh hehehe. BUT all your chicken recipes always look so darn good. YUUUM these are brilliant!

    1. Haha that’s not creepy at all! I love cheez-it so much to, I can literally snack on it all day.. 😀