Chicken tenders are a staple of the American diet (especially if you enjoy fast food). But why not skip the drive-thru, and make them at home? We’ve made the classic chicken tender a bit more interesting by creating a delicious pretzel crust featuring Dot’s Pretzels.

What makes a Dot’s pretzel different from a regular pretzel? Well, they feature a special seasoning with a buttery, garlicky, oniony flavor. Delicious! And, their pretzel rub combines the delicious flavors of this special seasoning that is perfect on chicken, steak, and fish. If you haven’t given Dot’s a try, we HIGHLY recommend it! (Grab yours here.) Of course, you could use regular pretzels in this recipe, but the flavor won’t be quite as interesting.

We’ve also created a delicious homemade ranch dressing recipe. This is perfect for serving with the chicken tenders, but also works on salads or with raw veggies. You’ll be surprised at just how easy this sauce is to make!

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Recipe Tips:

+ This recipe works best with a very thin chicken breast. Using the flat end of a meat tenderizer will help you get a thinner chicken breast that will cook more quickly and evenly. If you skip this step, you risk burning the pretzel crust while cooking the chicken. (Yes, we did figure this out the hard way!)

+ The pretzel rub is a optional, but will enhance the flavor of Dot’s Pretzels. We tried it with and without, and highly recommend including it!

+ We use avocado oil for frying because it has a higher smoke point than olive oil. That means less spitting from the oil.

+ A splatter screen over the fry pan will also help prevent the oil from jumping up and burning you. It will also keep your stovetop clean. Grab one here.

+ You can serve with any dipping sauce that suits you. We love the flavor of this homemade ranch dressing with the Dot’s Pretzels, but ketchup, mustard or an aioli dip would also be yummy.

+ To make the ranch dressing vegan, just use an avocado-based mayonaise like this one from Primal Kitchen.

A plate of homemade chicken tenders, next to a bowl of dipping sauce and a bag of Dot's Pretzels, which were used as breading on the tenders.

Dot's Pretzel Crusted Chicken Recipe

We've turned America's favorite snack, Dot's Pretzels, into a delicious chicken tender that is sure to please adults and kids alike!

Ingredients
 

Yield: 6 servings
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Pretzel Crusted Chicken

Homemade Ranch Dressing

Instructions
 

Pretzel Crusted Chicken

  • Place the Dot's Pretzels in a gallon size bag and seal with as much air as possible pressed out. Using a rolling pin , crush the pretzels until they are about a quarter of the size. (The smaller they are, the less likely they are to burn in the frying pan.)
  • Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and cover with plastic wrap. Pound the breast with the flat side of a meat tenderizer until it is about 1/2" thick. This will help the chicken cook faster and more evenly.
  • Slice the thinned chicken breast into tender-sized pieces. Coat with Dot's Pretzel rub if using. This will just enhance the flavor of the pretzel crust.
  • Fill 3 bowls - one with flour, one with egg, and one with pretzel crumbles. Season the egg and flour with salt and pepper to taste.
    Dots Pretzels where to buy recipes easy chicken recipes
  • Move the chicken breasts from the flour to the egg to the pretzels.
  • Add avocado oil to a fry pan and begin to heat. The oil will be ready when bubbles start to form around the end of a wooden spoon. Get a plate ready, lined with paper towels to drain.
  • Fry chicken for about 4 minutes per side, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Cover the pan with a splatter screen while chicken cooks to prevent oil from spitting up. Place on paper towel lined plate to rest for about 2 minutes.

Ranch Dressing

  • While the chicken is frying, mix together the ingredients for the ranch dressing in a small bowl.
  • Store any leftover dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Notes

Thank you to our friends at Dot's Pretzels for sharing their tasty snack with us!
Get your hands on some here.
Calories: 423kcal, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 20g, Fat: 33g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 16g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 109mg, Sodium: 421mg, Potassium: 371mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 270IU, Vitamin C: 4mg, Calcium: 24mg, Iron: 2mg
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