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Air fryer chicken tendersย are one of the simplestย recipesย that you can make if you own anย air fryerย without all the extra grease! With the method I will show you today, you will get crispy, juicy and super flavorful chicken tenders. So good, that everyone else wouldnโt believe that they were in fact made in theย air fryerย and not deep fried!
This is the bestย air fryer chicken tendersย recipeย ever!
When it comes to eat healthier, you need to make sure that you are also enjoying your life. And one of the best ways to do that and actually have healthier meals, you need to find ways to enjoy the healthier options while still keepingย flavorย and texture in mind!
The way that could look for many of us is opting for airย fried chickenย stripsย as opposed to the deep fried version. In thisย recipeย I will show you how to do just that so you can make aย chicken recipeย that you enjoy eating! Enjoy it with your favorite sauces like this spicy dipping sauce recipe!
Don’t have an air fryer? Try these baked chicken tenders!
Table of Contents
- What makes theseย air fryerย chickenย tenderloinย so special?
- Areย air fryerย chicken tenderloinsย healthy?
- Ingredientsย forย air fryer chicken tender?
- How to make homemade chicken tenders in theย air fryer?
- Ingredientsย forย air fryer chicken tender?
- How to make homemade chicken tenders in theย air fryer?
- Can you refrigerateย fried chickenย tenders?
- What to serve with chicken tenders?
- Whatย air fryerย should I use for thisย recipe?
- Tips for delicious chicken tenders
- Crispy air fryer chicken tenders
- Tender air fryer chicken tenders Recipe
- If you enjoyed these air fryer chicken tenders make sure to pin this article for later!
What makes theseย air fryerย chickenย tenderloinย so special?
These chicken tenders are a hit in our house and Iโm sure they will be a hit in your house as well, here is exactly why you need to give them a try:
- Each chicken tender is perfectly crispy, so crispy you wouldnโt even be able to tell it wasnโt deep fried.ย
- The actual chicken itself is not dry at all. Soaking it inย buttermilkย makes all the difference.ย
- You can easily customize these airย fried chickenย tenders by adding different spices in the breadingย mixtureย to fit your liking.ย
- This airย fried chickenย tenderย recipeย can be made in the Ninja Foodi too!
Areย air fryerย chicken tenderloinsย healthy?
YES!
Honestly, the word healthy varies depending on each individual but in this case I would say that thisย recipeย is pretty healthy because it is not deep fried. So by making these chicken tenders in yourย air fryerย you are saving up on a ton of calories.
These chicken tenders are made with bread crumbs though so that might not fit some peopleโs needs (aka those on the keto diet) I will make sure to make chicken tenders in theย air fryerย without breading next!
Ingredientsย forย air fryer chicken tender?
Here are theย ingredientsย you will need for these homemade chicken tenders, make sure to scroll down to theย recipeย cardย for the exactย ingredientย list.
- Chicken tenders-ย You can either purchase the chicken tenders already cut up or you can cut your ownย chicken breastย at home. Itโs whatever you prefer.
- Buttermilkโ Theย buttermilkย is crucial to keep you chicken moist and tender. If you donโt haveย buttermilkย you can make yourย own buttermilkย by mixing 1 up of milk with 1 tablespoon ofย white vinegar. I tried thisย recipeย using both techniques and they both work wonders.
- Flourโ The flour is used to coat the raw chicken first.
- Eggโ Theย eggsย are the second coating of theย chicken fingers.
- Panko bread crumbsโ Theย panko breadcrumbsย will be the last thing that will coat ourย chicken fingersย and the thing that will make them super crunchy.
- Saltย & pepperโย Saltย and pepper to taste.
How to make homemade chicken tenders in theย air fryer?
Homemadeย air fryer chicken tendersย are super easy to make. Make sure to scroll down to theย recipeย cardย to see the full detailed instructions:
- Marinateย the chicken tenders in aย buttermilk marinadeย for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Prepareย the flour,ย egg, and panko bread crumbย mixtureย and set aside.
- Dryย the chicken tenders using a paper towel. Make sure that you dry them well from theย excess buttermilkย to avoid having them steam in theย air fryer.
- Dredgeย the chicken in the flourย mixtureย them dip in theย eggย mixtureย then coat with the bread crumbs. You could also add someย parmesan cheeseย with the breadcrumbs for extra savory chicken tenders!
- Sprayย theย chicken fingersย with cooking spray.
- Placeย theย chicken fingersย in theย air fryer basketย and cook at 390F for 8-10 minutes depending on how large yourย chicken fingersย are. Flip the chicken tenders halfway through the baking time. Make sure to check for doneness with a thermometer. You will know the chicken is ready when it reached 165F in the center of the thickest area.
- Serveย with yourย favorite dipping sauceย and enjoy!
Ingredientsย forย air fryer chicken tender?
Here are theย ingredientsย you will need for these homemade chicken tenders, make sure to scroll down to theย recipeย cardย for the exactย ingredientย list.
- Chicken tenders-ย You can either purchase the chicken tenders already cut up or you can cut your ownย chicken breastย at home. Itโs whatever you prefer.
- Buttermilkโ Theย buttermilkย is crucial to keep you chicken moist and tender. If you donโt haveย buttermilkย you can make yourย own buttermilkย by mixing 1 up of milk with 1 tablespoon ofย white vinegar. I tried thisย recipeย using both techniques and they both work wonders.
- Flourโ The flour is used to coat the raw chicken first.
- Eggโ Theย eggsย are the second coating of theย chicken fingers.
- Panko bread crumbsโ Theย panko breadcrumbsย will be the last thing that will coat ourย chicken fingersย and the thing that will make them super crunchy.
- Saltย & pepperโย Saltย and pepper to taste.
How to make homemade chicken tenders in theย air fryer?
Homemadeย air fryer chicken tendersย are super easy to make. Make sure to scroll down to theย recipeย cardย to see the full detailed instructions:
- Marinateย the chicken tenders in aย buttermilk marinadeย for 30 minutes to 3 hours.
- Prepareย the flour,ย egg, and panko bread crumbย mixtureย and set aside.
- Dryย the chicken tenders using a paper towel. Make sure that you dry them well from theย excess buttermilkย to avoid having them steam in theย air fryer.
- Dredgeย the chicken in the flourย mixtureย them dip in theย eggย mixtureย then coat with the bread crumbs. You could also add someย parmesan cheeseย with the breadcrumbs for extra savory chicken tenders!
- Sprayย theย chicken fingersย with cooking spray.
- Placeย theย chicken fingersย in theย air fryer basketย and cook at 390F for 8-10 minutes depending on how large yourย chicken fingersย are. Flip the chicken tenders halfway through the baking time. Make sure to check for doneness with a thermometer. You will know the chicken is ready when it reached 165F in the center of the thickest area.
- Serveย with yourย favorite dipping sauceย and enjoy!
Can you refrigerateย fried chickenย tenders?
You sure can! I like making extra chicken tenders when I have room in theย air fryerย and save them to use them as a meal prep option throughout the week.
To store airย fried chickenย tenders, place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days. Whenever youโre ready to enjoy them pop them in theย air fryerย for 5-8 minutes at 350F. They will come out super crispy and delicious this way too!
What to serve with chicken tenders?
Chicken tenders are an awesome thing to make at home because you can serve them with a multitude of sides. Here are a few of my favorite pairings:
- Chicken tenders andย air fryerย frozen frenchย friesย with Spicy Ketchup
- Airย fried chickenย tenders andย A Quick and Healthy Mediterranean Lentil Salad
- Chicken tenders andย Air Fryerย Broccoliย Parmesan| (low calorie, low carb, healthy snack, keto)ย orย Restaurant style Air Fried Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Whatย air fryerย should I use for thisย recipe?
You can honestly use whateverย air fryerย you prefer. I personally love theย Ninja 4 quartย air fryer. But you could also use yourย Ninja foodiย air fryer.
Which everย air fryerย you decide to go with just make sure that theย air fryer basketย is large enough to bake a few chicken tenders at a time.
Tips for delicious chicken tenders
Here are a few tips that will ensure that your chicken tenders turn out as good as possible!
- Donโt skip the marinating inย buttermilkย step-ย Theย buttermilkย is what will keep your chicken extra tender and moist. Donโt skip this step because your chicken will come out a little tougher.
- Make sure your chicken tenders are all cut up evenlyโ Cutting the chicken tenders evenly will ensure that they willย air fryย at the same time too.
- Cook the chicken tenders in batches to not crowd theย air fryerโ Make sure that you leave enough room between each chicken tender in theย air fryerย to ensure that they bake evenly. If you crowd yourย air fryerย you might end up with not so crispy chicken.
- Serve with yourย favorite dipping sauces-ย Thinkย honey mustardย like chick-fil-a.ย BBQ sauce, or even ranch and buffalo would go so well with these!
Crispy air fryer chicken tenders
Tender air fryer chicken tenders
Ingredients
- 1 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- First, start by marinating the chicken tenders in the buttermilk for 30 minutes or up to 4 hours
- Place the flour in a medium bowl. Crack the eggs in a medium bowl and gently whisk with a fork. Place the panko bread crumbs, salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a medium bowl and gently stir to get everything combined together.
- Remove the chicken tenders from the buttermilk and gently pat dry with a paper towel. This will make sure that the chicken tender won't steam up in the air fryer.
- Coat each chicken tender with the flour, then dip in the eggs, then coat with the bread crumb mixture. Spray each chicken tender on both sides with cooking spray or oil and place in the air fryer basket. Make sure to leave enough room between them so they crisp up nicely, you might have to air fry your chicken tenders in batches depending on how large your air fryer is.
- Cook the chicken for 5 minutes on each side at 390F. Making sure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165F. You will have to adjust the cooking time depending on how big or small your chicken tenders are. For smaller chicken tenders, bake them for 4 minutes per side, and for larger ones aim for 6-7 minutes per side.
- Serve the chicken tenders with ranch or ketchup and enjoy right away!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Do you have a recipe for bone-in wings?
I do not!