Name: Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 9 min
Total time: 19 min
Ingredients: 1.20 lbs Chicken Tenders (About 8 chicken tenderloins ); 1 tsp Kosher salt (or to taste ); 1/4 tsp black pepper; 2 tsps garlic powder; 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp Italian seasoning; 1 tbsp parmesan cheese; 2 eggs; 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs; 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs; cooking spray

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These air fryer chicken tenders are crispy, juicy, and cook perfectly in under 10 minutes. No flour or oil is needed!

Make these succulent tenders and serve them with coleslaw and air fryer sweet potatoes.

hand held air fryer chicken tender with honey mustard.

I have made plenty of recipes in the air fryer but I think this is my new favorite. The chicken is super tender and juicy on the inside and perfectly crunchy on the outside.

Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Much healthier and more affordable than store-bought chicken tenders.
You can make these ahead of time and freeze them for up to 3 months.
Your house won’t smell like grease.
They are absolutely delicious!

Ingredient Notes

Chicken Tenderloins – The tendon is a tough white string of fat and I highly recommend removing it from the tenders. To remove the tendon, place the chicken tenderloin on a cutting board, place the tendon through the tines of the fork, then grab the tendon with a paper towel and pull. You can use chicken breasts instead but I find that chicken tenderloins are much more tender.
Panko Breadcrumbs – Flakier than regular breadcrumbs therefore it will give it a nice crunch.
Seasoned Breadcrumbs – This is where all the flavor is! Make sure to use seasoned breadcrumbs.
Spices – I used a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning.
Eggs – Will help the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken.
Parmesan Cheese – For best results, use fresh and grate it yourself!
Cooking Spray – The more you use, the more color your chicken will have.

ingredients for air fryer chicken tenders.

How To Make

In a small bowl, combine the garlic powder, Italian seasoning, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
Place the chicken tenderloins in a large bowl and season with the spice mixture. Mix well.
In a large bowl, combine the parmesan cheese, seasoned breadcrumbs, and panko breadcrumbs.
Dip the chicken tenderloins in the eggs then coat them in the breadcrumb mixture. Really pack on the breadcrumbs!
Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes and spray the basket with cooking spray.
Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket, spray the tenders with cooking spray, and cook for 6 minutes. Once the 6 minutes are up, flip the chicken tenders, spray them with cooking spray and cook for an additional 3 minutes. Cook the chicken tenders for a total of 9 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Enjoy immediately with fresh lemon and honey mustard, if desired.

raw chicken tenderloins in the air fryer basket.

Top Tips

Don’t forget to spray the chicken tenders with cooking spray on both sides if you want a nice golden crust.
Trim off any fat and remove the tendon from the chicken tenderloins, it makes such a difference!
Serve the chicken tenders hot!
Allow the chicken to rest at room temperature for at least 20 minutes before cooking otherwise it will cook unevenly.
Make sure the chicken tenders are roughly the same size so they cook evenly.

four cooked chicken tenders in the air fryer basket.

Storage

Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. To reheat, place the chicken tenders in the air fryer and cook for 2 minutes at 400 degrees F.

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