A great chicken tender should at minimum have this perfect harmony of juicy meat and crispiness that ably anchors dipping sauce. They even make smiles around the table—no matter what they look like, big or small—and especially served with some air fryer french fries. Great for dinner, lunch or a snack these chicken tenders are low-cal and air fryer friendly.
Air-Fried Chicken Tenders Ingredients
Ingredients
Chicken tenderloins- Tender white chicken meat portions that ensure even cooking and juiciness
Panko bread crumbs: The best of the breadcrumbs, panko is made from crust less bread and produces big crispy flakes that fry well.
Garlic powder – a consistent flavor doing the work for you Tegan fresh garlic cloves.
Directions
Step 1: Prepare the air fryer
As you are prep the chicken ,also preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
Step 2: Prepare the chicken
Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper, set aside.
Set up three bowls. In the first bowl, combine the bread crumbs, garlic powder and paprika. In the second bowl, whisk the eggs really well until completely incorporated. Leave the third bowl empty.
Using your less dominant hand, dip a chicken tender into the egg wash, shake it off and then place into the bowl withthe bread crumbs. Use your dominant hand to toss additional breadcrumbs from the bowl on top of the tender, and then lightly press them onto the chicken so they adhere. Place the chicken in the empty dish at the end and start again.
Step 3: Fry the chicken
Place the chicken in a single layer on a greased tray in the air fryer basket. Spray the top of the chicken with cooking spray. Cook seven to eight minutes before flipping the tenders over and repeating on the other side. The goal is a golden brown coating and no pinkness left in the chicken. If you test a tender and find pinkness, return the tenders to the fryer for another one to two minutes per side.
Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe Variations
- Add cheese: Add Parmesan to the chicken breading for a cheesy, umami-rich way to elevate a simple tender.
- Spice things up: Cajun chicken tenders give the nuggets a kick of heat when you’re looking for a little something extra. Simply add homemade cajun seasoning to the bread crumb mixture.
- Get saucy: Finger-licking good tenders could always use some hot sauce to heat things up. Air fry the chicken tenders as normal and then coat them in sauce. Serve with plenty of napkins!
How to Store Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders
To keep chicken tenders crispy and fresh, layer them in airtight containers with paper towels between the layers. They’ll last four to five days in the refrigerator. When ready to eat, simply reheat them in the air fryer for two to three minutes per side to re-crisp the breading.
How to Freeze Air-Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Making a big batch of tenders makes the most sense, so you can always have them on hand for a snack or when a surprise guest shows up. To freeze, lay your tenders on a cookie sheet lined with parchment, uncovered, and then place in the freezer. When the tenders are completely frozen, which should take five to six hours, place them in a large resealable bag. Remove as much air as possible from the bag.
- You don’t need to defrost your tenders when you’re ready to heat them up. Simply turn your air fryer to 400°, and once ready, place your tenders back into the air fryer in a single layer and cook for eight minutes. You don’t even need to flip them! Don’t remove the tenders once the time expires; leave them in the basket for an additional five minutes to heat through.
Nutrition Facts
3 ounces cooked chicken: 161 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 87mg cholesterol, 618mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 0.500 starch.
