Skip to Content

Cheese Cracker Chicken Fingers

Please share

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.

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.

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.

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

Cheese Cracker Chicken Fingers

Carlee
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.
4.91 from 11 ratings
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dinners
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Servings
Calories 483 kcal

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.
    3 cups cheese crackers
  • In a shallow dish, beat eggs and water together until completely combined.
    2 eggs, 2 Tablespoon water
  • For the best results, pat chicken dry with paper towels before coating it.
    2 pounds chicken tenders
  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 483kcalCarbohydrates: 37gProtein: 26gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 1170mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1g
Loved this recipe?Please consider rating it and saving on Pinterest.

Please share

Recipe Rating




Andrea Nine

Wednesday 25th of August 2021

I bet the flavor of these is amazing!!

Sandy Rees

Wednesday 25th of August 2021

What a fun idea. Reminds me of cornflake crumb chicken but possibly better with more flavor

Carlee

Wednesday 25th of August 2021

Yes! It's the same idea but with a cheesy twist!