Description
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders: Crispy, juicy, and delicious tenders made with chicken breast, seasoned breadcrumbs, and air-fried to perfection. Addictively good!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ pounds (680g) chicken tenderloins (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups (180g) panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika (regular or smoked)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil spray or cooking spray
- Optional: ¼ cup (25g) grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare Your Chicken Start by patting your chicken tenderloins dry with paper towels. This removes excess moisture that would prevent your coating from adhering properly and becoming crispy. If you’re using chicken breasts instead of tenderloins, slice them into strips about ¾-inch thick, cutting against the grain for maximum tenderness. For even cooking, try to make all your air fryer chicken tenders relatively uniform in size. If the tenderloins have the tendon attached, you can remove it by gripping one end with a paper towel and gently pulling it away from the meat. This extra minute of prep ensures your final tenders will be perfectly tender with no tough bits.
- Step 2: Season and Set Up Breading Station In a shallow dish, combine your flour with ¼ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. In a second dish, beat your eggs until smooth. For your third dish, mix the panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, Italian herbs, remaining salt, pepper, and parmesan cheese (if using). This seasoned breadcrumb mixture is what gives your air fryer chicken tenders their irresistible flavor profile. Take a moment to taste your breadcrumb mixture and adjust seasonings if needed—this is your chance to customize the flavor to your family’s preferences. You might even divide the breadcrumb mixture and create different flavor profiles for variety.
- Step 3: Bread the Chicken Working with one piece at a time, dredge each chicken tender in the flour, shaking off any excess. Next, dip it in the beaten egg, allowing any extra to drip off. Finally, press it into the seasoned breadcrumbs, ensuring an even coating on all sides. For extra crispiness, press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken. Place your breaded tenders on a clean plate or baking sheet while you finish the remaining pieces. If you have time, let the breaded air fryer chicken strips rest for 5-10 minutes before cooking—this helps the coating adhere better during the air frying process.
- Step 4: Preheat and Prepare Air Fryer Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes. Once hot, lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange your breaded tenders in a single layer in the basket, making sure they don’t touch. Lightly spray the tops of the tenders with olive oil spray for that golden-brown finish. Remember that cooking in batches is better than overcrowding, which would result in steaming rather than crisping your air fryer chicken tenders.
- Step 5: Cook to Crispy Perfection Cook the tenders for 5-6 minutes, then flip them over, spray lightly again if desired, and cook for another 5-6 minutes until they’re golden brown and crispy. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) for food safety. If you’re cooking thicker pieces, you might need an additional 1-2 minutes. Each air fryer model heats slightly differently, so keep an eye on your first batch and adjust timing as needed. The beauty of these air fryer chicken tenders is their consistent results—perfectly juicy inside with that satisfying crunch outside every time.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3-4 tenders per serving
- Calories: 320 calories per serving
- Sugar: 1 gram
- Sodium: 550 milligrams
- Fat: 12 grams
- Saturated Fat: 3 grams
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 grams
- Trans Fat: 0 grams
- Carbohydrates: 22 grams
- Fiber: 1 gram
- Protein: 28 grams
- Cholesterol: 110 milligrams