Add some spice to your tenders with this air fryer Flamin’ Hot chicken tender recipe. Quick and easy to make, they are bursting with flavor!
Air Fryer Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe
Chicken tenders are for sure a family favorite, and with this recipe we take them to the next level!
These flamin’ hot chicken tenders are cooked in the air fryer so they are super crispy on the outside and juicy and tender in the middle.
With their Flamin’ Hot Cheetos coating, every bite is bursting with flavor.
If you like this recipe be sure to check out my Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan and Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
Why You’ll Love these Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders:
- Healthier: Because these tenders are cooked in the air fryer, they have all the great taste of deep fried but without the fatty oil.
- Kid friendly: Kids of all ages love this variation on everyone’s favorite American appetizer.
- Quick and easy: Ready to serve in around 20 minutes and made with just 5 ingredients, these tenders are super effortless to make.
How to make Air Fried Flamin’ Hot Chicken Fingers
- Mix together the Cheeto crumbs and parmesan in one bowl.
- Add flour to a second bowl and beaten eggs to a third.
- Dip each tender in the flour, then egg, then Cheetos.
- Place in the air fryer basket and cook, flipping halfway.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
Are they spicy?
These are not very spicy despite the breading. To add a little spice, consider using less parmesan and more Flamin’ Hot crumbs for the breading. Or, add some cayenne (½ teaspoon) to the flour. Or try adding some hot sauce of your choice to the beaten egg.
Can you reheat them?
One of my favorite things about the air fryer is that it’s easy to reheat crispy foods, and they taste just like they are freshly cooked. Leftover Flamin’ Hot chicken tenders will keep well, covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, let the cooked tenders come up to room temperature before placing them in the preheated air fryer at 375F and cooking them for around 4 minutes until warmed through.
What do you serve them with?
These are a great crowd pleasing appetizer, their bright color is so fun! I like to serve them with a creamy ranch or blue cheese dip, but if you want a bit more spice, then some Frank’s hot sauce will work wonders!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. The tenders should be in a single layer, so cook them in two batches if needed.
- If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can make these with slices of chicken breast.
- Use an instant read thermometer to check that your Flamin’ Hot chicken tenders are cooked through. They should register at 165F.
I just know you are going to love these Flamin’ Hot chicken tenders! They are so effortless to prepare and cook in the air fryer, and they come out perfectly crispy every single time!
More chicken tender recipes we love
- Instant Pot Chicken Tenders
- Pretzel Chicken
- Cornflake Crust Tenders
- Cheddar Bacon Ranch Tenders
- Easy Chicken Satay
- Coconut Chicken Tenders
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 Flamin’ Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ pounds chicken tenders thawed – about 12 (or chicken breast cut into tenders)
- ½ cup Flamin’ Hot Cheetos crumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 3 large eggs beaten
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- Optional – buttermilk ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F. Prepare a pan or surface with parchment paper.
- In a shallow dish, mix together Cheeto crumbs and parmesan, add flour to a second shallow dish or bowl, and beaten eggs to a third.
- Dip each tender into the flour, until coated, then into egg, until coated, then into Cheeto mixture pressing down firmly on both sides to make sure breading really sticks. Place each tender onto prepared surface until ready to cook.
- Coat each tender in cooking spray, front and back, more for a crispier and browned breading.
- Lay each coated tender into air fryer basket, not overlapping. You will need to do multiple batches.
- Cook for 13-14 minutes, flipping each tender halfway through.
- Remove from basket and allow to cool slightly before serving.
Notes
- Recipe makes 12 tenders.
- These are not very spicy despite the breading. To add a little spice, consider using less parmesan and more Flamin’ Hot crumbs for the breading. Or add some cayenne (½ teaspoon) to the flour. Or consider adding some hot sauce of your choice to the beaten egg.
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