The Best Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
I have a weak spot for crispy chicken tenders. I could eat them almost daily with my favorite garlic Parmesan dipping sauce or in a Buffalo Chicken Wrap. But I know how unhealthy they can be when soaked in all of that oil, so Ive been using my Philips Air Fryer to enjoy one of my favorite appetizers, without all of the oil.
These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders made with panko bread crumbs are my go to and are air fried with just a little bit of olive oil. The chicken comes out super crispy, just like theyve been fried in a deep fryer.
You wont be able to tell that these chicken pieces are not deep fried. Not only are these chicken tenders healthier, but you also dont have that oil smell or the mess to clean up. The air fryer fried chicken are perfect to serve with a side of veggies, or on a platter for a game day appetizer.
How Long To Cook
Chicken tenderloins take 10 minutes to cook in the air fryer. I recommend flipping them over halfway through the cooking time.
The most important thing is to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. Thats the minimum it needs to be safe to eat without overcooking and making the chicken dry.
I highly recommend getting an instant meat thermometer to check the temp.
How To Make Frozen Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Pull the chicken fingers out of the freezer.
- In a gallon sized zip bag, add in all the seasonings. Shake the bag to mix all the dry ingredients together. Add in the oil and lemon juice. Zip the bag closed and mix it all around.
- Add in the frozen chicken and re-zip the bag. Mix it all around to completely coat chicken tenders and let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature. If you want to marinate it longer, it will need to go in the fridge.
- After 10 minutes of chicken sitting out, preheat the air fryer.
- Once air fryer is ready, break apart the tenders through the zip bag and add it to the air fryer.
- Flip over half way through cooking time. Squeeze on more lemon juice if desired. Season with salt and pepper and serve with your favorite dip or use in recipe.
How to Make Frozen Breaded Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer
If you have the breaded chicken tenders that are frozen, they also can be cooked in the air fryer. Just follow these easy directions.
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How To Make Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Tenders
Preheat the Air Fryer to 400ºF for 5 minutes. Prepare the Air Fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray.
Using a cutting board, remove the tendon from the raw chicken tenders and add them to a medium-sized bowl.
Add the olive oil to the chicken tenders and toss them so that they are fully coated.
Add the seasonings to the chicken tenders and coat them.
Place the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400ºF for 10 minutes, flipping the chicken at the 5-minute mark. The chicken strips should be perfectly crispy and golden brown.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165º degrees F. If not, cook for additional minutes until ready.
Serve the cooked chicken with your favorite dipping sauces, such as BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or honey mustard sauce.
Why Youll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients. Easy, everyday ingredients that you probably have in your pantry!
- Quick. Air frying means time saving- this recipe takes less than 10 minutes.
- Versatile. Its not just a snack but can also be served as an appetizer or main meal.
- No breading needed. Sure, you can use breaded tenders, but we are saving calories and carbs by doing them this way, and youll love how good they taste too.
What I love the most about air fryer chicken tenders is just how easy they are to customize. Keep it simple with some spices or marinate it in some sauces, dressings, or a chicken marinade.
Read Also: Frozen Chicken Breast In Instant Pot
What To Pair With Air Fryer Crispy Breaded Chicken Tenders
When youre looking for something to pair with your crispy chicken tenders, weve got a few ideas.
- Sauces and dips: These chicken tenders are a perfect snack that goes so well with any sauce of your choice. Whether ketchup, bbq sauce, garlic mayo, honey mustard, you can enjoy these with any sauce or dip you like.
- Serve with French Fries: Chicken tenders and French fries go way back! Whether it is potato wedges or sweet potato fries, I bet you cant keep your hands off them.
Chicken Strips In Air Fryer
Why should you cook chicken tenders in your air fryer? There are lots of good reasons for using the air fryer to make a perfectly crispy chicken tender dinner.
When you make air fryer chicken tenders, you have less of a mess than if you fry your chicken tenders on the stovetop.
Another huge benefit of air fryer chicken tenders is that its much quicker than other methods.
Also, when you make homemade fried chicken tenders in your air fryer, its much healthier than those you can buy at restaurants. Usually, restaurants fry their chicken tenders in oil, so youve got a much healthier option by cooking your own chicken tenders at home.
You dont even need oil for making crispy chicken tenders in the air fryer. All you need is a light olive oil spray and youve got a wonderfully crispy air fryer chicken tender dinner thats ready to serve in minutes.
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How To Cook Frozen Chicken Tenders In Air Fryer
These numbered steps match the numbered photos above and are for illustration purposes. For the complete list of ingredients and instructions for frozen chicken strips in air fryer, please see the recipe below.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Lets face it, you really cant go wrong when you serve chicken tenders, and when cooked in the air fryer they are so effortless and the results are out of this world!
Serve them up as a crowd pleasing appetizer or part of a quick and easy weeknight meal.
If you love these, be sure to try my Instant Pot Chicken Tenders and Baked Chicken Tenders!
Read Also: Best Seasoning For Chicken Breasts
Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
Learn to cook chicken tenderloins in the air fryer perfectly juicy, delicious and easy. Ready in just 8 minutes, a secret trick ensures they never dry out!
We love cooking chicken in our air fryer. Its fast, requires minimal prep, and honestly, turns out perfect every time. Weve done it with drumsticks, chicken breast, thighs, and even wings. Our favorite way, though, is cooking up chicken tenders.
What Are Chicken Tenders
Chicken tenders are nothing more than the piece of chicken that is attached to the chicken breast. Its usually found on the underside of the chicken.
The chicken tender is more tender than the regular boneless, skinless chicken breast. Its considered one of the leanest meats and has very little fat.
If you can not find chicken tenders in the grocery store, you can slice a piece of boneless, skinless chicken breast into strips for this recipe.
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How To Save Leftover Chicken Tenderloins
You want to keep them as moist as possible. If you store in a container with a lid I like I pour a bit of sauce over the top of them so they dont dry out. Then you can easily reheat chicken tenders in air fryer again the next day or just warm in the microwave. Or dice up whats left and throw into another dish like our Crockpot chicken casserole.
Still not a believer? Take my word for it because I have done this many times, and I would never ever share a recipe or instructions for something that didnt work out. It is amazing how well this tiny hot air machine works with meat, vegetables and even baking desserts in it.
Below are step by step instructions including nutritional information for the exact ingredients listed.
Want to see a few of my favorite things that I am totally obsessed with or visit my Etsy shop?? Take a peek and see how many you might already havetwinsies!
Chicken Breast Vs Chicken Tenders
Chicken tenders are chicken pieces from the tenderloin under the chicken breast
The chicken tenderloin can easily be found in grocery stores however if you cant get pre-cut tender in the market, you can easily pull the tender from a skinless and boneless breast.
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Here is the air fryer I use COSORI smart wifi air fryer. It is big enough for a large family but you can also get it in smaller sizes if you prefer that.
Recommended Reading: How To Bake Frozen Chicken Breasts
Do I Need To Trim Chicken Tenders
Not really! But have you ever noticed the white piece of tendon or muscle that runs through your chicken tender? Thats what makes them a bit tough but heres how to easily remove it.
You can actually eat the white tendon inside the chicken tender so its totally up to you whether or not you want to remove it.
Making Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Your healthy air fryer chicken tenders are going to come together really quickly. With just 3 ingredients, all of the prep work is done in just a few moments. This recipe is so easy, it would be a great one to start your kids in the kitchen with.
To make your healthy air fryer chicken tenders:
Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 3-5 minutes.
Coat your chicken tenders with oil then sprinkle or brush the chicken rub on the chicken.
Press the rub into the chicken meat .
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Ninja Foodi Frozen Chicken Tenderloins
It doesnt matter what brand of machine you may to make nugget style air fryer frozen chicken tenders, or these homemade pieces. If you have a Foodi youd have the option to either pressure cook or air crisp, we are talking just about the latter of the two in this post.
- 10-12 frozen raw chicken tenderloins that are still frozen, timing is for this type
- Olive oil brushed on top or sprayed out of a can
- Dry rub for chicken wings could be sprinkled on top if you wanted to just go with simple, already mixed together seasonings
- We like a little bit of fenugreek, optional
- 1/2 tsp granulated garlic, thyme and salt
At this point I dont even measure what I put on top, just a bit of this and that until its coated with what we like. Using a store bought seasoning works great too.
Why You’ll Love These Naked Grilled Chicken Tenders In The Air Fryer
You’ll love this recipe because it’s simple, quick, and tastes just as good leftover. This is one of our favorite Air Fryer recipes because you can pair it with anything, and is a huge hit in any household, even for picky little ones.
In addition, these naked tenders aren’t battered or breaded, so you don’t need to worry about that extra step! So, grab your Air Fryer and keep reading to see how you can whip up this chicken tenders recipe!
Also Check: Frozen Chicken Wings In Airfryer
Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Everyone loves a good chicken recipe, and when crispy, juicy, tender and flavorful chicken is involved, its love at first bite.
This air fryer chicken tenders recipe just might be my new favorite. I adapted it slightly from these baked chicken tenders and I couldnt be happier with the results.
It reminds me of my childhood. After all, chicken nuggets were practically a staple growing up! But, now that Im an adult, these air fryer chicken tenders with buttermilk are everything a tender should be:
And easyso easy! Like most of my recipes, these tenders are a breeze to whip up. A few ingredients, a little time in the air fryer, and dinner is ready to be devoured. I like to serve these chicken pieces with bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, or honey mustard.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
I made these tasty chicken strips the other night for dinner along with some orzo with zucchini and tomatoes, and my family loved them! They are super easy and quick for weeknight meals. Air fryer recipes are one of my top requests, some favorites are Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets. And if you like sandwiches, this Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich is a must!
I like making homemade chicken strips because they are so much healthier than fried versions. The great thing about the air fryer is that the tenders get super crispy with way less oil. This air fryer recipe for chicken tenders only requires a little olive oil spray on each one.
Also Check: Cooking Chicken Nuggets In Air Fryer
How To Reheat These Chicken Tenders:
From the fridge: Place cold tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350 for 5-7 minutes or until the tenders are hot. These tenders would also reheat well in a HotLogic Portable Oven link to my review.
From the freezer: Place frozen cooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
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How To Make Chicken Tenders In The Air Fryer From Scratch
Making air fryer chicken tenders from scratch in your air fryer is super easy, and you have not just a healthier chicken tender, but also less expensive ones.
To make homemade air fryer chicken tenders, you dont have to cut the chicken. Chicken tenders are naturally in strips, so theyre ready to cook in your air fryer.
The first step to making homemade air fryer chicken tenders is seasoning them with sea salt and black pepper. Then, you coat them in a beaten egg and breadcrumb mixture and panko breadcrumbs.
When you have your chicken tenders perfectly seasoned and coated, put them on a cookie sheet, cutting board, or large platter to spray them lightly with olive oil spray. The olive oil cooking spray will ensure that the air fryer chicken tenders are super crispy.
Also Check: How Long Do I Air Fry Chicken Nuggets
How To Cook Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast
The hot circulating air from the air fryer makes them crispy and amazing. Its also quicker because you dont have to pre-heat the regular large oven for just a few of the breast fillets. The circulating hot air fryer air cooks the chicken wonderfully and its a great way to get a quick and easy dinner on the table. Add some homemade gravy or a side of veggies and you have a great quick and easy chicken dinner in minutes. Theres so many different brands out there so have fun with your favorite ones. We especially love the fact that these air fryer frozen breaded chicken breasts healthier than deep frying, which we talk about below.
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How To Make Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Tenders
Here is a simple step by step guide on making crispy chicken tenders in an air fryer:
Step 1: Start by washing and patting the boneless chicken breasts dry. Cut the chicken into strips or fingers and set aside.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk the egg and set it aside.
Step 3: in another bowl, add breadcrumbs and the seasonings . You can also use a plastic Ziplock bag. It is a convenient way to coat the chicken without getting your hands dirty.
Step 4: Dip the chicken tenders first in the egg and then place them one by one in the breadcrumb mixture so that they are well coated. You can repeat the step twice for more crunch.
Step 5: Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the coated chicken tenders in it by keeping some distance between them. It is important that you keep space otherwise, they wont cook evenly.
Step 6: Cook the chicken tenders for about 10 minutes at 350-degree f. Dont forget to flip the tenders halfway into the cook.
Step 7: Once done, take them out of the air fryer, season with salt and black pepper, and serve.
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