Crispy Onion Chip Chicken (Print View)

Tender chicken coated with crushed onion and cheese chips, baked or air-fried for a crispy crust.

# Ingredient List:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 lb chicken tenders (approximately 8 pieces)

→ Onion & Cheese Chip Coating

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

→ Dredging Mixture

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

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 425°F or set air fryer to 400°F.
02 - Line baking sheet with parchment paper or spray air fryer basket with cooking spray.
03 - Place onion and cheese chips in a food processor or sealed plastic 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 together eggs and milk in a third shallow bowl.
06 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
07 - Dredge each tender in seasoned flour, shake off excess, dip into egg wash, then coat thoroughly with crushed chips, pressing gently to adhere.
08 - Place coated tenders in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet or air fryer basket.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes or air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tenders are golden and cooked to an internal temperature of 165°F.
10 - Allow tenders to rest for 2 minutes before serving.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The coating stays shatteringly crispy even after cooling, which means these are just as good cold as they are hot.
  • Kids and adults alike go crazy for the savory, umami-packed flavor without feeling like you're feeding them junk food.
  • You can have them on the table in under 35 minutes, making weeknight dinners actually manageable.
02 -
  • Don't skip the drying step—any moisture on the chicken will prevent the coating from getting truly crispy and will make it separate as it cooks.
  • The coarser your chip crumbs, the better the texture; fine powder creates a dense coating instead of that shattered, crispy exterior everyone loves.
  • Air frying produces noticeably crispier results than baking, but if you bake, flip them halfway through for even browning on both sides.
03 -
  • If you want extra heat, add 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper to your flour mixture—it won't overpower the flavor but will give everything a subtle kick.
  • Air frying gives you noticeably better results than baking if you have one available, with less flipping required and more consistent crispiness throughout.
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