Best 5 Best Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipes

AIR-FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Preheat air fryer to 400°. In a shallow bowl, combine the first 6 ingredients. In another shallow bowl, whisk butter and sour cream. Dip chicken in butter mixture, then in crumb mixture, patting to help coating adhere., In batches, arrange chicken in a single layer on greased tray in air-fryer basket; spritz with cooking spray. Cook until coating is golden brown and chicken is no longer pink, 7-8 minutes on each side. Serve with additional sour cream and chives.

AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• For the chicken: Combine the buttermilk, Worcestershire sauce and paprika in a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, making sure it is completely coated. Seal the bag and place in a bowl. Let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, stir together the panko with the Parmesan, olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt in a shallow baking dish or pie plate.
• For the dipping sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, honey and Dijon in a small bowl and set aside.
• Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 390 degrees F. Remove 1 piece of chicken at a time from the bag, shaking off excess buttermilk. Place in the panko and press gently with your hands to adhere the panko evenly. Gently shake to remove the excess and place in the air fryer basket. Repeat with enough chicken to fill the basket (about 4 pieces) and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 7 minutes on each side. Repeat with the remaining chicken and serve warm with the dipping sauce.

AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• With paper towels, pat the chicken tenders dry. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt.
• In a shallow bowl (a pie dish works well) beat the eggs together. In a second shallow bowl, stir together the panko, breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and keep it nearby.
• Coat the chicken tenders: Working a few at a time, dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then into the breadcrumb mixture, patting it gently as needed to adhere. Shake off excess.
• Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pieces.
• Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. If you'd like to keep the chicken warm between batches, turn a regular oven to 250 degrees F. Coat the air fryer basket with the olive oil spray, then add chicken tenders in a single layer so that they are not touching (I can cook 4 at a time). Coat the top of the chicken tenders with oil spray.
• Cook the chicken for 7 to 8 minutes, pulling out the air fryer basket and flipping the pieces over once halfway through. (The chicken should register at least 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer and the outsides will be golden brown and crisp.) Repeat with remaining chicken tenders, keeping them warm in the oven between batches as desired. Enjoy hot.

IRRESISTIBLE AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Place the chicken tenders in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in the buttermilk, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Seal the bag and massage the chicken to bring the marinade together. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to cook, preheat a 2.5-liter air fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Put the chips in a second resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour the chip crumbs into a shallow baking dish. Stir in the panko breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Lift a chicken tender out of the marinade with tongs and allow the excess to drip off. Dredge the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, using your dry palm to press the breadcrumbs into the chicken until it is evenly coated. Repeat this process until all the tenders are breaded. Place the chicken tenders in the basket of the air fryer in one layer, making sure they don't touch. Spray the chicken generously with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cook until crispy on one side, about 8 minutes. Gently flip the chicken and spray with nonstick cooking spray again. Cook until crispy and deeply golden, 8 minutes more. If using a smaller air fryer, work in batches as needed.
• Place on a serving platter and serve warm with Hot Honey Mustard for dipping.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, hot honey and hot sauce in a small bowl until incorporated. If making ahead, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. The sauce gets better with time!

AIR FRYER FROZEN CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Rinse chicken tenders under cold running water and wash off any ice. Pat dry with paper towels. Lightly spray chicken tenders with avocado oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Place chicken tenders in an air fryer basket, making sure the pieces don't overlap.
• Cook in the air fryer at 360 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15 minutes. Turn chicken tenders over and continue cooking until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 8 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).