• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

A Wicked Whisk

Delicious and Easy 30 Minute Meals

  • Home
  • Recipe Index
  • About Me & Contact
  • Privacy Policy
    • Non-Fun Legal Stuff
      • Terms of Service
Home » Chicken Recipes » Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos

May 2, 2019

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos

  • Facebook118
  • Twitter
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Homemade Ranch Veggie Dip
Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol' baked chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food! | A Wicked Whisk #chickentenders #chickentendersbaked #chickentendersbakedlowcarb #loadedchickenlowcarb #ketochickennachos #chickennachos #chickennachossheetpan #chickennachos #chickennachossuperbowl #chickennachosbaked

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol’ baked chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food .. plus you can even make these low-carb and keto friendly!

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol' baked chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food .. plus you can even make these low-carb and keto friendly! | A Wicked Whisk

So… nachos + chicken = chicken nachos.  The math is simple. But what if you completely forego the nacho chips and instead substitute them with crispy baked chicken tenders and then load THOSE up with all your favorite flavors?  Well, then you have Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos which is the perfect combination of all things crunchy, melty, spicy and savory…. and then dunked in Homemade Ranch Dip. #heaven

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos

Ok, so these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are not your conventional way of serving up chicken tenders or nachos, for that matter.  These Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are almost like Loaded Boneless Wings, without the wing sauce. I will give you that.  But think about it, how can this possibly be bad?  Trust me … it’s not! You are taking your favorite easy winner winner chicken dinner ingredient, baking those chicken tenders off in the oven until they are crisp and juicy, smothering them in melted cheese, crispy bacon bits, a splash of green onion and a scattering of diced jalapeno pepper.  Dinner is served!

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos in a black baking pan

HOW LONG DO I COOK CHICKEN TENDERS?

Sigh … this question was my big drama when I was making this recipe.  Usually, chicken tenders can be baked at 350 degrees and be cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees in approximately 15-20 minutes. That is the proper cooking time for ‘normal’ size chicken tenders. If your chicken tenders are a bit larger than average (like mine were!), add an extra 5 minutes or so on to your cooking time. 

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos chicken tenders

MODIFICATIONS, IF YOU PLEASE … 

  • Looking for a low carb or keto version of this dish?  Leave out the flour and breadcrumbs and instead substitute the breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds and bake as instructed. Mix things up and grab a bag of the spicy pork rinds for even more flavor.
  • Want to go naked?  Feel free!! Try these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos without breading the chicken tenders.  Simply rub some olive oil on your tenders and coat them in the spice mixture and bake. Load them down with the toppings and go to town!
  • I use pre-cooked bacon pieces because they are tasty and convenient and usually found on the salad dressing aisle of my grocery store.  If this isn’t your preferred method … and if you really want to munch on extra bacon … go ahead and cook off 5-6 pieces of bacon until they are crispy to add to your Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos.
  • Not a fan of plain cheddar cheese?  Substitute the cheddar with any cheese of your liking from gouda to havarti to monterey jack to extra sharp white cheddar.  Cheese is life so go wild.

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos spice rub

HOW DO YOU MAKE LOADED CHICKEN TENDER NACHOS?

Easy! Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking pan with foil sprayed lightly with non-stick spray.  If you have a wire baking rack that will fit on your baking pan, add that and lightly spray that with non-stick spray, as well.  Set aside. Next, add flour, eggs and breadcrumbs each to their own bowl large enough to dip your tenders. 

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos dredge ingredients

Mix the parmesan cheese in with the breadcrumbs. In a small bowl, combine your spices and then add 3/4 of your spice mixture to your flour (reserve the rest!) and stir to combine.

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos seasoned flour

Rinse and pat dry your chicken tenders and then going in a line starting with the flour, dredge your chicken tenders in the flour until completely covered and shake off any excess before then dredging the chicken tender through the eggs and finally the breadcrumbs.  Press the chicken tender firmly in the breadcrumbs to make sure that it is completely covered.  Move your breaded chicken tender to your baking pan and repeat until all of your chicken tenders are breaded.

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos breaded chicken tenders

Bake for 15-20 minutes or until your chicken tenders have an internal temperature of 165 degrees.  Once baked, remove from the oven and move your chicken tenders into the center of the pan, grouped tightly together. 

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos on foil

Sprinkle your Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos with the remaining spice mixture, layers of shredded cheese, diced jalapeno, crispy bacon pieces and diced green onion and then return the pan to the oven and bake for another 4-5 minutes or until your cheese is melted.  Remove from the oven and serve with sour cream or Homemade Ranch Dip.

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos smothered

Enjoy!

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol' chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food! | A Wicked Whisk

LOADED CHICKEN TENDER NACHOS

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol' chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food! | A Wicked Whisk

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol' baked chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food .. plus you can even make these low-carb and keto friendly! | A Wicked Whisk
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 12 People
Calories: 281.6kcal
Author: Heather - A Wicked Whisk

Ingredients

Chicken Tenders

  • 2-1/2 pounds chicken tenders
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 4-5 large eggs .. whisked
  • 1-1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Spicy Spice Mixture

  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 teaspoons chili powder
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Toppings

  • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • 4 green onions .. diced
  • 6 slices cooked bacon .. crispy
  • 1 large jalapeno pepper .. diced, seeds and ribs removed

Instructions

  • Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees and line a baking pan with foil sprayed lightly with non-stick spray.  If you have a wire baking rack that will fit on your baking pan, add that and lightly spray that with non-stick spray, as well.  Set aside. 
  • Next, add flour, eggs and breadcrumbs each to their own bowl large enough to dip your tenders. Mix the parmesan cheese in with the breadcrumbs. In a small bowl, combine your spices and then add 3/4 of your spice mixture to your flour (reserve the rest!) and stir to combine. 
  • Rinse and pat dry your chicken tenders and then going in a line starting with the flour, dredge your chicken tenders in the flour until completely covered and shake off any excess before then dredging the chicken tender through the eggs and finally the breadcrumbs. Press the chicken tender firmly in the breadcrumbs to make sure that it is completely covered. Move your breaded chicken tender to your baking pan and repeat until all of your chicken tenders are breaded. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until your chicken tenders have an internal temperature of 165 degrees. 
  • Once baked, remove from the oven and move your chicken tenders into the center of the pan, grouped tightly together. Sprinkle your Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos with the remaining spice mixture, layers of shredded cheese, diced jalapeno, crispy bacon pieces and diced green onion and then return the pan to the oven and bake for another 4-5 minutes or until your cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and serve with sour cream or Homemade Ranch Dip.

Notes

  • Looking for a low carb or keto version of this dish?  Leave out the flour and breadcrumbs and instead substitute the breadcrumbs with crushed pork rinds and bake as instructed. Mix things up and grab a bag of the spicy pork rinds for even more flavor.
  • Want to go naked?  Feel free!! Try these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos without breading the chicken tenders.  Simply rub some olive oil on your tenders and coat them in the spice mixture and bake. Load them down with the toppings and go to town!
NEVER MISS A WICKED WHISK RECIPE  FACEBOOK / PINTEREST / INSTAGRAM

Nutrition

Serving: 12g | Calories: 281.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 11.8g | Protein: 32g | Fat: 11.8g | Saturated Fat: 5.9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.8g | Cholesterol: 143.1mg | Sodium: 739.4mg | Potassium: 104.4mg | Fiber: 1.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 915IU | Vitamin C: 4.8mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 1.6mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @AWickedWhisk or tag #AWickedWhisk!

Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are a delicious fun twist on plain ol' chicken tenders. Loaded with melted cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, green onions and spicy jalapeno, these Loaded Chicken Tender Nachos are easy, quick and the best comfort food! | A Wicked Whisk

 

Loaded Cauliflower Casserole
Homemade Ranch Veggie Dip

  • Facebook118
  • Twitter
  • Yummly

Filed Under: Appetizers and Starters, Chicken Recipes, Comfort Food, Game Day Recipes, Main Dish Tagged With: chicken nachos, chicken tender nachos, game day nachos, loaded chicken nachos, loaded chicken tender nachos

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenna says

    May 8, 2019 at 9:24 am

    O.M.G. How have I never done this? These chicken tender nachos look absolutely sinfully delicious. What a great idea!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

About A Wicked Whisk

Hi there!
I am Heather and I love to create easy, family friendly recipes that anyone can make, regardless of their expertise in the kitchen.
Here at A Wicked Whisk, I share easy 30 minute meal ideas and delicious comfort food recipes.
.. because great food doesn't always need to be complicated.
more

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

CATEGORIES

EASY 30 MINUTE MEALS

Pasta Primavera on a serving spoon

Easy Pasta Primavera Recipe

Potato Beer Cheese Soup is beer cheese soup made better with chunks of ham, bacon and potatoes.  Hearty and the perfect bowl of comfort food, this creamy Potato Beer Cheese Soup is ready to eat in just 30 minutes! | A Wicked Whisk

Beer Cheese Potato Soup

30 Minute Stuffed Chicken Roll Ups in a skillet

Chicken Rollatini

breakfast egg scramble on a fork

Breakfast Egg Scramble

baked lemon chicken with lemon slices

Easy Baked Lemon Chicken

chicken rice skillet

Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Skillet

More 30 Minute Meals

GAME DAY MUST HAVES

Loaded Sheet Pan Beef Nachos

Loaded Sheet Pan Beef Nachos

Quick and Easy Pickled Red Onions

Quick and Easy Pickled Red Onions

Ham and Cheese Stromboli recipe

Ham and Cheese Stromboli Recipe

Sweet Hawaiian Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Sweet Hawaiian Crock Pot Pulled Pork

Apple Slab Pie

Apple Cranberry Slab Pie

Pineapple Jalapeno Salsa

Fresh Pineapple Salsa

More Game Day Recipes

COMFORT FOOD

Cajun Chicken Alfredo

Cajun Chicken Alfredo

easy apple crisp recipe

Easy Apple Crisp Recipe

Slow Cooker Burrito Bowl

Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl

pesto ravioli on a spoon

Baked Pesto Chicken Pasta

Cajun 15 Bean Soup

Cajun 15 Bean Soup (Slow Cooker/Crock Pot)

irish beef and guinness stew

Irish Beef and Guinness Stew

Comfort Food Recipes

Footer

Copyright© 2023 · Brunch Pro Theme by Shay Bocks