By Becky Hardin
Updated Jun 19, 2025
These Baked Chicken Tenders are so crispy, so flavorful, and so delicious! My new favorite dish for game day, I’ve coated them in ranch, cheese, and bacon, and oven-baked them to perfection.
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5-Star Review
“Wonderful recipe. Thanks for sharing. My husband loves them.” -Deb
Easy Baked Chicken Tenders Recipe
I am so excited about this Cheddar Bacon Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders recipe! I love food, so there’s not much I won’t try or enjoy, but Pat is a different story. Dude is PICKY and it’s a constant struggle at our house.
But I’m happy to say that these crispy, oven baked chicken tenders were a huge hit not only with me, but also with Pat! Not only did he eat every last one in sight, but he requested I make them again the next day. This baked chicken strips made with bacon, cheddar, ranch, and panko breadcrumbs are SO good—I will gladly eat them again and again.
This ranch chicken recipe is one of my favorite easy meals—it’s packed with flavor and unbelievably crispy, even though it’s baked instead of fried! You really don’t need a deep fryer to get that satisfying crunch. These oven-baked chicken tenders come out golden and crisp, thanks to a coating of seasoned panko breadcrumbs. I love making them when I’m craving something that tastes indulgent but is a bit lighter than what you’d get at a restaurant.
Are you ready for the perfect baked chicken strips? Get excited! These are going to be the perfect Super Bowl food !
Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- ▢ 1 oz dry ranch dip mix
- ▢ 1 egg
- ▢ 1/2 cup crispy panko bread crumbs
- ▢ 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ▢ 1/2 cup cooked bacon chopped (or bacon bits)
- ▢ 14 oz boneless skinless chicken tenders or chicken breasts cut into strips. About 7-8 strips
- ▢ ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray and set aside.
- Fill one shallow bowl with the flour and ranch seasoning, stirring to combine. Fill another shallow bowl with the egg, whisking lightly. Combine the panko, cheese, and bacon in a large Ziplock bag and stir/shake to combine.* Set all in a line. 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 oz dry ranch dip mix, 1 egg, 1/2 cup crispy panko bread crumbs, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup cooked bacon
- Start by dipping each chicken tender in the flour/ranch mixture, patting to make sure its covered. Dip in the egg, allowing excess to fall away, and then place in the bag with the panko mixture. Repeat with all the tenders. 14 oz boneless skinless chicken tenders
- Seal the bag and shake to coat all the chicken fully. You’ll want to press and turn the bag until all the tenders are fully coated in the panko mixture.
- Place the tenders on the prepared baking sheet and spray the strips lightly with more olive oil spray.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, turning once. When chicken is fully cooked through (white throughout), turn on your broiler and cook for 2-4 minutes more or until the coating is extra crispy. (optional)
- Serve with ranch and enjoy! ranch dressing for dipping
Becky’s Tips
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Cheddar Bacon Ranch Oven Baked Chicken Step by Step
Get the oven and baking sheet ready : Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray and set aside.
Fill the dredging bowls and bag: Fill one shallow bowl with 1/4 cup flour and 1 oz ranch seasoning, stirring to combine. Fill another shallow bowl with the egg, whisking lightly. Combine 1/2 cup panko, 1/2 cup cheese, and 1/2 cup bacon in a large Ziplock bag and stir/shake to combine. Set all in a line.
Dip the chicken : Start by dipping each chicken tender in the flour/ranch mixture, patting to make sure it’s covered. Dip in the egg, allowing excess to fall away, and then place in the bag with the panko mixture. Repeat with all the tenders.
Close the bag: Seal the bag and shake to coat all the chicken fully. You’ll want to press and turn the bag until all the tenders are fully coated in the panko mixture.
Transfer to baking sheet: Place the tenders on the prepared baking sheet and spray the strips lightly with more olive oil spray.
Bake the chicken: Bake for 15-20 minutes, turning once. When chicken is fully cooked through (white throughout), turn on your broiler and cook for 2-4 minutes more or until the coating is extra crispy. (optional)
Serve: Serve with ranch and enjoy!
How to Store
Store uneaten cheddar bacon ranch chicken in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to crisp up again.
Freeze leftovers on a baking sheet and once solid, transfer to an airtight container or Ziplock bag. This baked chicken will keep for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Serving Suggestions
These oven-baked chicken tenders make the perfect game day snack. I like to pair them with easy tortilla pinwheels , a creamy crockpot spinach dip , and for a touch of spice, a batch of air fryer jalapeño poppers.
more baked chicken recipes
Baked Ranch Chicken with Bacon (Chicken Bacon Ranch)
Baked Chicken Tacos Recipe
Homemade Baked Chicken Nuggets Recipe
Chicken Marinara
Cheddar Bacon Ranch Baked Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 oz dry ranch dip mix
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup crispy panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon chopped (or bacon bits)
- 14 oz boneless skinless chicken tenders or chicken breasts cut into strips. About 7-8 strips
- ranch dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray and set aside.
- Fill one shallow bowl with the flour and ranch seasoning, stirring to combine. Fill another shallow bowl with the egg, whisking lightly. Combine the panko, cheese, and bacon in a large Ziplock bag and stir/shake to combine.* Set all in a line. 1/4 cup all purpose flour, 1 oz dry ranch dip mix, 1 egg, 1/2 cup crispy panko bread crumbs, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, 1/2 cup cooked bacon
- Start by dipping each chicken tender in the flour/ranch mixture, patting to make sure its covered. Dip in the egg, allowing excess to fall away, and then place in the bag with the panko mixture. Repeat with all the tenders. 14 oz boneless skinless chicken tenders
- Seal the bag and shake to coat all the chicken fully. You’ll want to press and turn the bag until all the tenders are fully coated in the panko mixture.
- Place the tenders on the prepared baking sheet and spray the strips lightly with more olive oil spray.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, turning once. When chicken is fully cooked through (white throughout), turn on your broiler and cook for 2-4 minutes more or until the coating is extra crispy. (optional)
- Serve with ranch and enjoy! ranch dressing for dipping
Notes
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
