Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

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

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.

3. In another shallow dish combine panko and chives.
4. 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.

5. Generously spray both sides of each tender with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper.
6. 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.

7. Remove tenders from air fryer basket and repeat step 9 with remaining chicken tenders.
8. Serve chicken tenders with dipping sauces of choice.

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

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.

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