Air Fryer Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chicken is one of the best spicy chicken recipes! Crunchy goodness loaded with heat! (and let's be honest - anything covered with Cheetos is going to be great!)
Why I Love This
When it comes to a fun chicken dish for the family, you can't go wrong with this one. All you need are a handful of simple ingredients, and you'll be chowing down in no time at all.
Just be warned. They're 100% addictive. As in, "you might want to prep and have a second batch ready to cook in the air fryer addictive!"
I'm a HUGE fan of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, and I love how the chicken pieces really take on that flavor. Just grab some blue cheese dressing to dip, and you're going to be in flavor-town heaven.
Looking for another kid friendly dish? Check out these easy air fryer chicken nuggets.
If you love chicken for dinner, try air fryer orange chicken, air fryer stuffed chicken, air fryer Dorito chicken, or these air fryer frozen chicken pot stickers. Or for al things chicken, check out this article where we share our favorite top 50 air fryer chicken recipes.
Looking for more? Check out this article where we share our favorite top 50 air fryer chicken recipes.
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Ingredients
- Chicken breast
- Garlic powder
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Mayonnaise- or sour cream
- Flamin' Hot Cheetos
- Optional: Add Hot Sauce to mayonnaise or sour cream before coating with crushed Cheetos.
How to make Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chicken in Air Fryer
Step 1
Pat chicken dry with a paper towel, then season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
Step 2
Gently smash Cheetos in a gallon sealable bag until they are finely crushed like breadcrumbs.
Step 3
Use a spatula and coat with mayonnaise or sour cream. Then, add to the bag of crushed Cheetos.
Step 4
Shake the bag, tossing chicken with crumbs, until it is well coated.
Step 5
Remove from the bag and place in the air fryer basket that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick spray.
Step 6
Make sure chicken is in a single layer, without overlapping and air fry at 380 degrees F for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
Step 7
Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit/74 degrees C. Remove when golden brown and serve immediately.
Tips
- I make this recipe in my Cosori air fryer Depending on your air fryer, size and wattages, cooking time may need to be adjusted 1-2 minutes.
- If you're looking for easy cleanup, you can also use parchment paper liners or a silicone mat when cooking.
- Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165°F/74°C.
- Store leftovers for quick an easy meals.
How to Serve
Tasty treats like this can be a fun appetizer or a great dinner recipe. You literally can't go wrong with Cheetos-coated chicken tenders! All you need to do is add a piece of chicken to a plate, and this amazing chicken strip is ready to eat! How you want to enjoy it is the best way!
How to Store
Making enough for leftovers is a great way to enjoy these Flamin' Hot Cheeto chicken tenders again. Just let them cool down all the way, and then store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
When you're ready to eat, add them to your air fryer basket in a single layer for a short time, or heat them in the oven or microwave.
FAQs
Cheetos crumbs aren't hard to do at all! You can turn them into a sort of flour mixture easily by adding them to your food processor or blender. You can also put the Cheetos into a sealable bag and use a rolling pin to roll over the top.
In order to have perfectly cooked chicken, you need to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Using a meat thermometer is the best bet. Insert into the thickest part, and make sure that you have a reading of at least 165 degrees F.
You can enjoy with or without a side! Air Fryer Truffle Fries or Air Fryer Green Beans are a great option! The more crunch, the better!
More Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes:
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📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Flamin' Hot Cheetos Chicken
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breast
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise or sour cream
- 1 bag Flamin' Hot Cheetos 8.5 ounces
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry with a paper towel, then season with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Gently smash Cheetos in a gallon sealable bag until they are finely crushed like breadcrumbs.
- Use a spatula and coat with mayonnaise or sour cream. Add to the bag of crushed Cheetos.
- Shake bag, tossing chicken with crumbs, until it is well coated.
- Remove from the bag and place in the air fryer basket that has been lightly sprayed with nonstick spray.
- Make sure chicken is in a single layer, without overlapping and air fry at 380 degrees F for 12-14 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
- Remove when golden brown and serve immediately.
Notes
Variations
Change up the cut of chicken - You can easily make these into chicken nuggets, flamin' hot Cheeto chicken wings, or enjoy these hot Cheeto chicken strips just as they are. Add dipping sauces - There are so many ways that you can change the flavor. Dip into nacho cheese, drench with hot sauce, or fill a bowl with ranch dressing.Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2024
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