These are the best air fryer chicken tenders with breading. They’re extra crispy from the panko, so flavorful, and the chicken is perfectly juicy. These tenders will become a household favorite in no time.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are seriously amazing. The batter, made from mayonnaise, flour, egg, garlic, and Italian seasoning, creates a delightful base for the seasoned breadcrumbs and panko crumbs to cling to. This combination results in a beautifully crunchy exterior with a tender and juicy center.
Spraying the tops of the chicken with cooking spray and air frying for just 10 minutes gives these tenders a crispy, golden-brown breading that is simply irresistible. They’re incredibly easy to make and an absolute hit with the kids.
The air fryer does most of the work, ensuring your breaded chicken tenders come out crisp, juicy, and absolutely irresistible. Believe me when I say that this is one of the best chicken tenders recipes you’ll ever come across. Just be prepared for it to become a regular feature in your meal rotation.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a quick, fresh, and satisfying meal that’ll keep everyone coming back for more, look no further than these delicious air fryer chicken tenders. With minimal effort and maximum flavor, I’m sure this recipe will quickly become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Chicken Tenderloins: The star of the show, these tender and juicy strips of chicken make the perfect base for our crispy air fryer chicken tenders. You can also substitute it with strips of boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Egg: Eggs are the perfect binder to make the breading stick to the chicken.
Flour: Flour is a key ingredient in the batter. It makes it thicker and helps it stick to the chicken.
Mayonnaise: Mayo creates a protective barrier around the chicken, which locks in the juices. It’s a great addition to help ensure moist chicken.
Italian Bread Crumbs and Panko: A combination of Italian bread crumbs and panko creates the best flavor and texture combination. Italian breadcrumbs add tons of delicious flavor, while panko provides the most delicious crispy coating.
Spices and Herbs: We’ll use a mix of salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning to give these tenders a tasty flavor boost. Feel free to customize the seasoning blend to suit your taste preferences. Try adding smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or onion powder for an extra kick.
Cooking Spray: Cooking spray helps the tenders achieve that crispy, golden-brown exterior without the need for deep frying.
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Start by patting the chicken dry with a paper towel, then set aside. (See the recipe card below for the full printable instructions.)
To a large mixing bowl, add the egg, flour, mayonnaise, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Mix together until a thick batter has formed.
Add the chicken tenderloins to the batter, then toss through until they are evenly coated, and set aside. (It’s easiest if you use one hand to handle the “wet” ingredients bowl and the other to handle the “dry” ingredients bowl.)
In a shallow bowl, mix the Italian breadcrumbs and panko crumbs. Place a large clean plate next to the bowl for the breaded chicken to go on.
Lay the battered chicken tenders, 2-3 at a time, in the shallow bowl with the breadcrumbs. Cover the tenders completely with the breadcrumbs, then press them down into the crumbs to make sure the crumbs fully stick.
Transfer the breaded chicken tenders to the clean plate. Gently shake the bowl with the crumbs so that the remaining crumbs evenly coat the bottom, then continue with the remaining tenders until all of them are breaded. Let the tenders rest while preheating the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer. Once heated, spray the bottom trivet with cooking spray, then carefully lay 4-5 tenders down in the basket, leaving some space between them to allow the air to circulate.
Use cooking spray to generously spray the tops of the tenders, and cook for a bit. Flip the tenders over, spray the tops again, and cook for a bit (until an internal temperature of 165F has been reached using an instant-read thermometer).
Remove the chicken from the basket and repeat with the remaining chicken tenders. Serve with dipping sauce and desired sides! See the recipe card below for the full written instructions, including ingredient amounts, cooking times, and helpful tips, etc.
Pro Tips
- Marinate the chicken: For an extra flavor boost, marinate the chicken tenders in pickle juice for 30 minutes to 1 hour before coating them. This will give you a Chick-fil-A inspired taste that is truly delicious.
- Dry the chicken: Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel before battering to help the batter stick better.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket: Make sure to leave enough space between the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket. This ensures that the hot air can circulate evenly around each tender, giving you perfectly crispy results.
- Adjust the cooking time: Cooking times can vary depending on the air fryer model and the thickness of your chicken tenders. Keep an eye on them and adjust the cooking time as needed. Remember, they’re done when they reach an internal temperature of 165F on an instant-read thermometer.
How Long Do I Put Chicken Tenders In The Air Fryer?
To cook raw chicken tenders, it will take about 8-10 minutes in a preheated air fryer. The total amount of time depends on how thick your chicken tenders are, and what temperature you cook them at. It’s important to cook them until they reach an internal temperature of 165F on an instant-read meat thermometer. It will take longer if you’re using frozen chicken tenders.
How Do You Know When Chicken Is Done In The Air Fryer?
The easiest way to tell if chicken is done cooking is by checking the internal temperature at the thickest point with an instant-read meat thermometer. It should read 165F.
Keep In Touch
I’d love to hear what you thought of this recipe in the comments or on Instagram! @KeyToMyLime #KeyToMyLime
Chicken Recipes
If you like this recipe, be sure to check out all of our easy chicken recipes! Some reader favorites are:
- Air Fried Chicken Tenderloin
- Panko Chicken
- Garlic Butter Chicken Pasta
- Dry Rub Chicken Wings
- Ritz Cracker Chicken
- Honey Mustard Chicken
BEST Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Crispy and Juicy)
The best air fryer chicken tenders with breading. They’re extra crispy from the panko, so flavorful, and the chicken is perfectly juicy.
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 Tablespoon mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- 1/2 cup Italian breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup panko
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Dry the chicken using a paper towel, then set aside.
- To a large mixing bowl, add the egg, flour, mayonnaise, salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Beat together until a thick batter has formed. Add the dried tenders to the batter, then toss through until they are evenly coated, then set it aside.
- To a shallow bowl, add the Italian breadcrumbs and panko crumbs. Mix to combine. Place a large clean plate next to the bowl for the breaded chicken to go on.
- Lay the battered chicken tenders, 2-3 at time, in the shallow bowl with the breadcrumbs. Cover the tenders completely with the breadcrumbs, then press them down into the crumbs to make sure the crumbs fully stick. Transfer the breaded chicken tenders to the clean plate. Gently shake the bowl with the crumbs so it's evenly coating the bottom, then continue with the remaining tenders until all of them are breaded. Let the tenders rest while preheating the air fryer.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 F for 5 minutes. Once heated, spray the bottom trivet with cooking spray, then carefully lay 4-5 tenders down in the basket, leaving some space between them to allow the air to circulate. Use cooking spray to generously spray the tops of the tenders, and bake at 400 F for 5 minutes. Flip the tenders over, spray the tops again, and bake for another 5 minutes, or until an internal temperature of 165 F has been reached using an instant read thermometer. If your chicken tenders are smaller, check them after they’ve been cooking for 3 minutes on the second side (a total of 8 minutes cooking time).
- Remove the chicken from the basket and repeat with the remaining chicken tenders. Serve with dipping sauce and desired sides!
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1/4Amount Per Serving: Calories: 498Total Fat: 13.3gCarbohydrates: 10.1gFiber: 2.7gSugar: 0.6gProtein: 79.9g
Nutrition information isn’t always accurate.
Give this recipe a try and enjoy the perfect air-fried chicken tenders.
