Cheese Cracker Chicken Fingers

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Cheese cracker chicken fingers will take your homemade chicken tender game to the next level. They are crunchy, cheesy and super simple to make.

plate of cheez-it coated chicken fingers and apple ready to eat.

Chicken tenders are always a popular option at our family’s dinner table. Add cheesy cracker crumbs to the mix and they are an even bigger hit.

They make a quick and simple supper option, perfect for busy evenings. With school starting back up, fast easy recipes like this are a life saver.

cheese cracker crumbs in food processor getting ready for breading chicken tenders.

Chicken finger dipped in egg wash and rolled in cheese cracker crumbs.

Plus they will help to keep dinnertime complaints to a minimum, especially if your kids like chicken nuggets. I know that is music to any parent’s ears.

Have your favorite dipping sauces to make them even more fun. Ranch dressing, honey mustard sauce and barbecue sauce are all great options.

Cheese cracker coated chicken tenders ready to bake.

Freshly baked cheez-it chicken fingers fresh from the oven.

Little Dude prefers plain cheddar cheese crackers for the crumb coating. However if your family likes a little spice, feel free to add pizzazz with spicier cheese crackers.

You could also add a splash of hot sauce to water and egg mixture for another layer of flavor. However they are amazing just the way they are.

Close up of cheez-it coated chicken tenders on plate.

The best part is these chicken fingers bake in the oven, so there is do deep frying or greasy frying pan to mess with. You get juicy chicken with a crunchy exterior and no oil.

If you like crunch coatings on your chicken, you may like cornflake chicken as well. It was always a hit with my family when I was growing up.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between chicken tenders and chicken breast?

Chicken tenderloins, also known as tenders, are the long muscle strips located underneath the breast. If you can’t find chicken tenders, feel free to cut a few skinless chicken breasts into several chicken strips each.

Can I use other coatings?

Of course! You can use this recipe with other crispy coatings. You can use other flavors of crackers, regular breadcrumbs, panko bread crumbs or mix breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese for a cheesy crunch.

Dinner plate with chicken tenders and apple next to cheez-it box.

Great Kid Friendly Side Dish Ideas

For a quick and easy side dish, serve some apple slices with peanut butter yogurt dip. It is a fun way to get an extra serving of fruit on the table.

Acorn squash macaroni and cheese is a great way to hide an extra vegetable in the form of creamy mac and cheese.

Slow cooker creamy corn is another easy favorite side dish. Kids love it and it is super simple to make.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review in the recipe card below!

Yield: 6 Servings

Cheese Cracker Chicken Fingers

This yummy homemade chicken tenders recipe uses cheese crackers to make a super easy coating. They are great kid food but are also love by adults.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

2 pounds chicken tenders
3 cups cheese crackers
2 eggs
2 Tablespoon water

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
Crush crackers to a relatively fine crumb using a food processor or a rolling pin and a ziploc bag. Transfer cracker crumbs to a shallow bowl.
In a shallow dish, beat eggs and water together until completely combined.
For the best results, pat chicken dry with paper towels before coating it.
Dip each chicken tender in the egg mixture and then the cracker crumbs, making sure it is coated on all sides. Place coated chicken tenders on prepared sheet pan and repeat until all of the chicken is coated.
Bake for 20 minutes or until the middle of the thickest tender is at least 165°F.
Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.