Ingredients
Scale
- 600g chicken mini fillets (or 2 large chicken breasts, sliced into strips)
- 150g full-fat cream cheese, softened
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 1 packet (28g) ranch seasoning mix
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 150g Ritz crackers (approximately 30 crackers), crushed into coarse crumbs
- 80g mature cheddar, finely grated
- 40g Parmesan, finely grated
- Oil spray or a little melted butter, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C / 180°C fan / Gas Mark 6. Line a large baking tray with parchment and place a wire rack on top if available. Lightly spray with oil.
- In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, ranch seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper until completely smooth.
- In a shallow dish, mix the crushed Ritz crackers with the grated cheddar and Parmesan.
- Pat the chicken mini fillets dry with kitchen roll. Coat each one generously all over in the cream cheese mixture, then press firmly into the cracker and cheese mixture until well coated on all sides. Place on the prepared rack or tray.
- Lightly spray the tops with oil or drizzle over a little melted butter. Bake for 22–25 minutes until deeply golden, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature 75°C). For extra crispiness, grill for the final 2 minutes.
- Rest for 2–3 minutes before serving with ranch dressing, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce alongside chips, salad, or coleslaw.
Notes
- Pat chicken completely dry before coating for the best adhesion.
- Ensure cream cheese is softened to room temperature for a smooth, even coating.
- Crush crackers into coarse crumbs — texture gives better crunch than fine crumbs.
- A wire rack on the baking tray helps the base crisp up evenly.
- Assemble up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer to restore crispiness — avoid the microwave.
- Freeze cooked tenders for up to 2 months; reheat from frozen at 180°C for 15–18 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 3–4 tenders)
- Calories: 465
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
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