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Chicken Cheez

Chicken Cheez Recipe

Chicken Cheez is the ultimate comfort food made crispy with Cheez-Its and baked to golden perfection. Juicy, cheesy, and served with a creamy homemade ranch dip, this easy recipe is perfect for family dinners, picky eaters, or meal prep.👉 Try it tonight and taste the crunch that’s anything but ordinary!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 480 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Chicken

  • 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken tenders or breasts
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce e.g. Cholula
  • ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 cups Cheez-Its Extra Toasty preferred
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder for coating
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper for coating
  • Cooking spray

For the Ranch Dip

  • ½ cup sour cream or plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
  • â…“ cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions
 

Marinate the Chicken

  • In a large bowl, mix the buttermilk, salt, garlic powder, hot sauce, and black pepper. Add chicken strips and coat well. Let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature or cover and refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Prepare the Coating

  • Pulse Cheez-Its in a food processor with remaining garlic powder and black pepper until finely ground. Alternatively, crush in a zip-top bag with a rolling pin. Transfer crumbs to a shallow bowl.

Bread the Chicken

  • Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Press each piece firmly into the Cheez-It crumbs until fully coated.

Bake

  • Preheat oven to 425°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment and spray with cooking oil. Place breaded chicken on sheets, spaced apart. Spray tops lightly with oil.
  • Bake for 12 minutes. Flip chicken, rotate trays, and bake for another 8–13 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.

Make the Ranch Dip

  • Mix sour cream (or Greek yogurt), buttermilk, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, parsley, and chives in a bowl. Stir to combine and season to taste.

Serve

  • Serve hot Chicken Cheez tenders with the ranch dip and fresh salad or your favorite sides.

Notes

Nutrient Amount
Calories 480 kcal
Total Fat 22 g
Saturated Fat 6 g
Protein 34 g
Carbohydrates 35 g
Fiber 2 g
Sugars 2 g
Sodium 690 mg
Keyword Baked Chicken with Cheez-Its, Cheddar Chicken Recipe, Chicken Cheez