Super Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Make incredibly crispy and juicy chicken tenders in your air fryer. This recipe provides simple steps for both a lightly breaded version and a no-breading option for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner or snack.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 14 min
- Total Time: 24 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Cooking spray (or 1 tablespoon olive oil for brushing)
- For Breading Option: 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1 large egg (beaten), 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Pat the chicken tenders completely dry using paper towels. This step helps achieve maximum crispiness.
- In a bowl, toss the dry chicken tenders with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika until evenly coated.
- For Breaded Tenders: Set up a dredging station: one shallow dish with flour, one with the beaten egg, and one with panko breadcrumbs. Dip each seasoned tender first in flour (shaking off excess), then in egg, and finally press firmly into the panko breadcrumbs.
- For No Breading Tenders: Lightly spray or brush the seasoned tenders with cooking spray or olive oil.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Arrange the tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the basket; work in batches if necessary.
- Air fry for 10 to 14 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through the cooking time. Cooking time will vary based on thickness.
- For the breaded option, spray the tops lightly with cooking spray after flipping for extra golden color.
- The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the exterior is golden brown and crispy.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce for a family favorite chicken meal.
Notes
- To maximize crispiness, ensure your chicken is very dry before seasoning or breading.
- For the no-breading option, using a light spray of oil is key to getting a good exterior texture.
- These tenders reheat well in the air fryer for a quick lunch the next day.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 tenders
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 6
- Saturated Fat: 1
- Unsaturated Fat: 5
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 10
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 110
Find it online: https://cookingbycarla.com/air-fryer-chicken-tenders/