Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

4.84 from 6 votes

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and perfect for a quick & easy lunch or dinner meal.

Prep Time10

Cook Time13

Total Time23

Course: Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine: American

Total Cost: $8.56 recipe / $2.14 serving

Servings: (2 tenders each)

Calories: 254kcal

Author: Marsha McDougal

Equipment

Air Fryer

Ingredients

8 boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders (about 1.25lb)* $6.99
1 1/2 tsp salt, divided $0.08
1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper, divided $0.05
2 Tbsp all-purpose flour $0.04
2 large eggs** $0.33
1/2 cup plain regular breadcrumbs*** $0.40
1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs $0.32
1 tsp Italian seasoning $0.10
1 1/4 tsp garlic powder $0.10
1 tsp onion powder $0.10
1/2 tsp smoked paprika $0.05
cooking spray

Instructions

Place the chicken tenders on a cutting board. Season them on both sides with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Next sprinkle the flour over the chicken tenders and toss to coat evenly.
In a shallow bowl, add the eggs and whisk them together. In another shallow bowl, add the regular breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Mix the seasoning into the breadcrumbs.
Now line up the chicken tenders, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb mixture. Using tongs or your hands, begin to coat the chicken tenders by first dipping them on both sides in the egg mixture, then transfer them to the breadcrumbs. Pat the breadcrumbs into the tenders and coat them evenly on both sides. Set the coated chicken pieces to the side on a clean plate or cutting board.
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Place the chicken tenders in the basket in a single layer, making sure no pieces overlap. About 4 tenders at a time. Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray. Air fry for 7 minutes then flip the chicken tenders over. Spray the tops of the chicken again with cooking spray and air fry for another 6 minutes until golden brown.
Remove the chicken tenders from the air fryer basket and repeat with the second batch of tenders. Let the tenders cool for 3-5 minutes, then serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Video

Notes

*I like purchasing the chicken that is already cut into tenders or tenderloins. But you can also make your own tenders by cutting a boneless, skinless chicken breast lengthwise into strips.

**You can also use buttermilk instead of eggs like we did for these air fryer chicken nuggets.

***I used a combination of panko breadcrumbs and regular breadcrumbs. The regular breadcrumbs are finer in texture and provide a more even coating. The panko breadcrumbs give the tenders that crispy crunch that I love. Combined they provide the perfect balance.

Nutrition

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