Description
Chili ranch chicken brings zesty Southwest flavors to your dinner table with bold spices and creamy ranch coating. Crispy, juicy chicken emerges from the oven as a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 1.5 pounds chicken tenders
Sauces:
- 0.5 cup sweet chili sauce
- 0.5 cup bottled ranch dressing
Instructions
- Craft a vibrant marinade by thoroughly blending sweet chili sauce with creamy ranch dressing in a mixing vessel.
- Transfer chicken tenders into a large resealable plastic bag, creating a convenient marinating environment.
- Carefully pour the prepared marinade over the chicken, ensuring complete coverage by massaging the bag gently.
- Seal the bag completely, removing excess air to maximize flavor infusion.
- Allow the chicken to marinate in the refrigerator, letting the flavors penetrate deeply for a minimum of 2 hours or ideally throughout the night.
- Prepare the grill by heating to a medium-high temperature, creating optimal conditions for cooking.
- Remove chicken from the marinade, discarding the remaining liquid to prevent cross-contamination.
- Position the marinated chicken tenders on the preheated grill, arranging them to ensure even cooking.
- Cook the chicken for approximately 10 minutes, rotating periodically to achieve a perfectly even char and ensuring the meat is thoroughly cooked.
- Verify doneness by checking that the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and displays a slightly crispy, caramelized exterior.
Notes
- Marinate chicken for maximum flavor by letting it sit in the sweet chili ranch mixture for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Ensure chicken reaches safe internal temperature of 165°F when grilling to prevent foodborne illness.
- Discard used marinade to avoid cross-contamination and potential bacterial growth.
- Grill chicken on medium-high heat for even cooking and delicious charred edges.
- Pat chicken dry before grilling to help achieve better caramelization and crispy exterior.
- Allow grilled chicken to rest for 3-5 minutes after cooking to retain juiciness and redistribute internal moisture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 1000mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg