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5.0 from 24 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

The best Air Fryer Chicken Tenders you'll ever have! Our recipe is easy, can be made in just 30 minutes and produces crisp on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, flavorful chicken tenders!

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 3
Calories: 434 kcal
Course: Main Course , Appetizer , Snacks , Lunch , Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 10 chicken tenders
  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs (further ground in food processor)
  • 1 tablespoon thinly sliced chives plus more for garnish
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • cooking spray

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  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.
  5. Next, dip tenders in beaten eggs. Shake off any excess.
  6. 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.
  7. Generously spray both sides of each tender with cooking spray and season with salt and pepper.
  8. Preheat air fryer to 375˚F and spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
  9. Add 4 to 5 chicken tenders to air fryer (depending on air fryer basket size) 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.
  10. Remove tenders from air fryer basket and repeat step 9 with remaining chicken tenders.
  11. Serve chicken tenders with dipping sauces of choice.

Notes

  • **Recipe makes 10 chicken tenders (each serving is 3 1/3 tenders)**
  • Freezing and Heating Instructions
  • 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, 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 from Frozen: 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.
  • Tips and Tricks for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
  • Use panko breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs for maximum crunch!
  • 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 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.

Nutrition Information

Calories 434kcal (22%) Carbohydrates 40g (13%) Protein 45g (90%) Fat 9g (14%) Saturated Fat 2g (10%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 3g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 216mg (72%) Sodium 384mg (16%) Potassium 772mg (22%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 580IU (12%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 72mg (7%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 434

% Daily Value*

Calories 434kcal 22%
Carbohydrates 40g 13%
Protein 45g 90%
Fat 9g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 3g 15%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 216mg 72%
Sodium 384mg 16%
Potassium 772mg 16%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 580IU 12%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 72mg 7%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.