Tortilla crusted chicken is an easy, crunchy option for breading chicken that loads on the flavor with minimal effort. This simple weeknight dinner idea dredges chicken breasts in crushed tortilla chips, layers on a cream cheese buffalo topping, and is oven baked with gooey cheddar cheese.
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I’m such a sucker for Buffalo Chicken anything. Evidently our community readers feel the same because everyone sings the praises of award-wining slow cooker buffalo chicken chili, and crispy oven baked chicken wings are no joke either. That’s because you guys know what’s up. 👊
So after being inspired to use up some leftover tortilla chips to create a crunchy, salty breading for chicken, I decided what better way to level up this easy chicken dinner idea than a buffalo-style topping? The salty chips are enhanced by blue cheese, crisp celery, and hot sauce mixed into softened cream cheese.
Add a layer of cheddar cheese on top, pop it in the oven and bake until you arrive at a tender, crispy, and creamy level of perfection. Don’t forget to enjoy with ranch dressing for dipping. We like to serve ours with rice, steamed buttery corn, and an extra side of celery sticks.
Of course, if a buffalo chicken bake isn’t your thing, you can make a recipe for tortilla crusted chicken without any toppings or a simple layer of freshly grated cheese broiled on top. I especially love how using crushed tortilla chips to bread chicken is a naturally gluten-free coating so I don’t have to mess around with bread crumbs!
Made this tonight and it was AWESOME!!! It will definitely be on our list of favorites!
—Sarah
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(Below shows step-by-step photos and modified instructions. For the complete recipe, along with ingredient amounts, scroll down to the recipe card.)
Make chicken cutlets to shorten bake time
Yes, you can buy chicken cutlets, but I find those to be pretty inconsistently sized or too thin. I like to make mine from chicken breasts. This also helps the chicken bake evenly and reduce time in the oven. Lots of positives here!
First make a deep slit in the middle of the breast, lengthwise. Cut all the way across until you almost reach other side, so it will open like a book. Cut down the middle of the crease. You end up with two, thinner halves.
Time to dredge
Set up your breading station. A plate with flour or gluten-free flour (or check out some other options below 👇), an egg whisked with a bit of water, and the crushed tortilla chips. Go from flour, egg, and then tortilla chips on both sides of the chicken.
Transfer to a greased baking sheet and spritz the top with olive (I love this non-aerosol oil sprayer because you can add any oil you prefer!) Bake in a 375°F oven for 15-18 minutes while the buffalo topping is prepped.
Top with buffalo goodness
While chicken is baking mix together the softened cream cheese, hot sauce (add more if you like it spicy!), blue cheese, and diced celery.
Once the chicken is done, remove from the oven and preheat broiler. Divide the buffalo mixture over the top and sprinkle with freshly grated cheese. Broil hot, bubbly, and amazing. Serve with some ranch or blue cheese dressing.
What Else Do I Need To Know?
- In a rush? Bake frozen, breaded chicken breasts halfway through, flip over, place buffalo topping and cheese on top, and finish baking.
- Looking for a party appetizer? Cut the chicken into bite-sized nuggets, dredge in flour, egg, and tortilla chips. Bake, then top with buffalo topping and cheese on. Broil for 2-3 minutes. Serve on a platter with celery and blue cheese dressing for dipping.
- Need to streamline dinner prep? Usually I dredge and coat the chicken earlier in the day and place the baking sheet in the refrigerator loosely covered with plastic wrap. It will hold for a few hours, refrigerated, until you are ready to take out and bake.
- Instead of tortilla chips, any kind of corn chip or potato chip will work for this recipe.
- For a gluten-free dinner idea, use GF flour or rice flour. Tortilla chips are naturally gluten-free so you are all good there!
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Did you make this recipe? I love hearing from you! Leave a star rating and comment below the recipe card. It helps others when searching for recipes and I appreciate feedback from our community. You will always hear back from me! -Melissa
Buffalo-Style Tortilla Crusted Chicken Bake
Ingredients
- 2 pounds (2) chicken breasts, butterflied and cut into cutlets
- 1 ⅓ cups (113.4 g) finely crushed tortilla chips
- 1 (1) large egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon water
- ¼ cup (34 g) all purpose flour or gluten free all purpose flour
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon pepper
- 4 ounce (113.4 g) cream cheese, softened
- 3 teaspoons (2 tsp.) hot sauce, such as Frank's Red Hot Sauce (more for spicier)
- 1-2 (1) celery stalks, diced
- ½ cup (45 g) blue cheese crumbles
- 1 cup (113 g) freshly grated Colby jack or cheddar cheese
- For serving: hot sauce, ranch or blue cheese dressing
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375º F and spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. In three separate shallow bowls place flour mixed with salt and pepper, beaten egg mixed with 1 tbsp. water, and crushed chips.1 large egg, ¼ cup all purpose flour or gluten free all purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon pepper, 1 ⅓ cups finely crushed tortilla chips
- Dredge both sides of chicken in flour, then dip completely in egg mixture, and finally press down into tortillas to coat both sides. Place chicken on baking sheet and repeat with rest of chicken. Spray top of chicken with more cooking spray. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the chicken reaches a temperature of 165°F.2 pounds chicken breasts
- While chicken is baking mix together cream cheese, hot sauce, blue cheese, and celery.4 ounce cream cheese, 3 teaspoons hot sauce, 1-2 celery stalks, ½ cup blue cheese crumbles
- Remove from the oven and preheat the broiler. Dollop the cream cheese mixture over the top of each piece of chicken. Sprinkle the cheese over the top. Broil until topping is hot and bubbly, about 2-3 minutes.1 cup freshly grated Colby jack or cheddar cheese
- Serve with additional hot sauce and ranch or blue cheese dressing.
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I know, right?! Using the light cream cheese really makes it taste more decadent and rich than it really is 😉
Made this tonight and it was AWESOME!!! It will definitely be on our list of favorites!
I’m so glad your family loved it Sarah! Thanks for taking the time to let me know how much you enjoyed it!