These air fryer chicken tenders are super simple and delicious. These chicken tenders are made with just a few basic ingredients and are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Additionally, they are quickly prepared, making them the ideal weeknight meal.
One of those traditional comfort foods that we all occasionally yearn for is breaded chicken tenders. They can also be made in an air fryer even though they are typically deep-fried.
Without as much oil, this healthier version is still delicious and crispy. Serve them as a side dish or with your favorite dipping sauce. They’re sure to be a hit with the whole family.
For the printable recipe card for these crispy air fryer chicken strips, scroll down, or continue reading for more information.
You could substitute chicken breast strips for the fresh, raw chicken tenderloins called for in this recipe.
Before breading, the chicken is tossed in seasoned flour to help it adhere to the chicken strips.
Choose a seasoning from the store that contains salt if you’re using it, or add a teaspoon of salt to unsalted seasoning.
If you need to add salt, adjust the amount of seasoning to 6 teaspoons (5 teaspoons unsalted seasoning + 1 teaspoon salt).
The breadcrumbs are adhered to the tenderloins with ranch dressing. Using it is simpler than using raw eggs or buttermilk, and it produces a coating with a really good texture and satisfying crunch.
For this recipe’s crispy coating, panko breadcrumbs and shredded cheddar cheese are combined. If you prefer, you could use Parmesan cheese in place of the cheddar.
How do you make these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders?
The first step is to prepare the chicken. Slice the raw chicken breasts into uniform strips that are about an inch thick using a sharp chef’s knife and a cutting board.
You should get 8–12 chicken tender slices from one pound of chicken, depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts (I’m using my Misen Chef’s Knife in these pictures).
Traditional chicken tenderloin cuts are better, but I like to use sliced chicken breasts instead because I always have them in the freezer. Feel free to use either for this recipe!.
Each chicken breast should make 4-6 strips. Make 4-5 slices that are closer together if your chicken breast is on the thicker side. Make 3–4 slices that are a little farther apart if your chicken breast is thinner.
I had two chicken breasts, one was thicker than the other. My slightly more than one pound pair of chicken breasts yielded a total of 9 chicken slices.
Next, gather the remaining ingredients for the chicken’s marinade. Sliced chicken strips, oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper should all be combined in a large bowl using tongs.
Place the bowl in the refrigerator with the cover on for 30 to 2 hours of marinating. Do not let the chicken marinate for longer than 12 hours as this could over-tenderize the chicken and result in a mushy texture.
Place the chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket to cook them. If you can, keep them apart and evenly spaced so they don’t touch. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might have to do this in batches.
Air fry at 380F for 9-11 minutes, flipping halfway through. When the edges and sides of the chicken tenders start to turn golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees, they are finished.
Serve the chicken tenders right away with sides like fries or tater tots, or on a salad, in a wrap, or in a grain bowl.
What kind of air fryer do you recommend?
The Cosori XL 5 air fryer is the one I currently own and the one shown in this post. 8 qt Air Fryer. In my opinion, you should choose a larger size like this one if you’re going to invest in an air fryer to prepare food for two or more people!
My preference is for the larger Cosori model with the nonstick coated basket over the slightly smaller Philips Air Fryer with a metal grate basket that I previously owned and liked.
I would advise cooking the chicken tenders in two batches if your air fryer is small.
Why use vinegar? Will the chicken taste like vinegar?
The vinegar is crucial to the marinade because it helps the chicken tenders become more tender, making them the ideal consistency to bite into.
Since vinegar is an acid, adding even a small amount aids in starting to dissolve the chicken’s fibers.
The air fryer chicken tenders will not taste like vinegar. The vinegar is used in such small quantities that the spices completely mask it.
FAQ
How long do I cook breast tenderloins in the air fryer?
Toss the chicken tenders with the olive oil to completely coat them. Add the seasonings to the chicken tenders and coat them. Put the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer after seasoning it. Cook the chicken for 10 minutes at 400°F, turning it over after five minutes.
How do you cook Tyson uncooked chicken breast tenderloins in the air fryer?
- Remove the chicken from the package.
- Put as much chicken as you want to eat in the air fryer basket.
- Place the Chicken into the air fryer basket. 8–10 minutes of air frying at 380°F/193°C with a flip in the middle of the cook time
- Place the chicken into a bun and enjoy!
How long do you cook chicken tenderloin fritters in an air fryer?
- Spread out the frozen chicken strips into an even layer in the air fryer basket. No oil spray is needed.
- Air Fry at 400°F/205°C for 10 minutes. The chicken should be cooked through and crispy after another 2–5 minutes at 400°F/205°C after flipping it.
How long do you cook Southern breast tenderloins in the air fryer?
- Preheat heat air fryer to 400F.
- Add frozen Tenderloins to air fryer in single layer.
- Cook at 400F for ten to twenty minutes (see below)
- Turn once during cooking.
