Making chicken tenders in an air fryer is quick, easy, and results in crispy, delicious tenders. Here’s a simple recipe for air fryer chicken tenders:
Ingredients:
- 1 lb chicken tenders (about 8-10 tenders)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups breadcrumbs (preferably panko for extra crunch)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray (or olive oil spray)
Instructions:
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare the Coatings:
- In a shallow bowl, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- In a second shallow bowl, beat the eggs.
- In a third shallow bowl, add the breadcrumbs.
- Coat the Chicken:
- Dredge each chicken tender in the flour mixture, making sure it’s evenly coated.
- Dip it into the beaten eggs.
- Finally, coat the chicken with breadcrumbs, pressing gently to ensure the crumbs stick.
- Air Fry the Chicken Tenders:
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Arrange the chicken tenders in the basket in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking. You may need to cook in batches.
- Spray the tops of the chicken tenders lightly with cooking spray.
- Air fry the tenders at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The tenders should be golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) when done.
- Serve: Once cooked, remove the chicken tenders from the air fryer and serve with your favorite dipping sauce (like ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce).
Enjoy your crispy, healthier chicken tenders made in the air fryer!