Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (1)

By: Becky Hardin

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Baked Chicken Tenders are SO CRISPY, so flavorful, and so delicious. These Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Strips are a new favorite for game day! They’re coated in ranch, cheese, and bacon, and oven baked to perfection.

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2)

Table of Contents

Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe

Baked Chicken Tenders are the perfect game day snack. These Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Strips are so flavorful and so simple to make!

I am SO EXCITED about this Cheddar Bacon Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders recipe! I love food, so there’s not much I won’t try or enjoy, but Pat is a different story. Dude is PICKY and it’s a constant struggle at our house. I can think something is bomb and he will get home and give it the side eye and burst my bubble.

But I’m happy to say that these crispy, oven baked chicken tenders were a huge hit not only with me, but also with Pat! Not only did he eat every last one in sight, but he requested I make them again the next day. I was on cloud nine and more than happy to oblige. This baked chicken strips made with bacon, cheddar, ranch, and panko breadcrumbs are SO good, I will gladly eat them again and again.

This ranch chicken recipe is SO easy, so flavorful, and it is shockingly crispy for being BAKED AND NOT FRIED! Are you ready for the perfect baked chicken strips? Get excited! These are going to be the perfect Super Bowl food!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Strips are a must make. This oven baked chicken tenders recipe will be your go-to for game day, and EVERYONE will love them!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (3)

Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

We love to bake chicken around here! In fact, our Baked Fried Chicken is one of our all-time favorite Chicken Breast Recipes! You don’t have to deep fry chicken strips to make them crispy! This oven baked chicken tenders recipe is super flavorful AND has the perfect crunch thanks to the panko breadcrumbs. Baking chicken tenders is a no-brainer when you want something delicious and a little bit healthier than what you might find at a restaurant. This recipe is so easy, plus the Cheddar Bacon Ranch flavor combo is beyond tasty!

Check out our full Baked Chicken Guide for more EASY baked chicken recipes!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (4)

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (5)

How long to bake chicken tenders?

Baking chicken tenders doesn’t take much effort or time. Once they’re prepared, bake chicken tenders at 400°F for about 15-20 minutes. Tip: If you want them extra crispy, put on the broiler for a few minutes to add some crunch.

How to Make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Tenders

These Crispy Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Strips have all of my favorite flavors in one bite. How can you go wrong with cheese, bacon, and ranch all in one recipe?! This oven baked chicken tenders recipe is MADE for tailgating heaven, trust me!

How to Make Baked Chicken Tenders:

  1. Combine flour and ranch seasoning in a small bowl.
  2. Whisk egg lightly in another small bowl.
  3. Combine by shaking bacon, shredded cheese, & panko breadcrumbs in a Ziploc bag.
  4. Dip each chicken tender in the flour/ranch mixture, then dip in the egg, then place in the bag with the breadcrumb mixture.
  5. When all chicken tenders are prepared and in the bag, seal and shake it up to fully coat each chicken tender with breadcrumbs.
  6. Place them on a baking sheet, and bake 15-20 minutes at 400°F, turning each chicken strip once.

Serve the baked chicken tenders with ranch or another favorite dipping sauce!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (6)

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (7)

I hope you love these Cheddar Bacon Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders as much as Pat!! Who am I kidding, I know you will!For more holiday entertaining tips and recipes, be sure to check outwww.walmart.com/holidayfavoritesand get your recipe hack on!

Watch the Video and See the recipe card for details on how to make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders. Enjoy!

If you like this cheddar bacon ranch chicken recipe, try these other baked chicken recipes too:

  • Ranch Baked Chicken with Bacon
  • Baked Chicken Tacos
  • Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets
  • Baked Fried Chicken
  • Chicken Marinara
  • Crispy Baked Chicken Fingers

Recipe

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders

4.68 from 52 votes

Author: Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie

Prep: 10 minutes minutes

Cook: 20 minutes minutes

Total: 30 minutes minutes

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (8)

Serves4

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Baked Chicken Tenders are SO CRISPY, so flavorful, and so delicious. These Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Strips are a new favorite for game day! They're coated in ranch, cheese, and bacon, and oven baked to perfection.

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (9)

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Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 ounce Dry Ranch Dip Mix
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 cup crispy panko bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup cooked bacon chopped (or bacon bits)
  • 14 ounces boneless skinless chicken tenders or chicken breasts cut into strips. About 7-8 strips
  • Ranch dressing for dipping

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray and set aside.

  • Fill one shallow bowl with the flour and ranch seasoning, stirring to combine. Fill another shallow bowl with the egg, whisking lightly. Combine the panko, cheese, and bacon in a large ziplock bag and stir/shake to combine *SEE NOTE*. Set all in a line.

  • Start by dipping each chicken tender in the flour/ranch mixture, patting to make sure its covered. Dip in the egg, allowing excess to fall away, and then place in the bag with the panko mixture. Repeat with all the tenders.

  • Seal the bag and shake to coat all the chicken fully. You'll want to press and turn the bag until all the tenders are fully coated in the panko mixture.

  • Place the tenders on the prepared baking sheet and spray the strips lightly with more olive oil spray.

  • Bake for 15-20 minutes, turning once. When chicken is fully cooked through (white throughout), turn on your broiler and cook for 2-4 minutes more or until the coating is extra crispy. (optional)

  • Serve with ranch and enjoy!

Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!

Becky’s tips

*NOTE* For a finer coating, you can place the panko/cheese mixture in a food processor to blend everything together. This makes it easier to coat the chicken, but is totally optional.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 259kcal (13%) Carbohydrates: 11g (4%) Protein: 28g (56%) Fat: 10g (15%) Saturated Fat: 4g (25%) Cholesterol: 121mg (40%) Sodium: 315mg (14%) Potassium: 410mg (12%) Vitamin A: 230IU (5%) Vitamin C: 1.2mg (1%) Calcium: 127mg (13%) Iron: 1.4mg (8%)

Did You Make This?I want to see! Be sure to upload an image below & tag @thecookierookie on social media!

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (10)

Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (11)

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FAQs

Why are my baked chicken tenders soggy? ›

You'll want to use a neutral-tasting oil like canola, vegetable, or peanut oil with a high smoke point. Monitor the temperature with a thermometer, adjusting the heat as necessary. If the oil isn't kept at around 350 degrees Fahrenheit, the breading will absorb excess oil and become soggy.

How long to bake frozen raw chicken tenders? ›

Generously spray the fresh or frozen chicken tenders all over with cooking spray. Arrange on the prepared rack and bake, flipping halfway through, until golden and crispy and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes (if frozen, 20 to 25 minutes).

How do you keep chicken crispy when baking? ›

You can also get a nice crust on chicken by starting it out in the oven: follow your recipe, or heat the oven to between 400° to 450°F, place a rack in the top third (the hottest part) of the oven, and slide a pan of chicken pieces in, skin side up. The skin will be crisp by the time the chicken is cooked through.

Why doesn't my chicken get crispy in oven? ›

Bake at a high temperature: When it comes to crispy chicken skin, you probably don't want to cook your food low and slow. Instead, cook it faster at a higher temperature.

How long to cook uncooked chicken tenders? ›

Bake:
  1. Preheat oven to 425°F.
  2. Place frozen strips baking sheet.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes.
  4. Remove tray from oven, turn strips over and bake for an additional 7 minutes or until product reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Are frozen breaded chicken tenders already cooked? ›

Although these products may appear to be pre-cooked or browned, they should be handled and prepared no differently than raw products. All frozen, stuffed, raw poultry products should be cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 ºF.

How do you make chicken tenders not soggy? ›

You want the oven nice and hot so the chicken can get crispy. Line a large baking sheet with a wire rack and grease with nonstick cooking spray. Cooking the chicken on rack helps them get extra crispy and not soggy on the bottom. Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.

How do you keep chicken tenders from getting soggy? ›

Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet.

In much the same way, putting fried food on a cooling rack means the excess oil will drip off, but there's enough air circulating underneath the food that the bottoms don't get soggy.

How do you fix soggy chicken tenders? ›

Put the chicken pieces on a lined baking sheet or right on the wire rack to get them extra crispy. Using this method, bake the chicken strips for 7 minutes before flipping them and cooking for 3 more minutes.

How do you keep chicken fingers from getting soggy? ›

Cook the fried chicken as close to the event as possible to ensure freshness and crispiness. Use a wire rack to keep fried chicken from sitting in its own oil and getting soggy. If you need to keep the fried chicken warm, use a warming tray or chafing dish to maintain the temperature without sacrificing crispiness.

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