Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with crispy panko breading are juicy and so tasty dipped in your favorite sauce– the whole family will love them. This easy recipe uses pantry ingredients you can keep on hand whenever you need a quick and versatile protein to serve with just about any side dish.
I love air fryer recipes because I can get dinner on the table in minutes, and clean-up is quick! This recipe also freezes well. Plus, there’s no need to defrost the tenders before popping them in the air fryer, so make a double batch and stash them away for busy nights! For more chicken recipes, try my chicken nuggets, oven fried chicken, or air fryer chicken wings.
What You Need to Make This Recipe
Chicken Tenders – the egg wash and panko mixture will cover about 12 chicken tenders. Keep things simple by picking up precut chicken tenders, or you can slice your own by cutting 3 larger chicken breasts into 3 strips each.
Panko Breadcrumbs – panko breadcrumbs make this recipe extra crispy and are ideal for air frying because they brown nicely. Many panko brands are gluten-free which is convenient when you need a quick recipe that’s also allergen-friendly.
Garlic Powder – this ingredient adds flavor while keeping this recipe simple. You can personalize the flavor of the panko breading by adding or substituting Italian seasoning, onion powder, or even parmesan cheese.
Paprika – adds flavor and color to the breading. The flavor blends well with the garlic too!
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
1. Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
2. Sprinkle the tenders evenly with salt and black pepper.
3. Beat the eggs in a shallow dish. Combine the panko, garlic powder, and paprika in another shallow dish. Dip each chicken tender in the egg wash.
4. Coat the egg-washed tenders in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
5. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Working in batches, place the breaded chicken in the air fryer basket and spray all over with the cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F on one side until golden brown, about 6 minutes.
6. Flip the chicken pieces and continue air frying until golden brown and crispy, about 5 more minutes.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Thoroughly pat the tenders dry with paper towels. The egg wash and panko mixture adheres best to dry chicken tenders, so pat them on both sides using paper towels.
- Mix the breading in a shallow bowl. Using a shallow dish for the breadcrumb mixture is the best way to coat each tender fully and provides room to roll the chicken from side to side as you press the breading on.
- Air fry in batches. For the best crispy chicken tenders, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, and cook the tenders in batches. Tenders should be placed in a single layer with space between them so that air can circulate well.
- Utilize a meat thermometer. The cooking time for this recipe will vary depending on the air fryer used and the thickness of the tenders. For the best crispy tenders that are juicy, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness and air fry until the tenders have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.
- Make ahead and freeze uncooked breaded tenders. This recipe cooks well from frozen so it’s ideal for making ahead. Freeze uncooked breaded tenders in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, and then transfer to a plastic bag to store. The cooking time will increase by about 5 minutes, but use your instant-read thermometer to be sure they’re cooked through.
Frequently Asked Questions
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat chicken fingers in a preheated air fryer at 400°F until warmed through, about 4-5 minutes. Freeze cooked or uncooked tenders in a freezer-safe container or zip-top bag for up to 3 months. Reheat or cook from frozen in a preheated air fryer at 400°F until tenders reach an internal temperature of at least 165°F.
Serve air fryer chicken strips with bbq sauce, ranch dressing, ketchup, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce and a side of sweet potato fries or air fryer french fries. Or, toss them in buffalo sauce for a spicy kick. Make it a meal and serve this kid-friendly recipe with sliced fruit and baked mac and cheese. You can also slice leftover chicken and serve it on top of a leafy salad with a drizzle of your favorite salad dressing.
Air fryer chicken tenders will become soggy when they are not cooked at a high enough temperature, or when there is excess moisture. For the crispiest air fryer chicken, pat the tenders dry on both sides with paper towels and air fry in a single layer at 400°F. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket as overcrowding prevents the air from circulating and crisping the chicken.
If you love this recipe try these out!
If you’ve tried this air fryer chicken tenders recipe, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Video
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Paper towels
- Shallow dishes
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenders (900g/about 12)
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs (120g)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and sprinkle evenly with the salt and pepper.
- Beat the eggs in a shallow dish. Combine the panko, garlic powder, and paprika in another shallow dish. Dip each chicken tender in the egg wash, then coat in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere.
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Working in batches, place the breaded chicken in the air fryer basket and spray all over with the olive oil.
- Air fry at 400°F on one side until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Flip the chicken pieces and air fryer until golden and crispy, about 5 more minutes.
Notes
- Thoroughly pat the tenders dry with paper towels. The egg wash and panko mixture adheres best to dry chicken tenders, so pat them on both sides using paper towels.
- Mix the breading in a shallow bowl. Using a shallow dish for the breadcrumb mixture is the best way to coat each tender fully and provides room to roll the chicken from side to side as you press the breading on.
- Air fry in batches. For the best crispy chicken tenders, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, and cook the tenders in batches. Tenders should be placed in a single layer with space between them so that air can circulate well.
- Utilize a meat thermometer. The cooking time for this recipe will vary depending on the air fryer used and the thickness of the tenders. For the best crispy tenders that are juicy, use a meat thermometer to check for doneness and air fry until the tenders have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees f.
- Make ahead and freeze uncooked breaded tenders. This recipe cooks well from frozen so it’s ideal for making ahead. Freeze uncooked breaded tenders in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, and then transfer to a plastic bag to store. The cooking time will increase by about 5 minutes, but use your instant-read thermometer to be sure they’re cooked through.
I love all these air fryer recipes! I made these chicken tenders the other day and they are so good and so easy in the AF, very tender too! As always John, thanks for sharing these recipes with us!