Chicken tenders are a firm family favorite, and when cooked in the air fryer they are hands down delicious! Super crunchy on the outside and perfectly juicy and tender, kids of all ages love these!
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Lets face it, you really can’t go wrong when you serve chicken tenders, and when cooked in the air fryer they are so effortless and the results are out of this world!
Serve them up as a crowd pleasing appetizer or part of a quick and easy weeknight meal.
If you love these, be sure to try my Instant Pot Chicken Tenders and Baked Chicken Tenders!
Why You’ll Love these Air Fried Chicken Fingers:
- Healthier: Get that deep fried texture without all the oil! The air fryer means you get all the great tasting benefits of frying without all of the fat.
- Kid-friendly: Every single kid I know loves chicken tenders! They are a long standing family favorite, and for good reason.
- Quick and easy: Made with just 4 ingredients, they are simple to make and ready to serve in 20 minutes.
How to make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Season your chicken tenders.
- Dip each tender in whisked eggs, the the breadcrumb and parmesan mix.
- Cook in the air fryer, flipping halfway.
- Serve!
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
Can you make chicken tenders with chicken breast?
Chicken tenders are found just under the breast meat of the chicken. They are very similar to chicken breast, but smaller and more tender and juicy. If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can make these with chicken breast sliced into pieces.
Can you make them ahead of time?
These tenders are great served straight away, but they are also easily and quickly reheated in the air fryer and remain nice and crispy.
The cooked chicken tenders will keep well in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat them in the air fryer at 375F for about 4 minutes until warmed through.
What do you serve them with?
These air fried chicken tenders are great to serve as an appetizer with dips like BBQ, tomato or ranch sauces. You can also serve them up as a main with a side of shoestring fries and veggies.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The chicken tenders should be placed in a single layer, so cook them in two batches if needed.
- Panko breadcrumbs create a super crispy outside layer, but you can use normal breadcrumbs if that’s what you have.
- Check that the internal temperature of the tenders is at least 165 degrees before serving.
I just love how effortless it is to make these air fryer chicken tenders. With just a few simple ingredients, you have one tasty appetizer on your hands in no time at all!
More Air Fryer chicken recipes we love
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
- Air Fryer Honey Mustard Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer General Tso’s Chicken
If you’ve made this recipe, please be sure to let us know by leaving a star rating or a comment below. Enjoy!
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenders
- Salt and pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
- Whisk the eggs in a shallow dish.
- In a separate shallow dish, combine the panko breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese.
- Dip each chicken tender in the egg mixture and coat in the breadcrumbs.
- Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer.*
- Cook at 400 degrees for 8 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through.
- Check that the internal temperature of the tenders is at least 165 degrees before serving.
Notes
- *Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The chicken tenders should be placed in a single layer, so cook them in two batches if needed.
- Panko breadcrumbs create a super crispy outside layer, but you can use normal breadcrumbs if that’s what you have.
Dennis Hurley says
Looking for something quick and easy. This filled the bill. Very good!
Becky Hardin says
Thanks for sharing, Dennis!
Janice Somers says
I love the recipes. Since I have an air fryer I have been collecting recipes that I can relate to my health issues.
Thank You so much.
Becky Hardin says
Thanks so much for sharing, Janice! Happy frying!!