Golden, crunchy on the outside, and incredibly juicy on the inside! These air fryer chicken tenders are the ultimate way to get that perfect crunch without the mess of deep frying.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love This Recipe
You can enjoy these homemade air fryer chicken tenders as is, or you could dip them in your favorite sauces. One of my favorite things to do is cut the tenders into slightly smaller pieces, do the recipe as is, and then toss them in sauce. If you want to make orange chicken, bourbon chicken, or any of those crispy and saucy chicken recipes that you love without deep frying, just make this air fryer version and it is going to be so good. You could even use chicken breast cut into any size piece you want, and the only thing you will adjust is the bake time in your air fryer!
If you love easy air fryer chicken dinners, also try:
- Air Fryer Chicken and Broccoli – a complete one-basket meal that is just as quick and just as delicious!
- Air Fryer Mini Chicken Kiev Balls – bite-sized and packed with a gorgeous butter center.
What You Will Need
Special Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Paper towels (crucial for drying the chicken)
- 2 shallow dishes (for dredging stations)
- Olive oil mister (or cooking spray)
- Meat thermometer (to ensure 165°F / 74°C internal temperature)
- Fork (optional, to keep your fingers from getting gross!)
The Ingredients
- 2 lbs (907g) chicken tenders (patted completely dry)
- 1½ tsp (9g) kosher salt (for seasoning the chicken)
- ¾ tsp (2g) black pepper (for seasoning the chicken)
- 2 large (100g) eggs
- 2 cups (120g) Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp (2g) paprika
- 1 tsp (3g) garlic powder
- Olive oil mist (or neutral cooking spray)
Let us Get Cooking!
Step 1: Getting Your Chicken Ready
First off, grab two pounds of chicken tenders, and you want to give them a nice pat with paper towels so they are really dry. Do not skip this step! If they are wet, they are not going to hold on to the egg and the breading you add later.
Step 2: Do Not Forget the Salt and Pepper!
Before you dip anything, you must season the chicken tenders. That is so important because you need to have that flavor built right into the meat! Sprinkle them evenly with salt and pepper. Use about 1½ teaspoons of salt and about ¾ of a teaspoon of pepper, but really you just want a nice even coating. Flip all the pieces over and repeat.
Step 3: Building the Perfect Coating
Get your dredging stations ready.
- The Glue: The glue that will hold everything together is two large eggs. Crack them into a shallow dish, and give them a light beat so everything is nice and mixed up.
- The Crunch Factor: In another shallow dish, combine two cups of panko breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs are the cheat code for any air fryer crispy dish because they are really crunchy already, and you do not have to add a lot of oil to get that crisp and wonderful texture.
- The Seasonings: You can add any of your favorite seasonings to make this recipe your own, but a good place to start is 1 teaspoon of paprika and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder. Mix it up so it is nice and combined. You could add chili powder to make this spicy, or add any of your favorite dried herbs because it is really up to you!
Step 4: Dredging Your Tenders
Working a tender or two at a time, you are going to dip each one in your egg mixture. Use a fork so your fingers do not get totally gross! Let the excess drip off, and then you are going to transfer to the Panko mixture and firmly press those breadcrumbs over the chicken so it sticks. Plop that onto a lined baking sheet just to hang out. Repeat that for the rest of your chicken tenders.
Pro tip! Once you have half of your chicken tenders done, go to the air fryer and get started with that, and then finish the rest. Unless you have two air fryers!
Step 5: Air Frying for Perfection
Just before you start dredging, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 to 5 minutes. When you do it in the kitchen, preheat to save time!
Once your air fryer is nice and hot, open it up and spray the basket with a bit of oil. Place the chicken tenders face down in your air fryer in a single layer, making sure to leave a little bit of room for the air to circulate. Do not pack these chicken tenders in!
Step 6: Spray and Cook
Generously spray the tops of your chicken tenders. I use an olive oil mist, and it is a must have if you are air frying anything because it is so convenient.
Bake at 400°F for 6 minutes on the first side. Ooh, these look so good! Flip them over, spray any dry spots with a little more oil, and cook for about 5 more minutes so they are cooked all the way through and golden all over.
Want to turn these into a saucy dinner? Air fry the tenders using this recipe, then toss them in the sauce from our Honey Garlic Chicken Stir Fry for a restaurant-quality meal that is ready in under 30 minutes!
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
Out of the air fryer and just cool enough to touch, these guys are going to go in a flash. You have really, really good flavor throughout, and they are so crunchy on the outside, but tender and amazing on the inside. Let them cool slightly and serve with your favorite dipping sauces!
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How long do you cook chicken tenders in an air fryer?
For fresh breaded chicken tenders, air fry them for 11 minutes total at 400°F (200°C). Cook for 6 minutes on the first side, flip them, and cook for 5 more minutes. Always check with a meat thermometer to ensure the inside reaches a safe 165°F (74°C).
What temperature do you cook chicken tenders in the air fryer?
400°F (200°C) is the best temperature for air fryer chicken tenders. This high heat is what gets the Panko coating beautifully golden and crispy while keeping the inside juicy and tender. Always preheat your air fryer before adding the chicken.
How do I keep the breading from falling off the chicken in the air fryer?
There are two big tricks here! First, you have to pat the raw chicken totally dry with paper towels before seasoning and dipping them. If they are wet, the egg wash will not stick. Second, when you put them in the Panko, really press the breadcrumbs into the chicken with your hands rather than just loosely rolling them.
Can I use chicken breasts instead of pre-cut tenders?
Yes, absolutely! If you do not have chicken tenderloins, just grab some boneless and skinless chicken breasts and cut them into strips. You can make them any size you want, you will just need to slightly adjust your bake time depending on how thick you cut them.
Can I make air fryer chicken tenders without breading?
Yes! For no breading air fryer chicken tenders, simply season the dried chicken tenders with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, spray with oil, and air fry at 400°F for about 10 to 12 minutes flipping halfway. They will not have that crunch factor, but they will still be juicy and flavorful with much fewer calories.
What is the best way to reheat leftover chicken tenders?
Skip the microwave because it will just make your beautiful and crunchy chicken totally soggy. Instead, just pop the leftovers right back into your air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 4 minutes. They will taste just as crispy as they did the day you made them!
What sides go well with air fryer chicken tenders?
These crispy tenders pair beautifully with so many things! Some favorites include coleslaw, mac and cheese, corn on the cob, a simple green salad, or fries. For a healthier dinner, serve them alongside roasted vegetables or a fresh cucumber salad.
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Course: Main CourseCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy6
servings15
minutes11
minutes260
kcal26
minutesGolden, crunchy on the outside and incredibly juicy on the inside! These homemade breaded air fryer chicken tenders use a Panko breadcrumb cheat code for maximum crispiness without the mess of deep frying. Ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
- Equipment
Air Fryer
Olive Oil Sprayer
Meat Thermometer
2 Shallow Dishes
Paper Towels
- Ingredients
2 lbs (907g) chicken tenders
1½ tsp (9g) kosher salt
¾ tsp (2g) black pepper
2 large (100g) eggs
2 cups (120g) Panko breadcrumbs
1 tsp (2g) paprika
1 tsp (3g) garlic powder
Olive oil mist or neutral cooking spray
Directions
- Pat the 2 lbs of chicken tenders completely dry with paper towels to ensure the breading sticks.
- Season the chicken evenly on both sides with 1½ tsp salt and ¾ tsp black pepper.
- In a shallow dish, lightly beat the 2 large eggs.
- In a second shallow dish, whisk together the 2 cups of Panko breadcrumbs, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp garlic powder.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Dip each chicken tender into the egg wash (letting excess drip off), then press it firmly into the Panko mixture so the crumbs adhere perfectly.
- Spray the preheated air fryer basket with oil. Arrange a batch of chicken tenders in a single layer, ensuring they do not touch.
- Spray the tops of the tenders generously with the olive oil mist.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 6 minutes.
- Flip the tenders, spray the other side lightly with oil, and cook for an additional 5 minutes until golden all over and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- The Golden Rule: Do NOT skip patting your chicken dry! If the chicken is wet, the egg and Panko will not stick, and the breading will fall right off in the air fryer.
Notes
- Press, do not roll: Press the Panko into the chicken with your hands rather than just rolling it around for maximum crunch.
- Make it Saucy: Want to make Bourbon Chicken or Orange Chicken? Cut the chicken into smaller bite-sized pieces, air fry following this recipe, and then toss them in your favorite sauce right at the end!
- Make it Spicy: Add chili powder or cayenne to the Panko mixture to make these spicy air fryer chicken tenders.
- Gluten-Free Option: Swap the Panko for gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten free.
- Meal Prep: These reheat beautifully. Cook a big batch and refrigerate for easy weeknight dinners all week.
- Storage and Reheating: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. To get that crunch back, never use the microwave! Pop them back into the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3 to 4 minutes.
