A cheesy coating makes these Spicy Parmesan Ranch Chicken Tenders a delicious dinner recipe the whole family will love. Dipping the homemade chicken nuggets in a spicy ranch dressing gives them an extra fun flavor kick.
As a family with three children, we have gone through our fair share of chicken nuggets and dipping sauces over the years from various fast food restaurants.
Ok, fine even I am guilty of ordering chicken nuggets for dinner when we go to McD’s…and that was just the other week. Don’t judge me…I had a salad with them.
The other day my husband and I were picking up some groceries from Sam’s Club. Anyone else love sample day? You know it’s going to be a good trip when you see all those booths lined up down the aisles. You also know you are bound to see and hear some funny things.
That day they were sampling the dino-shaped chicken nuggets. We happened to walk by that booth and overheard a customer talking to the worker. “So, what’s in these?” “Oh, it’s chicken?” “But they are shaped like dinos?”
My husband is convinced this lady thought those dino nuggets really were made with dinosaur meat because why else would she seem so surprised to find out they were chicken. We may have laughed like crazy all around the store because it was seriously so funny!
Or she was a professional sampler. You know the ones, right? They walk up to see what the sample is and then act like it is something they have never seen or tried before.
Don’t try to act like you haven’t done that too. “Oh, what is this?” “Popcorn?” “Why no, I have never tried that before.” Ok, so maybe that’s being a little too silly.
Because eating out or buying chicken nuggets all the time can be pricy, I like to make these easy baked chicken tenders at home. You can bump up the spicy flavor by adding some hot sauce to the buttermilk that you marinate the chicken in. Adding cheese and Ranch powder to the breadcrumbs make these chicken tenders taste that much better.
My family went crazy for these homemade chicken tenders. I’m thinking with 3 hungry kids, I am going to need to double the batch next time if I went leftovers. These chicken tenders will be perfect for all those salads that I have been eating.
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Spicy Parmesan Ranch Chicken Tenders
A spicy ranch and cheese coating will make these chicken tenders disappear in a hurry at dinner time.
Ingredients
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1-2 Tablespoons hot sauce
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup ranch powder
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Stir together the milk and hot sauce. (Use 1 for mild, 2 for spicier) Pour over the chicken in a bowl. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a sheet pan with foil.
- Stir together the crumbs, cheese, ranch powder, and pepper. Roll the chicken in the crumbs.
- Place on a greased baking sheet. Bake for 17-20 minutes or until the juices run clear. Serve immediately.
Notes
*Serve with ranch dressing and hot sauce mixture. Mix in enough hot sauce to suit your taste buds.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: Serves 6Amount Per Serving: Calories: 309Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 79mgSodium: 706mgCarbohydrates: 18gFiber: 1gSugar: 4gProtein: 31g
Nutrition facts are an estimate and are not guaranteed to be accurate. If you need special diet advice, please see a registered dietician.
Meg says
This is my first time visiting your lovely website and while I originally stopped by to pin another recipe, I must say I’m even more excited about these spicy parmesan ranch chicken tenders! This recipe has pretty much all of my boyfriend’s favorite flavors so I think that means I have to make these for dinner this week! Thanks for creating such a great recipe. I’ll be sure to come back to share how they turned out when I make them. Looking forward to becoming a regular reader.
Jocelyn says
I am so glad you found a recipe to try out. Definitely keep me posted on how you guys like them. And I am so happy to have you here as a regular reader 🙂
Meg says
Just wanted to stop back by and tell you that this recipe turned out wonderfully. The flavors were all present and accounted for and the chicken was absolutely moist and delicious. The recipe came together so quickly and, other than the buttermilk, I like that the ingredients are ones I usually have on hand without an extra trip to the store. I ended up freezing the leftover buttermilk in one-tablespoon measures in an ice tray and then storing the cubes in a freezer bag so it’s not wasted.
I will definitely be adding this recipe to my regular rotation and look forward to trying more recipes from your site!
ChiChi says
These chicken tenders looks really delicious. Love the parmesan ranch coating.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I love the parmesan and ranch combo, Jocelyn! Sounds like it makes for one delicious chicken meal. And I love easy meals like this, too! Pinned!
Jocelyn says
Thank you 🙂
Erin @ Miss Scrambled Egg says
Yes! I love the combination of parmesan and ranch together. The samples at wholesale stores are the best. There’s a grocery store in CT that isn’t wholesale, but they give out the best samples of cheese, homemade apple cider donuts, and other goodies. I can eat a meal just from the samples. I’m 24 and I would be happy eating chicken tenders every night of the week 😀
Jocelyn says
We love when there are lots of samples…less time making dinner that night 😉 Nothing wrong with chicken tenders every night…I could totally do that too!
kentuckylady717 says
Yep, they look good and much healthier than the fast food ones…..but if you like McDonald’s, you gotta try Wendy’s…..they have the best ever…….and it is 100 % chicken……I don’t know about McDonald’s now, but they used to be horrible…..wasn’t chicken….but some kind of chicken flavor fillers…..yuk so bad…..
But I will try these, don’t need all the grease 🙂
Thanks,
Jocelyn says
We like Wendy’s and McDonald’s chicken nuggets…I think they are both 100% chicken. Chickfila has some awesome chicken too!!!
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
DINO MEAT. LOL! I was totally laughing out loud at that part. Seriously, what the heck? I cannot even imagine thinking that was dino meat. But I totally agree with you on sample day – I try to get as many samples as humanly possible without feeling totally gluttonous 🙂 These chicken tenders look like a total money saver and sound way better than dino nuggets… or their chicken counterpart!
Jocelyn says
LOL! We seriously were cracking up the entire time we walked through the store! She was too funny!
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
For years Jordan would ONLY eat Dino Nuggets. I should have told her they were made with dinosaurs. I was so happy when she finally ate “real” chicken tenders – love this recipe!
Jocelyn says
Hahaha! That might have ended the dino nugget streak pretty quickly!
Beth says
Dino meat?! This lady IS crazy!!! I know this would be a popular recipe if we had kiddos!
Jocelyn says
Hahaha! Yeah, she sounded so crazy! And this is definitely a kid friendly meal!
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says
Dino meat? Yup, sample day is awesome, just like these chicken tenders. Love a new twist on a classic. Thanks for more great inspiration Jocelyn!
Jocelyn says
Gotta love sample day and the crazy people attacking the booths 😉
Medha @ Whisk and Shout says
These look amaIng! Love the bold flavor a and that they are baked 🙂
Jocelyn says
Thank you!!!!