Description
These Cheez-It Crusted Chicken Nuggets are the ultimate cheesy, crispy, bite-sized snack! Made with crushed Cheez-Its, cheddar, and ranch seasoning, they’re fun, flavorful, and perfect for weeknights, parties, or game day.
Ingredients
1 lb. chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
2 cups Cheez-Its, finely crushed
½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 packet (about 1 oz.) ranch seasoning mix
2 large eggs, beaten
½ cup buttermilk
Cooking spray or drizzle of oil
Ranch dressing, for dipping (optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut chicken into even, bite-sized chunks and pat dry with paper towels.
In a zip-top bag, crush Cheez-Its until mostly fine crumbs, leaving a few larger bits for crunch. Mix with cheddar and ranch seasoning.
In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and buttermilk.
Dip chicken pieces into egg mixture, then coat thoroughly in the Cheez-It mixture, pressing gently so crumbs stick.
Arrange nuggets on baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray (or drizzle with a little oil).
Bake 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and chicken is cooked through.
Serve warm with ranch or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
For extra crunch, chill breaded chicken nuggets for 10 minutes before baking.
Make-ahead: bread nuggets and freeze before baking. Cook straight from frozen, adding 2–3 minutes to bake time.
Air fryer option: Cook at 375°F for 12–14 minutes, shaking halfway through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 5–6 nuggets
- Calories: 330 kcal
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 18 g
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg
Keywords: Cheez-It Crusted Chicken Nuggets, cheesy chicken nuggets, homemade chicken nuggets