Ditch the greasy takeout and enjoy the same crispy, juicy chicken tenders at home with your air fryer. Made with minimal oil, this recipe is a healthier alternative to deep-fried options, yet the strips of chicken retain their crunch. Quick and easy, these air fryer chicken tenders will have you coming back for more, whether you enjoy them just with a dipping sauce or alongside salad, potatoes, and more.
Ingredients
Chicken Tenders: You can use pre-cut raw chicken tenders (also called chicken tenderloins/goujons) or cut them yourself from chicken breasts. Buttermilk: To tenderize the chicken with its acidity. Eggs: To help the breading adhere. Breadcrumbs: I use a combination of golden breadcrumbs and panko breadcrumbs for the perfect, super-crispy coating. Use gluten-free breadcrumbs if necessary. Seasonings: garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper.
Instructions
Prepare the chicken tenders: If you’ve purchased pre-cut chicken tenders, skip the cutting step! Otherwise, first, use paper towels to pat the chicken dry. Use a sharp knife to slice the chicken in half horizontally and create two thin cutlets. Then, slice the cutlets into 1-inch-long chicken fingers. Next, in a medium-large bowl, combine the buttermilk and spices (garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper), and mix well. Then add the chicken tenders and toss them until well (and evenly) coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate it to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes (if you’re low on time), up to 8 hours. Bread the chicken tenders: Preheat your air fryer to 400ºF/200ºC and spray the basket with cooking oil (I used olive oil). In a wide shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In another wide shallow bowl, mix well the breadcrumbs, panko, paprika, salt, and pepper. Arrange your dredging station – place the marinated chicken next to the bowl with the breadcrumbs, and that next to the bowl with the eggs. First, dip the marinated chicken tenders in the breadcrumbs. Then dredge them in the egg mixture. Then press them again into the breadcrumbs on all sides, shaking off any excess – this will make them extra crispy. Air fry: Place the breaded tenders into the air fryer basket in a single layer with a bit of space in between. Cook in multiple batches if necessary. Air fry at 400ºF/200ºC for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway. Note that if your pieces are thicker or larger, you may need to air fry the chicken strips for 14-16 minutes. To ensure they’re safely cooked, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached 165ºF/74ºC. Then, remove the air fryer chicken tenders from the basket, serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, and enjoy!
Dipping sauce suggestions
Honey mustard BBQ sauce Buffalo Wing Sauce Sweet and sour sauce Garlic Aioli Ranch dressing Ketchup or mayo
More appetizer recipes
Chicken Lollipops Stuffed Mini Peppers Korean Fried Chicken Fried Mushrooms Air Fryer Chicken Wings
If you try this air fryer chicken tenders recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!
