Description
This recipe delivers crispy, juicy chicken tenders made easily in an air fryer without deep frying or messy cleanup. Perfect for a quick snack or meal with a crunchy coating and flavorful seasoning.
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450 grams) chicken tenders, fresh or thawed, trimmed of excess fat
- 1/2 cup (60 grams) all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten, room temperature
- 1 cup (100 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup (25 grams) Parmesan cheese, finely grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray (can substitute with avocado oil spray)
Instructions
- Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels (about 2 minutes).
- Set up dredging stations: place flour in first bowl, beaten eggs in second bowl, and mix panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in third bowl.
- Dredge each chicken tender in flour, shaking off excess (about 10 seconds each).
- Dip into beaten eggs, letting excess drip off (about 10 seconds).
- Press tender into breadcrumb mixture, ensuring an even, thick coating (about 15 seconds per tender).
- Place tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket without overlapping; cook in batches if necessary (about 2 minutes to arrange).
- Lightly mist coated tenders with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through at 5-6 minutes for even crisping.
- Check that internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C); outside should be golden brown and crunchy, inside juicy and tender.
- Let tenders rest for 2 minutes before serving to lock in juices.
Notes
Pat chicken dry before coating to ensure crispiness. Use cooking spray to get a golden, crunchy finish. Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation. Flip tenders halfway through cooking for even crisping. Adjust cooking time slightly depending on air fryer model. For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour and panko with gluten-free breadcrumbs. For dairy-free, omit Parmesan or replace with nutritional yeast.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 3 tenders per
- Calories: 250
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Protein: 18
Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, easy chicken recipe, homemade chicken tenders, quick snack, air fryer recipe