These Air fryer chicken tenders are super easy to make from scratch at home. They are very crispy and tasty without deep frying and stay incredibly juicy.
My kids absolutely love these and we make them often. If you have chicken breasts at home, this recipe is the perfect snack ready in no time.
They are a perfect appetizer for weekends. Great for parties or just a chilled out evening at home.
You can have these chicken tenders ready in under 30 minutes as they need no marination and just a few simple ingredients to make them.
You may also like: easy air fryer chicken wings, air fryer teriyaki chicken, Healthy chicken meatballs in air fryer and KFC copycat Air fryer fried chicken.
Step-by-step Pictures:
I have used 1 pound or about 500 gm. of chicken breast.
I cut each breast into half for uniform tenders.
Assemble wholewheat flour (or all-purpose flour), cayenne and salt.
Breadcrumbs, salt, pepper and garlic powder (or minced garlic) along with 2 eggs.
Mix ¼ tsp. salt and 1 tsp. cayenne to ½ cup wholewheat flour in a bowl. Beat 2 eggs in a shallow bowl.
Have 1 cup breadcrumbs with salt, minced garlic or garlic powder and pepper in the third bowl.
Cut each chicken breast into two to four parts. Or you could just buy pre-cut tenders.
For Air frying:
Take the cut breast pieces one by one, dredge them in flour, then in the egg wash and finely roll them in breadcrumbs till they are nicely coated. Keep aside on a clean plate.
Repeat for all the tenders.
Pre-heat the Air fryer to 390 F or 200 C for 5 minutes.
Spray or brush the basket with oil. Lay the tenders in one row.
I took two batches to cook them all. Spray or brush the tenders with oil. This helps in crisping them and also giving them a golden brown exterior.
Don’t overcrowd your basket. Now Air fry on each side for about 4-5 minutes at 390 F or 200 C. Flip halfway.
They should be crispy and well cooked and juicy inside. They do not stick to the basket and come out easily.
Serve hot chicken tenders with a dip of your choice.
Pro Tips
1. The air frying time will vary slightly depending upon your Air fryer (I have a Philips one) and the size of your tenders.
2. Make sure that the chicken breast are dry and that you cut them in uniform pieces.
3. You can add spices like dried parsley, basil or oregano, even chilli flakes depending upon your preference.
4. Spray oil on the tenders when you flip so that the tenders are nice and crispy.
5. When cooked chicken tenders are juicy and tender inside and crispy outside.
6. Seasoning both the flour and the breadcrumbs makes the coating well seasoned and tasty. Remember to watch the salt as you are adding in both flour and breadcrumbs.
7. I use homemade breadcrumbs made with wholewheat bread. Panko breadcrumbs or store-bought ones work well too.
8. In case you are planning to serve them later, air fry for 3 minutes on each side and keep aside. Before serving, air fry in a pre-heated Air fryer for 2 minutes on each side to heat and finish cooking and serve hot.
Serve your chicken tenders hot.
In case you have leftovers, here's how to reheat chicken tenders in air fryer.
FAQs
Preheat the air fryer at 200 C or 390 F. Cook for 10-15 minutes till golden brown and well-cooked inside.
You can use a thermometer and take the temperature of the thickest part of the tender. It should be 165 F for it to be cooked.
You can marinate the tenders in 1 cup buttermilk seasoned with cayenne, pepper and salt for an hour. Then take them out and dredge in a bowl of flour and corn starch to coat them. Air fry them for a crunchy coating with tender chicken.
Yes you can. You can spray chicken tenders with oil and generously apply a spice rub on it pressing it on the breast. Then air fry to have chicken tenders with no breading or flour.
Yes, you can store the cooked or uncooked tenders frozen. For frozen cooked tenders, you can air fry them at 390 F for about 10-15 minutes. For frozen uncooked tenders, you will need to do for about 25 minutes at 390 F.
Here's the recipe card:
📖 Recipe Card
Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb. chicken breast or 500 gm.
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. pepper
- 1 tsp. cayenne
- 1 cup breadcrumbs homemade or store bought
- 2 eggs
For spraying or brushing
- 2 tsp. oil
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Instructions
- Cut each chicken breast into two pieces of uniform size. The chicken must be dry. Assemble 3 shallow bowls. Take wholewheat flour (or all-purpose flour) with ¼ tsp. salt and 1 tsp. cayenne in one bowl.
- Beat 2 whole eggs in the second bowl. Take 1 cup breadcrumbs and season them with ¼ tsp. salt, 1 tsp. pepper and 1 tsp. garlic powder or minced garlic and keep.
- Dip each chicken tender in the flour first. Shake off excess flour then dip into egg wash. Take it out and dunk into the breadcrumbs till well coated. Keep aside ready for air frying.
For Air frying:
- Pre-heat the Air fryer to 390 F or 200 C for 5 minutes.
- Spray or brush the basket with oil. Lay the prepared breast pieces on the basket in one layer without overcrowding. Spray or brush the tenders with oil. This helps in crisping them and also giving them a golden brown exterior.
- Don’t overcrowd your basket. Now Air fry on each side for about 4-5 minutes. Flip halfway. They should be crispy and well cooked and juicy inside. They do not stick to the basket and come out easily.
- Serve hot chicken tenders with a dip of your choice.
Video
Notes
2. Make sure that the chicken breast are dry and that you cut them in uniform pieces.
3. You can add spices like dried parsley, basil or oregano, even chilli flakes depending
upon your preference.
4. Spray oil on the tenders when you flip so that the tenders are nice and crispy.
5. When cooked chicken tenders are juicy and tender inside and crispy outside.
6. Seasoning both the flour and the breadcrumbs makes the coating well seasoned and tasty. Remember to watch the salt as you are adding in both flour and breadcrumbs.
7. I use homemade breadcrumbs made with wholewheat bread. Panko breadcrumbs or store-bought ones work well too.
8. In case you are planning to serve them later, air fry for 3 minutes on each side and keep aside. Before serving, air fry in a pre-heated Air fryer for 2 minutes on each side to heat and finish cooking and serve hot.
Nutrition
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KFC style Air fryer fried chicken
Bintu | Budget Delicious says
My kids adore chicken tenders so I'm going to give these a go this week - they look absolutely incredible.
Rachna says
Thank you Bintu
Claudia Lamascolo says
Those are better looking than any deep fried in oil I have ever seen I am seriously making these for lunch thanks so much!
Rachna says
Thanks Claudia. They really are better than deep fried.
Maria says
Air-fryer recipes are the best! Thanks for sharing this healthier take on chicken tenders.
Rachna says
Glad you liked it, Maria.
Jessica Formicola says
My kids love chicken tenders- I'm so glad to be able to make them in the air fryer now! Thanks for sharing!
Rachna says
Definitely a favourite of the kids. Thanks Jessica.
Wanda says
I don't have an air fryer, but this recipe really makes me want to get one!
Rachna says
I hope you can, Wanda. Else you can try to bake these.
Gem says
Can you use all purpose flour and if yes same amount?
Rachna says
Sure you can and same amount is fine.