Taco Chicken Tenders Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

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3030 Minutes or LessDFDairy-Free5I5 ingredients or less

4.67

/5

35 minutes mins

15 Comments

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By: Rachel GurkPosted: 05/01/2013

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Taco chicken tenders are great for a party, but your kids will love them too! Super quick and easy to make.

I’m loving these taco chicken tenders that are perfect for Cinco de Mayo or for any day. You’ll only need five ingredients to whip up taco chicken tenders: flour, taco seasoning, eggs, and tortilla chips. And of course, chicken.

Kids love taco chicken tenders, too! Healthy, and fun to dip in salsa or better yet, homemade salsa verde. My daughter adores anything she can “dip dip dip.” And what kid doesn’t like food they can eat with their fingers?!

Taco chicken tenders come together quickly and are really flavorful, thanks to the homemade taco seasoning, which is mixed with the flour. Instead of the typical bread crumb coating, the chicken tenders are coated in crushed tortilla chips. The tortilla chip coating give the chicken tenders a great crunch and a southwestern flavor.

You don’t have to tell anyone that it’s a great way to use unwanted tortilla chips, all those bits and pieces at the bottom of the bag.

Make these just like any other chicken tender: Dip the chicken tenders in seasoned flour, then in beaten egg, and then the crushed tortilla chips.

And because these tenders are baked, not fried, you can feel good about serving these to your family. There are no added oils to up the calorie count. Way better than fast food chicken tenders!

Try these taco chicken tenders wrapped in a soft flour or corn tortilla, with your favorite toppings. I’m thinking shredded lettuce, tomato, and avocado would be good. And salsa, of course.

Chicken tenders are great on salads, too. Just slice them up and add them to your favorite salad.

PS: If you love chicken tenders, make sure to check out my pizza chicken tendersor chicken caesar chicken tenders. Loving your air fryer? Try crispy air fryer chicken tenders or air fryer chicken nuggets.

Note: Don’t have taco seasoning? That’s okay, any southwestern blend will be delicious. Plain chili powder is good, too. Or try making your own seasoning blend!

More chicken recipes

Boneless or bone-in, chicken that you can eat with your fingers is always a hit, especially with kids. Try:

  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings
  • Air Fryer Chicken Drumsticks
  • Grilled Chicken Shawarma Drumsticks
  • Soy and Honey Glazed Chicken Drumsticks
  • Healthy Chicken Nuggets with Parmesan
  • Air Fryer Chicken Wings — so crispy!

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Taco Chicken Tenders Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (4)

Recipe

Get the Recipe: Taco Chicken Tenders

4.67 from 3 votes

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 20 minutes mins

Total Time: 35 minutes mins

8 servings

Print Rate Recipe

Taco chicken tenders are great for a party, but your kids will love them too! Super quick and easy to make.

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken tenders or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into equal sized strips
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon taco seasoning, divided
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 1 1/2 cups crushed tortilla chips
  • salsa for dipping, optional

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a large sheet pan with non-stick cooking spray, or line with parchment paper.

  • Place flour and half of taco seasoning in a large shallow bowl. Place beaten eggs in another shallow bowl, and chips mixed with the rest of the taco seasoning in a third bowl.

  • Coat each chicken strip in flour mixture, then dip in eggs (let excess drip off), and then finally in chip mixture. Place chicken strip on prepared tray and repeat until all chicken strips are coated.

  • Bake for 20 minutes or until cooked through. Enjoy hot with salsa for dipping.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1/4 lb., Calories: 477kcal, Carbohydrates: 39g, Protein: 30g, Fat: 22g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 15g, Cholesterol: 111mg, Sodium: 1065mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Author: Rachel Gurk

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Carla @ Carlas Confections says

    Yes! I definitely want some of these!

    Reply

  2. Bree {Skinny Mommy} says

    I love the tortilla crust on these! My boys would devour them :)

    Reply

  3. Meagan @ A Zesty Bite says

    These will definitely have to be tried at home. Mexican food is my favorite and I enjoy trying out new things to keep the flavor profile.

    Reply

  4. Cassie | Bake Your Day says

    So fun and unique. Great idea, Rach!

    Reply

  5. Kathryn says

    Such a clever idea to use tacos for the crispy coating. Can’t wait to give this a try!

    Reply

  6. Christine (Cook the Story) says

    What a flipping FANTASTIC idea! I’ve seen chicken breaded in potato chips before but this is way better. How fun to turn chicken tacos on their head like this. I know my family will love these. Thanks for such a great idea!

    Reply

  7. Windy P says

    What a great idea! I think the kids would love these. :)

    Reply

  8. Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie says

    I enjoy using non-traditional breading for chicken. I’ve used tortilla chips before, but didn’t think to add taco seasoning. I like it!

    Reply

  9. Ali | Gimme Some Oven says

    I also love anything I can dip-dip-dip. These sound perfect for Cinco De Mayo…or every other day!!! :)

    Reply

  10. Jessica@AKitchenAddiction says

    Great idea to use tortilla chips as the coating! Perfect way to switch up normal chicken tenders!

    Reply

  11. Stephie @ Eat Your Heart Out says

    Holy moly! Forget the kidlets, I could eat a whole ton of these suckers! Taco seasoning and tortilla chips? Genius chicken tender idea, Rachel!

    Reply

  12. Tasha @ ThatsSoYummy says

    This is a great change up on chicken tenders :-)

    Reply

Taco Chicken Tenders Recipe - Rachel Cooks® (2024)

FAQs

What do you put in tacos? ›

Traditional choices range from chicken, beef, slow-cooked pork, to white fish. Some adventurous souls even opt for beans, sweet potatoes, or lamb. Salsa: Salsa and sauces are the soul of your taco, tying all other ingredients together. A tangy pico de gallo complements almost everything.

Should you cut chicken before or after cooking for tacos? ›

Strips: Slice the chicken into thin strips. This cut is perfect for fajita-style tacos. Shredded: Cook the chicken first, then use two forks to shred it into thin pieces. Shredded chicken adds a tender and flavorful texture to tacos.

What is the best sauce for tacos? ›

Cilantro Lime- Cilantro Lime Sauce is fresh, vibrant, full of flavor. That is why it is one of the best sauces for all your tacos! It is made from sour cream, mayonnaise, cilantro, jalapeños, garlic, lime juice, and salt. Cilantro Lime Sauce is creamy, spicy, and sour- with a hint of garlic.

What is the most important ingredient in tacos? ›

Lime is probably the most essential of authentic Mexican taco toppings. A squeeze of lime adds a dash of acid that brings out the other flavors in a taco beautifully. Onions, cilantro, pico de gallo, sliced radishes or cucumbers, avocado, and chili peppers are also standard toppings for authentic tacos.

What do Mexicans put in their tacos? ›

However, here are some staples that you will find in most authentic Mexican tacos:
  1. Onions.
  2. Fresh cilantro.
  3. Radishes.
  4. Limes.
  5. Avocado.
  6. Tomatoes.
  7. Chili Peppers.
  8. Tortillas.

How do you cut meat for tacos? ›

When cutting the steak for your carne asada tacos, though, be sure slice the steak against the grain so that every bite of steak is tender and easy to chew—if you cut with the grain (i.e. the way the muscle fibers are aligned) you'll wind up with relatively tough steak pieces, no matter how thinly you've sliced them.

What tool do you use to shred chicken? ›

Using a stand mixer is a fast way to get perfectly shredded chicken each time. Simply shred the cooked chicken on low speed for about 30 to 60 seconds, until you get finely shredded pieces. You can also adjust the speed or time to achieve different sizes according to your preference.

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