Air Fryer Chicken Tenders create a healthier option to fried chicken tenders but still a tender piece of chicken that is crispy on the outside. The panko breadcrumb crust creates a crunchy crust on the chicken, but you can sub in regular breadcrumbs, and has great flavor from the spices. These are a kid approved and an adult favorite!
I love Air Fryer Chicken Tenders because I can get them crispy quickly. When you air fry you don’t have to use a lot of oil making the chicken tenders a lighter option to the normal fried version.
One of my most popular recipes on A Cedar Spoon is these Air Fryer Coconut Chicken Tenders and these Coconut-Crusted Chicken Tenders. I knew I also need to create a recipe for regular air fryer chicken tenders!
They are so easy to make and can be on your table in under 20 minutes with minimal clean-up making them great for meal-prep.
I also love these chicken fingers to put in my kids lunch boxes for school.
You can also modify the spices to add different flavors like a taco seasoning for a Mexican version or za’atar for a Mediterranean flair. If you prefer you can also sub the panko breadcrumbs for regular breadcrumbs.
I use my air fryer often to make recipes like this Air Fryer Cod, Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp , Air Fryer Zucchini Fries and this Air Fryer Twice Baked Potato.
If you don’t have an air fryer, try these chicken tenders in the oven for a crispy, no-fry version.
Table of Contents
Why You Will Love Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Quick and Easy: If you are looking for a quick meal, this is it! These air fryer chicken tenders come together in under 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights or a simple lunch option. You can even freeze them for later!
- Minimal Ingredients: You only need a handful of ingredients to make these easy tenders- breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, spices and chicken! No fancy ingredients needed.
- Kid-friendly: These will be a hit with even the pickiest eaters! Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and easy to dip in your favorite sauces like ranch or ketchup. Forget the fast-food version and make these!
Recipe Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
- Chicken Tenders: You can usually find chicken tenderloins at most grocery stores. I buy about 1 1/2 pounds for this recipe and it feeds 4-5 people. You can easily double this recipe!
- Breadcrumbs: I like to use panko bread crumbs because I think it adds more texture and helps to create crispy chicken tenders. You can also use regular breadcrumbs if you want
- Parmesan Cheese: The Parmesan cheese helps to add savory flavor to the chicken and works well to create the crust we all love so much on chicken tenders. I use shredded Parmesan cheese but you can use grated too.
- Spices: The spice combination I use is thyme, garlic powder, parsley and paprika. You can also use Italian seasoning in place of the thyme to get a more herby flavor and if paprika isn’t your thing leave it out. I also like different spices like chili powder, onion powder or cayenne pepper.
- Olives Oil: A lot of recipes use egg to bind the ingredients together but I have always used olive oil and works great. If you would prefer egg you can swap that for the olive oil but I suggest giving the olive oil a try to see if you like it.
Please see the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and instructions.
How do You Make Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Step 1. Mix the Breading: In a shallow bowl mix the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, thyme, parsley, paprika, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Stir aside.
Step 2. Add Olive Oil to Bowl: Pour the 1/4 cup olive oil into another shallow bowl.
Step 3. Dredge Chicken: Dredge the chicken in the olive oil and then into the breadcrumb mixture making sure both sides are coated.
Step 4. Air Fry the Chicken: Preheat air fryer to 400F. Work in batches and place chicken tenders in the air fryer basket and air fry for about 6 minutes per side, or until the outside is crispy and golden brown and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. Mine usually take between 10-15 minutes total to cook.
Expert Tip: You want to make sure that the homemade chicken strips aren’t touching in the air fryer and have a small space between each one.
Step 5. Remove and Serve: Remove from the air fryer and sprinkle with fresh parsley if you want and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce like hot sauce, buffalo sauce, homemade ranch dressing, bbq sauce, ketchup or your favorite dipping sauces. These pair great with french fries and veggies.
Storage Tips
You can store the leftovers in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
If you do need to store leftovers just reheat in the air fryer or a skillet before eating. The air fryer will help to crisp them up again.
Recipe FAQ
Air frying food is a nice and light alternative to deep frying food in oil. You can air fry so many things from Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower, to Air Fryer Twice Baked Potatoes, to Air Fryer Donut Holes.
My favorite part of using the air fryer is that the food can get that crispy outer layer that happens when you deep fry food. You are using no vegetable oil when using the air fryer which is also a benefit.
Yes you can! If using frozen raw chicken tenders (not pre-cooked), increase the cooking time to 15–18 minutes at 400°F. You will want to use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken. Make sure it reaches 165 degrees F.
If you spray them lightly with olive oil or avocado oil before cooking
Don’t overcrowd the basket making sure to leave space for air circulation
These are a great make-ahead meal idea. You can prep and bread the chicken ahead of time and refrigerate the tenders for up to 24 hours in an airtight container. Once you are ready to make the tenders just follow the instructions!
What Should I Serve with these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe?
- I love salads with all of my meals. Some of our favorites are this Lemon Arugula Salad with Pine Nuts, Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing or this Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad.
- Vegetable side dishes are always a nice addition with chicken tenders. I enjoy these Mediterranean Roasted Vegetables, or Turmeric Cauliflower.
- Potatoes are another great addition to these chicken tenders. I like these Spicy Lebanese Potatoes, Lemon Cilantro Roasted Potatoes or these Crispy Garlic Roasted Potatoes.
More Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs {or you can use regular breadcrumbs}
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenderloins
- 1/4 cup olive oil
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl mix the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, thyme, parsley, paprika, salt and pepper and stir until combined. Set aside.
- Pour the 1/4 cup olive oil into another shallow bowl.
- Dredge the chicken in the olive oil and then into the dry ingredients making sure both sides are coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 400F.
- Work in batches to cook the chicken for about 6 minutes per side, or until the outside is crispy and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. You want to make sure that the chicken tenders aren’t touching in the air fryer and have a small space between each one.
- Remove from the air fryer and sprinkle with fresh parsley if you want and serve warm with ketchup or honey mustard dipping sauce.
Notes
- You can swap and use regular breadcrumbs if you want.
- Feel free to use any combination of spices that you like.
Fantastic recipe
and so easy!
Thanks!
Made these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders for dinner tonight. Using olive oil worked out great. This recipe was easy to make and came out delicious.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing.