Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are deliciously crispy and perfectly seasoned. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce and watch them disappear!
The air fryer works its magic again with this air fryer chicken tenders recipe! Every time I make these, I am seriously impressed with the crispiness of these air fryer chicken tenders. The seasoned breadcrumb coating cooks up perfectly golden and crispy, giving you a satisfying crunch with every bite.
This easy recipe requires just a handful of ingredients, most of which are kitchen staples. Buttermilk helps to tenderize the chicken, while a few simple seasonings give these chicken tenders incredible flavor.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- A tasty 30 minute dinner. You can have these air fryer chicken tenders on your table in less than 30 minutes. That’s a weeknight dinner win!
- Healthier than fried chicken strips. No oil is needed to make the crispiest chicken tenders in the air fryer. By making chicken tenders at home rather than ordering them at a restaurant, you can be confident in the quality of ingredients that go into your meal.
- Quick and easy to make. It only takes a few minutes to bread the chicken and then your air fryer does the rest!
- You’ll need only one or two simple side dishes to round out the meal. My favorite sides for chicken tenders are Baked French Fries, Roasted Broccoli or a big Green Salad.
My family and I love it. I will definitely make again. Super easy and great flavor!
Imsen
Ingredients
- All-Purpose Flour: Coating the chicken in flour helps the egg mixture to stick. You can substitute whole wheat flour, if desired.
- Eggs: Eggs act as the “glue” that binds the breading to the chicken.
- Buttermilk: Combined with the egg, the buttermilk helps the breading to stick to the chicken. Buttermilk also adds flavor and makes the chicken extra tender. If you don’t have buttermilk, you can make my buttermilk substitute or substitute regular milk.
- Seasonings: A combination of paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper makes a delicious seasoning for the chicken.
- Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko bread crumbs have larger crumb pieces than regular breadcrumbs, which makes for a crispier breaded coating.
- Chicken Tenders: This recipe is best made with chicken tenders, but if you don’t have tenders available you can slice boneless skinless chicken breasts into chicken strips.
Find the full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and instructions below.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Here’s an overview of the recipe steps. If you don’t have an air fryer, use this Baked Chicken Tenders recipe.
Gather three wide, shallow bowls or pie plates. In one dish, place the flour. In the second dish, whisk together the eggs, buttermilk and seasonings. Place the Panko in the third dish.
Preheat the air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes.
Coat the chicken tenders first in the flour, gently shaking off any excess flour.
Then, coat in the seasoned egg mixture.
Finally, coat in the Panko.
Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer (work in batches as needed). Air fry for 6 minutes on the first side. Then flip and cook on the second side for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through to 165° F when measured with an instant read thermometer.
Dipping Sauces
This is the fun part! Air fryer chicken tenders are even better when served with a great dipping sauce. Here are some of our favorites:
Recipe Tips
- Cook the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, with a little room in between them. This allows them to get crispy on all sides as the hot air circulates around the pieces. You may need to cook the chicken strips in batches.
- Flip the chicken tenders over half way through the cook time. This ensures that they become crispy on all sides. Flip them carefully so as to keep all of the breading on the chicken. You can use two forks or tongs to flip the pieces. Be careful since the air fryer basket is hot.
- I didn’t have a problem with the breading sticking to the air fryer basket, but if this is an issue for you, you can spray the basket with cooking spray before adding the tenders.
- You can add 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the Panko breadcrumbs, if desired.
- If you are serving only 2 or 3 people, you can halve this recipe.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
- To Store: Cooked chicken tenders may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: To reheat chicken tenders that are not frozen, preheat the air fryer to 360° F. Then air fry the chicken pieces for 5-10 minutes, until heated through. Or, reheat in a 375° F oven until hot.
- To Freeze: After air frying, you can freeze the cooked chicken tenders for up to three months. Let them cool completely and then freeze in an airtight container.
- To Reheat Frozen Chicken Tenders: Preheat the air fryer to 360° F. Air fry the frozen chicken strips for 8-14 minutes, flipping halfway, or until hot throughout and crispy. This method also works for store-bought frozen chicken tenders. You can also reheat from frozen in a 375° F oven until heated through.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
I love cooking chicken in my air fryer because it’s so easy and it always comes out juicy and tender. Try one of these air fryer chicken recipes next:
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets – The best chicken nuggets I’ve ever eaten.
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast – A surefire way to cook juicy chicken breasts!
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken – Coated in a thick, crispy batter and so juicy inside.
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs – A simple spice mix gives bone-in or boneless thighs incredible flavor.
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings – Hands-down the best way to cook crispy wings.
- Air Fryer Chicken Legs – A family favorite for dinner!
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- ½ cup all-purpose flour, or whole wheat flour
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups Panko bread crumbs
- 2 pounds chicken tenders
Instructions
- To prepare the breading on the chicken, you will need 3 wide, shallow bowls, dishes or pie plates. In one dish, place the flour. In the second dish, combine the eggs, buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix with a whisk or fork until well combined and no clumps of spices remain. In the third dish, place the Panko bread crumbs.
- Preheat air fryer to 400° F for 5 minutes.
- Coat the chicken tenders first in the flour, then in the egg mixture, and finally in the Panko breadcrumbs.
- Air fry chicken tenders in batches, placing tenders in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 6 minutes on the first side and then flip the chicken pieces over and cook for 5-7 more minutes, or until tenders are cooked through to at least 165° F and lightly browned. Serve tenders with dipping sauces, as desired.
Notes
- If you are serving only 2 or 3 people, you can halve this recipe.
- To Store: Cooked chicken tenders may be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: To reheat chicken tenders that are not frozen, preheat the air fryer to 360° F. Then air fry the chicken pieces for 5-10 minutes, until heated through. Or, reheat in a 375° F oven until hot.
- To Freeze: After air frying, you can freeze the cooked chicken tenders for up to three months. Let them cool completely and then freeze in an airtight container.
- To Reheat Frozen Chicken Tenders: Preheat the air fryer to 360° F. Air fry the frozen chicken strips for 8-14 minutes, flipping halfway, or until hot throughout and crispy. This method also works for store-bought frozen chicken tenders. You can also reheat from frozen in a 375° F oven until heated through.
My family and I love it. I will definitely make again. Super easy and great flavor!
Made them lastnight and family loved them. My son who had a friend stay the night and is a picky eater abouslty loved them. Definitely will make again. As a matter of fact I’m re-heating them as we speak. To make again for tonight’s dinner. Also making some creamy chicken rice as well. And of course mac and cheese for our lil man. Hrs 2. But great recipe and will be sending to my friends. Thanks so much.
Life changing!! My daughter and I made these and accompanied with homemade Raising Cane’s sauce. Absolutely delicious! I love my air fryer even more!!