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    Home > Blog > Appetizers > Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    by Jenny Park · Published: Jan 3, 2023

    Jump to Recipe
    The best Air Fryer Chicken Tenders you'll ever have! Our recipe is easy, can be made in just 30 minutes and produces crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, flavorful chicken tenders!
    Air fryer chicken tenders with a variety of sauces.
    Air fryer chicken tender recipe with dipping sauces.
    Air fryer chicken tender recipe with dipping sauces.
    Air fryer chicken tenders with a variety of sauces.
    Air fryer chicken tenders with a variety of sauces.

    We have our first official air fryer recipe for you all – our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders! Admittedly I gave air fryers a major side eye when I first heard of them, but after starting to use one, I have definitely converted to an air fryer enthusiast!

    Our air fryer chicken tenders are super tender and juicy on the inside and have a great crunch on the outside. They only require a handful of basic ingredients and require no oven or stovetop, which is a huge plus! I love eating a couple for a quick snack/lunch or chopping a few up and putting them on top of a salad for a simple and delicious dinner.

    How to Make Our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Ingredients to make air fryer chicken tenders.

    Process

    1. Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper on both sides.
    2. In a shallow dish combine flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika and onion powder.
    Chicken tenders being seasoned.
    Dredging ingredients for air fryer chicken tenders.
    1. In another shallow dish combine panko and chives.
    2. Dredge chicken tenders in flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Next, dip chicken tenders into beaten eggs. Shake off any excess. Finally dredge tenders in panko mixture, pressing the tenders into the panko mixture on both sides to ensure the tenders are fully covered in breadcrumbs.
    Breadcrumbs in a bowl for air fryer chicken tenders.
    Air fryer chicken tenders process of breading.
    1. Generously spray both sides of each tender with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper.
    2. Preheat air fryer to 375˚F and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Add 4 to 5 chicken tenders to air fryer (depending on air fryer basket size, tenders will need to be air-fried in batches) and air fry for 5 minutes. Flip each tender and continue to air fry for an additional 5 minutes or until tenders have cooked through and are golden brown on the outside.
    Chicken tenders ready to be air fried.
    Air fryer chicken tenders in the basket ready to be cooked.
    1. Remove tenders from air fryer basket and repeat step 9 with remaining chicken tenders.
    2. Serve chicken tenders with dipping sauces of choice.
    Air fryer chicken tenders cooked.
    Air fryer chicken tender recipe with dipping sauces.

    Tools You Will Need

    • knife
    • cutting board
    • measuring spoons
    • dry measuring cups
    • mixing bowls or shallow baking dishes
    • tongs
    • air fryer (Cosori air fryers are our brand of choice! They’re very efficient and result in deliciously cooked food every time!)

    Freezing and Heating Instructions

    One of my favorite things about our air fryer chicken tenders recipe is that it freezes very well!

    To Freeze

    Follow recipe and dredge all chicken tenders until fully coated in panko breadcrumb mixture. Line each tender onto a parchment lined baking sheet in a single layer, making sure the tenders are not touching one another. Place baking sheet into the freezer until tenders have frozen completely. Transfer frozen tenders to a resealable freezer bag, remove as much air as possible and seal. Freeze tenders for up to 3 months.

    To Heat

    Preheat air fryer to 375˚F. Spray air fryer basket and frozen tenders with cooking spray. Place frozen tenders directly into basket and air-fry for 7 minutes. Flip each tender and continue to air-fry for 6 minutes.

    Oven Baking Instructions

    Our air fryer chicken tenders can definitely be baked in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer!They won’t get quite as crispy, but since we’re using panko breadcrumbs they will still have a good crunch to them!

    For Oven Baked Chicken Tenders

    Preheat oven to 375˚F and just increase the baking time to 18-20 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through baking. That’s it!

    Tips and Tricks for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    • Use panko breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs for extra crispy chicken tenders!
    • Lightly grind panko breadcrumbs in a food processor, so the granules are a finer. This will give you a better mouthfeel and a lighter crispy texture overall.
    • Firmly press the panko into the tenders while dredging. This will help the coating stick to the tenders, instead of sliding off once cooked.
    • Spray coated tenders AND air fryer basket with cooking spray oil to ensure the tenders brown and don’t stick to the basket.
    • Flip tenders halfway through air-frying cooking time to ensure even doneness throughout each tender.

    Variations

    • Use boneless skinless chicken breasts if you’re unable to find tenders. Just cut the breasts into 1 inch thick chicken strips.
    • Add different spices to the flour mixture depending on flavor preferences, like cumin, za’atar, finely ground black pepper, sumac, and cayenne pepper.
    • Add some finely grated Parmesan cheese or toasted sesame seeds to the breadcrumb mixture for a subtle nutty/umami flavor.
    • Omit the chives from the panko mixture or mix up the herbs by adding (or replacing with) minced cilantro, rosemary or thyme.

    Our Favorite Chicken Tender Dipping Sauces

    A bowl of homemade chick fil a sauce with a lot of tater tots on the side.
    Chick Fil-A Sauce
    A pot of sweet and tangy BBQ sauce being stirred by a wooden spoon.
    Sweet and Tangy BBQ Sauce
    Buttermilk ranch dressing recipe in a bowl.
    Homemade Ranch Dressing
    Buffalo sauce recipe in a bowl with a spoon next to it.
    Buffalo Sauce

    Watch us make Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer!

    We said it was easy to make these Chicken Tenders and we were not lying! It’s so simple and the air fryer gets the job done quickly! We love how crisp they turn out too.

    YouTube video
    Air fryer chicken tender recipe with dipping sauces.

    More Easy Chicken Recipes You Will Love

    • Oven baked chicken thighs with a spoon to serve.
      Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
    • Buffalo chicken dip in a skillet with chips and veggies on the side.
      Buffalo Chicken Dip Recipe
    • Chicken satay recipe with a peanut sauce on a platter.
      Chicken Satay
    • A close up of Popeyes Chicken Sandwich with fries on a wooden board.
      Popeyes Chicken Sandwich Recipe

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    Air fryer chicken tender recipe with dipping sauces.

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    5 from 8 votes
    PRINT RECIPE Pin Recipe
    The best Air Fryer Chicken Tenders you'll ever have! Our recipe is easy, can be made in just 30 minutes and produces crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, flavorful chicken tenders!
    RECIPE BY Teri & Jenny
    Prep Time: 10 mins
    Cook Time: 20 mins
    Total Time: 30 mins
    Servings: 3

      EQUIPMENT  

    • 1 air fryer

      INGREDIENTS  

    • 10 chicken tenders
    • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (further ground in food processor)
    • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives plus more for garnish
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • cooking spray

      INSTRUCTIONS  

    • Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper on both sides.
    • In a shallow dish combine flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika and onion powder.
    • In another shallow dish combine panko and chives.
    • Dredge chicken tenders in flour mixture, shaking off any excess.
    • Next, dip tenders in beaten eggs. Shake off any excess.
    • Finally dredge tenders in panko mixture, pressing the tenders into the panko mixture on both sides to ensure the tenders are fully covered in breadcrumbs.
    • Generously spray both sides of each tender with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper.
    • Preheat air fryer to 375˚F and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
    • Add 4 to 5 chicken tenders to air fryer (depending on air fryer basket size) and air fry for 5 minutes. Flip each tender and continue to air fry for an additional 5 minutes or until tenders have cooked through and are golden brown on the outside.
    • Remove tenders from air fryer basket and repeat step 9 with remaining chicken tenders.
    • Serve chicken tenders with dipping sauces of choice.

      NOTES  

    **Recipe makes 10 chicken tenders (each serving is 3 1/3 tenders)**
    Freezing and Heating Instructions
    To Freeze: Follow recipe and dredge all chicken tenders until fully coated in panko breadcrumb mixture. Line each tender onto a parchment lined baking sheet, making sure the tenders are not touching one another. Place baking sheet into the freezer until tenders have frozen completely. Transfer frozen tenders to a resealable freezer bag, remove as much air as possible and seal. Freeze tenders for up to 3 months.
    To Heat from Frozen: Preheat air fryer to 375˚F. Spray air fryer basket and frozen tenders with cooking spray. Place frozen tenders directly into basket and air-fry for 7 minutes. Flip each tender and continue to air-fry for 6 minutes.
    Tips and Tricks for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
    • Use panko breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs for maximum crunch!
    • Lightly grind panko breadcrumbs in a food processor, so the granules are a finer. This will give you a better mouthfeel and a lighter crispy texture overall.
    • Firmly press the panko into the tenders while dredging. This will help the coating stick to the tenders, instead of sliding off once cooked.
    • Spray coated tenders AND air fryer basket with cooking spray to ensure the tenders brown and don’t stick to the basket.
    • Flip tenders halfway through air-frying cooking time to ensure even doneness throughout each tender.
    Calories: 434kcal Carbohydrates: 40g Protein: 45g Fat: 9g Saturated Fat: 2g Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Trans Fat: 1g Cholesterol: 216mg Sodium: 384mg Potassium: 772mg Fiber: 2g Sugar: 2g Vitamin A: 580IU Vitamin C: 3mg Calcium: 72mg Iron: 4mg
    CUISINE: American
    KEYWORD: air fryer recipe, crispy chicken tenders, no fry chicken tenders
    COURSE: Appetizer, dinner, lunch, Main Course, Snack

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    January 3, 2023 / 6 Comments

    About Jenny Park

    Jenny Park is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food stylist and recipe developer. One of her favorite foods is donuts. #sfbJENNY

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Sesame Ginger Chicken Salad
    Next Post: The BEST Healthy Dinner Ideas Next Post >

    Reader Interactions

    January 3, 2023 / 6 Comments

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    1. GK

      January 25, 2023 at 4:34 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent air fryer recipe as written. May have to watch time and temperature based on brand of air fryer. Ours has racks instead of basket. 14 minutes @ 400 with a flip.

      Reply
    2. Marla

      January 15, 2023 at 7:10 am

      5 stars
      This is our favorite chicken tenders recipe so far. We used finely crushed crackers and turn the tenders and used a fork when turning them so the coating doesn’t come off.

      Reply
    3. lowandslow

      January 03, 2023 at 7:45 am

      5 stars
      Our new full size oven has a no pre heat air fryer feature,will this recipe work in it?

      Reply
      • Teri Lyn Fisher

        January 05, 2023 at 12:09 pm

        Yes it should!

        Reply
      • Jenny Park

        January 06, 2023 at 9:06 am

        It should!

        Reply
    4. Tei

      February 08, 2022 at 10:39 am

      Your air fryer looks nice and small. What brand is it? I’ve been apprehensive of getting one, but after this post I started to seriously reconsider.

      Reply

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