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    Main Dishes » Chicken Recipes » Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Published: Oct 1, 2020 · Modified: Jan 27, 2021 by Cathy Trochelman · 8 Comments

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    Chicken Tenders are every kid's favorite, and this air fryer recipe makes them perfect every time. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and ready in just 20 minutes. Just like fried... but so much better!

    Overhead photo of Air Fryer Chicken Tendersin a basket with honey mustard

    Chicken Tenders. They're the one thing my kids look for on every restaurant menu, and the one thing they never seem to outgrow. Not that I can blame them... I mean who doesn't love tender, juicy chicken coated in crispy bread crumbs?! Sign me up!

    If you've ever tried making chicken tenders at home, you know that baking them just doesn't quite cut it. Which is exactly where the air fryer comes in. They taste just like they do at a restaurant... with a tiny fraction of the oil!

    They've been on constant rotation at our house, and I have to say... I feel great about it. They're the perfect easy dinner, and the ideal chicken for salads and wraps too!

    And when it comes to the sauce? Honey Mustard is our favorite, but you can also dip them in ranch, bbq sauce, ketchup, or any of your favorites!

    Jump to:
    • 🥚 Ingredients
    • 📋 Instructions
    • 🌶 Recipe variations
    • 🍯 Dipping Sauces
    • ♨️ Storing & reheating
    • 🥗 Salads to pair them with
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Feedback

    Chicken Tender being dipped into honey mustard

    🥚 Ingredients

    • 2 pounds chicken tenders
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
    • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Air Fryer Chicken Tender ingredients

    📋 Instructions

    Bread the chicken tenders - place flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another, and a mixture of the panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a third. Dip tenders first in flour, then in eggs, then in bread crumb mixture to coat. Place coated chicken tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

    "Fry" them - spray the inside of an air fryer basket with olive oil using an oil mister (**do NOT use aerosol cooking spray, as it can damage the inside of the basket**). Working in batches (about 4 at a time) place the tenders in your air fryer basket. Spray the top of the chicken tenders with an oil mister. Set the air fryer to 400° for 8 minutes.

    Flip them - After 8 minutes on one side, flip the tenders, spray again with an oil mister, and fry for an additional 4-5 minutes. Remove them from the air fryer basket and continue with the next batch.

    Chicken Tenders in the air fryer basket ready to be air fried

    🌶 Recipe variations

    • Add any of your favorite seasonings to the bread crumb mixture (e.g. chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano)
    • Substitute regular bread crumbs for panko bread crumbs
    • Cut the chicken tenders into smaller chunks to make chicken nuggets
    • Make them dairy free by omitting the cheese
    • Substitute any of your favorite cheeses in place of parmesan

    🍯 Dipping Sauces

    • Honey Mustard
    • Sweet & Tangy BBQ Sauce
    • Creamy Southwest Dipping Sauce
    • Garlic Aioli
    • Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
    • Creamy Horseradish Sauce

    Chicken Tenders in the air fryer basket after air frying

    ♨️ Storing & reheating

    Leftover chicken tenders can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, transfer to a baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350°. They're also delicious cold, especially on top of a salad or inside a wrap.

    🥗 Salads to pair them with

    • Cranberry Apple Pecan Salad
    • Apple Walnut Salad
    • Pear, Walnut & Gorgonzola Salad
    • BLT Caesar Salad
    • Strawberry Bacon Blue Cheese Salad
    • Pineapple Crunch Salad
    • Strawberry Spinach Salad

    Inside of an Air Fryer Chicken Tender

    Continue to Content

    📖 Recipe

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Yield: 6
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes

    Chicken Tenders are every kid's favorite, and this air fryer recipe makes them perfect every time. Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, and ready in just 20 minutes. Just like fried... but so much better!

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken tenders
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 2 large eggs, beaten
    • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
    • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    Instructions

    1. Place flour in one bowl, beaten eggs in another, and a mixture of the panko crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a third. Dip tenders first in flour, then in eggs, then in bread crumb mixture to coat. Place coated chicken tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
    2. Spray the inside of an air fryer basket with olive oil using an oil mister (**do NOT use aerosol cooking spray, as it can damage the inside of the basket**). Working in batches (about 4 at a time) place the tenders in your air fryer basket. Spray the top of the chicken tenders with an oil mister. Set the air fryer to 400° for 8 minutes.
    3. After 8 minutes on one side, flip the tenders, spray again with an oil mister, and fry for an additional 4-5 minutes. Remove them from the air fryer basket and continue with the next batch.

    Notes

    Recipe variations:

    • Add any of your favorite seasonings to the bread crumb mixture (e.g. chili powder, paprika, garlic powder, oregano)
    • Substitute regular bread crumbs for panko bread crumbs
    • Cut the chicken tenders into smaller chunks to make chicken nuggets
    • Make them dairy free by omitting the cheese
    • Substitute any of your favorite cheeses in place of parmesan

    Nutrition Information:
    Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 444Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 201mgSodium: 737mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 51g
    © Cathy Trochelman
    Cuisine: American / Category: Chicken Recipes
    Collage image of Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

    Previous Post: « Black Bean Soup
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Amanda

      October 01, 2020 at 5:51 pm

      Perfect use for my air fryer, these look perfect!

      Reply
    2. Michelle

      October 01, 2020 at 7:48 pm

      My son's girlfriend got me an air fryer last year for Christmas and I still haven't used it. I think it's time to get it out!

      Reply
    3. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert

      October 01, 2020 at 9:59 pm

      These Chicken Tenders would disappear in our house!

      Reply
    4. Toni Dash

      October 01, 2020 at 11:27 pm

      This was a huge hit at my house! Everyone loved it!

      Reply
    5. Allyson Zea

      October 02, 2020 at 11:43 am

      We made chicken in the air fryer all the time! The air fryer is really the perfect appliance!

      Reply
    6. Ann

      October 02, 2020 at 2:13 pm

      Just found your web site. This recipe sound great and I can't wait to make it for my 74 y/o tender lovin' husband. Thank you in advance.

      Reply
    7. Webb

      March 14, 2021 at 6:10 pm

      Where's the recipe for the sauce?

      Reply
      • Cathy Trochelman

        March 15, 2021 at 7:22 am

        It's honey mustard sauce: https://www.lemontreedwelling.com/honey-mustard/

        Reply

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