Spicy Crunchy Chicken: Bread With Hot Cheetos!

Flaming Hot Cheetos Chicken is a fun, delicious, and easy-to-make appetizer for any occasion. The crunchy, spicy, and juicy chicken tenders are coated in a flavourful layer of crushed Flamin' Hot Cheetos, providing a unique twist to the classic chicken tender dish. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover Cheetos and can be prepared in an air fryer or oven-baked to perfection. The key to a super crunchy coating is to pulse the Cheetos in a food processor, leaving some bigger pieces for that extra crunch. The tenders can be served with a variety of dips, such as ranch dressing, honey mustard, or a creamy sriracha sauce. So, get your hands on some Flamin' Hot Cheetos and get ready to bread those chicken legs!

How to bread your chicken legs with hot Cheetos

Blending the Cheetos: Use a food processor or a zip lock bag and a rolling pin to blend the Cheetos into crumbs

Blending Cheetos into crumbs can be done in two ways, using either a food processor or a zip lock bag and a rolling pin. Here is a detailed description of both methods:

Using a Food Processor

Place the Cheetos into the bowl of a food processor. You may use a mini food processor if you have one, or a spice grinder. Pulse the Cheetos in short bursts until they are broken down into crumbs. Be careful not to overprocess, as this may cause the Cheetos to clump together or form a paste. The ideal consistency is that of coarse, even crumbs. Depending on the power of your food processor, this should take around 10 to 15 seconds.

Using a Zip Lock Bag and a Rolling Pin

Place the Cheetos into a zip-top bag. Seal the bag, ensuring that it is airtight, and lay it flat on a stable surface. Using a rolling pin, gently roll over the Cheetos, applying even pressure. Continue rolling until the Cheetos are crushed into fine crumbs. This method may take longer than using a food processor, but it is a good option if you do not have access to a food processor or if you are crushing a smaller quantity of Cheetos.

Both of these methods will result in Cheeto crumbs that can be used to bread chicken legs or for any other desired purpose. The food processor method may be faster and more efficient for larger quantities, while the zip lock bag and rolling pin method is a simple and effective approach for smaller batches.

Preparing the chicken: Boil the chicken until ready, then drain the juice

Preparing the chicken is a simple process, but it requires precision and patience. Start by taking your chicken legs and placing them in a large saucepan. Cover the chicken legs with water, ensuring they are fully submerged, and place the saucepan on a stove set to medium-high heat. Bring the water to a gentle simmer; avoid a rolling boil, as this can toughen the meat.

The cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken legs. For a small chicken leg (6-8 oz or 200g), cook the legs for approximately 15-20 minutes. Medium-sized chicken legs (8-10 oz or 250g) will require 20-25 minutes, while large chicken legs (10-12 oz or 300g) will need 25-30 minutes. If you're using frozen chicken legs, increase the cooking time by about 5-10 minutes. You can also boil chicken legs from frozen, but it will take longer for the water to reach a boil.

While the chicken is boiling, you can prepare the Cheetos crumbs. Place the Cheetos in a food processor and pulse until they resemble breadcrumbs, with a few slightly larger pieces remaining. You can also crush them by hand, using a ziplock bag and a meat hammer or a heavy dish. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl and, if desired, mix in some shredded Parmesan cheese for extra flavour.

Once the chicken is cooked, you can check by ensuring the juices run clear when the largest leg is cut lengthwise. You can also use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F (74°C). Drain the chicken legs in a colander or on a wire rack to allow any excess moisture to escape. Your chicken is now ready for the breading process.

Dipping the chicken: In a bowl, whisk egg, milk, and seasonings. Dip the chicken into this mixture

To bread chicken legs with Hot Cheetos, you'll first want to crush the Cheetos into a breadcrumb-like consistency. You can do this by placing them in a food processor and pulsing until they reach the desired consistency, or around 20-30 times. If you don't have a food processor, you can place them in a sealable bag and crush them with a rolling pin, meat hammer, or by pressing down with a platter or baking dish.

Once you have your Cheeto crumbs, it's time to set up your dredging station. You'll need three bowls. In the first bowl, mix together flour, salt, and pepper. You can also add some garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, or dried basil for extra flavour. The second bowl is for your egg wash. This is where you'll whisk together your egg and milk, and add any desired seasonings. You can also add some shredded Parmesan cheese to this mixture for a cheesier flavour. The third bowl will contain your Cheeto crumbs.

Now it's time to dip your chicken! Using tongs or your hands, dredge the chicken legs in the flour mixture, making sure to coat them evenly. Then, dip them into the egg wash, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken in the Cheeto crumbs, pressing down gently to ensure the crumbs adhere to the chicken.

Make sure to coat all your chicken legs before moving on to frying or baking, to ensure a consistent texture and flavour. This step can get a little messy, so don't be afraid to really press those crumbs onto the chicken to get an even coating!

Coating the chicken: Place the Cheeto crumbs into a separate bowl. Dip the chicken into the crumbs to coat

Now that you've boiled your chicken legs and drained the juice, it's time to coat them with the Hot Cheetos crumbs. Place the crumbs into a separate bowl. You can add some shredded Parmesan cheese to the Cheetos in this bowl for a cheesier flavour. If you want to add more flavour to the chicken, add in some garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, or dried basil.

You can use tongs or your hands to dip the chicken into the crumbs and coat it evenly. Make sure each piece is entirely coated before placing it on a wire rack on top of a baking sheet. If you're using chicken tenders, you can also dip them in flour, then in an egg wash, and then in the Cheeto crumbs.

If you don't have enough Cheetos, you can add some seasoned Italian breadcrumbs to the mixture, or crush up some Cheez-Its, saltines, or other chips. You can also add milk to make the liquid for dipping the chicken tenders slightly runnier. Pulsing the Cheetos in a food processor is the fastest way to turn them into crumbs, but you can also place them in a large zip lock bag and crush them with a meat hammer or by pressing down with a platter or baking dish. Make sure there are no clumps, and the crumbs are similar in size to breadcrumbs.

Cooking the chicken: Preheat the oven to 400°F and place the coated chicken on a wire rack. Cook for 15 minutes

Now that your chicken legs are coated with Hot Cheetos crumbs, it's time to cook them! Preheat your oven to 400°F. While you're waiting for the oven to heat up, line a sheet pan with aluminum foil and place a wire rack on top. Spray the rack with cooking spray or grease it with oil to prevent the chicken from sticking. You can also use a baking dish instead of a sheet pan and rack. If you go this route, grease the dish with olive oil.

Once the oven is preheated, place your coated chicken legs on the prepared wire rack. Make sure to leave some space between each piece of chicken to allow for even cooking. If you're using a baking dish, place the chicken pieces in the dish and generously spray or brush their tops with olive oil.

Sprinkle the chicken with seasonings of your choice. Some popular options include salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and dried thyme. You can also experiment with other seasonings to suit your taste preferences.

Place the chicken in the oven and set a timer for 15 minutes. Cooking time may vary depending on the size of your chicken legs and the accuracy of your oven temperature, so keep an eye on them to ensure they don't overcook. Aim for an internal temperature of 185°F to 195°F.

After 15 minutes, check the chicken for doneness. The Hot Cheetos crumbs should be toasted and the chicken should be cooked through. If the chicken is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your crispy, juicy, and flavorful Hot Cheetos chicken legs!

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