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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and made with simple pantry ingredients. They’re a lighter, faster alternative to deep-fried tenders—perfect for busy weeknights, game day snacks, or kid-friendly dinners.

  • Total Time: 22–24 minutes
  • Yield: 4 (about 12 tenders) 1x

Ingredients

Chicken tenders or sliced chicken breast

Eggs

Breadcrumbs or panko

Parmesan cheese (optional but recommended)

Garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper

Cooking spray or olive oil spray

Instructions

Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

Dip chicken into beaten eggs, then coat with seasoned breadcrumbs.

Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Lightly spray with oil and cook 12–14 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through (165°F internal temp).

Notes

Cooking Tips

  • Don’t overcrowd the basket—cook in batches for max crispiness.

  • Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.

  • Spray lightly with oil before cooking to help achieve that golden color.

  • Let tenders rest for 2 minutes after cooking to keep them juicy.


Variations

 

  • Parmesan Herb: Add Italian seasoning and extra parmesan to the breadcrumb mix.

  • Spicy: Mix cayenne pepper or chili powder into the coating.

  • Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed rice cereal.

  • Keto/Low-Carb: Swap breadcrumbs for crushed pork rinds or almond flour.

  • Buffalo Style: Toss cooked tenders in warm buffalo sauce before serving.

  • Author: Emma
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 12–14 minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 290
  • Sodium: 520mg
  • Fat: 10g
  • Carbohydrates: 18g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 32g
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