Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Ready in minutes, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crisp, family-friendly, and easy to make. Enjoy the taste of fried chicken without fussing with hot oil or a drive-thru!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 11

Total Time 26

Servings servings

Calories 418kcal

Author John Kanell

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.

Video

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.

Nutrition