Crispy Onion Chip Chicken (Print version)

Tender chicken coated in a crispy onion and cheese chip crust, baked or air-fried to golden crisp.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb chicken tenders (approximately 8 pieces)

→ Onion & Cheese Chip Coating

02 - 2 cups onion-flavored chips (e.g., Funyuns or onion rings snacks)
03 - 1 cup cheese-flavored chips (e.g., cheddar cheese crisps or cheese puffs)

→ Dredging

04 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 2 tablespoons milk
07 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
08 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# How to Make:

01 - Heat oven to 425°F or set air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
03 - Place onion and cheese chips in a food processor or sealed bag and crush into coarse crumbs. Transfer to a shallow dish.
04 - Combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper in a separate shallow dish.
05 - Whisk eggs and milk together in a third shallow bowl.
06 - Pat chicken tenders dry using paper towels.
07 - Dredge each tender in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess, dip into the egg mixture, then press into the crushed chip mixture to coat evenly.
08 - Place coated tenders in a single layer on the baking sheet or air fryer basket.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
10 - Allow tenders to rest for 2 minutes before serving.

# Expert tips:

01 -
  • The coating stays crunchy even after sitting out, which means these are actually great for lunch boxes and picnics.
  • You only need basic pantry staples and your favorite chip snacks, making this impossibly easy to throw together on a Tuesday night.
  • Kids who normally turn their noses up at dinner suddenly become enthusiastic eaters when chips are involved.
02 -
  • If you skip patting the chicken dry or don't press the coating firmly, it'll fall off during cooking and you'll end up with naked chicken and loose coating at the bottom of your pan.
  • Air frying makes these noticeably crunchier than baking, and the cooking time is shorter, so check them at 10 minutes to be safe.
03 -
  • Buy good quality chicken tenders if you can—they'll be thicker and stay juicier inside while the coating crisps up perfectly.
  • The difference between these being just okay and being incredible is how firmly you press the chip coating on. Don't be gentle.
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