Quick and easy to make in the air fryer, these chicken tenders are one tasty bite! Coated in crispy panko breadcrumbs, they are ready to serve in less than 30 minutes.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Time to get ready for the most most delicious chicken tenders! Super quick and easy to cook in your air fryer, they are a real crowd pleasing appetizer!
Breaded in a seasoned panko coating, they are perfectly crispy and so tender in the middle.
Be sure to try my ranch baked chicken tenders and chicken fingers too!
Why you’ll love this Air Fried Chicken Tenders recipe:
- HEALTHIER: Get that crispy deep fried texture and flavor without the need for all the oil.
- QUICK AND EASY: Ready to enjoy in less than 30 minutes and made with simple ingredients.
- KID-FRIENDLY: These are a great appetizer or main meal that your picky eaters will love.
How to make Chicken Tenders in an Air Fryer
You can jump to the recipe card for full ingredients & instructions!
- Place the melted butter in one bowl and the panko and seasonings in another.
- Dredge the tenders in the melted butter, then the breadcrumbs.
- Place in the air fryer basket in batches and cook until golden brown.
Can you make these with other cuts of chicken?
Chicken tenders are found just behind the breast of the chicken and are wonderfully tender, hence the name! If you don’t have chicken tenders, you can cut strips of chicken breast and use those instead.
I don’t recommend making these with chicken thighs as they take longer to cook through.
Can you oven bake them?
Don’t have an air fryer? Don’t worry, you can bake these in the oven too, they will just take slightly longer. Bake them in a pre heated oven at 390F for 20 to 25minutes until golden brown.
What do you serve them with?
These air fryer chicken tenders are a great appetizer to serve with your favorite dips like chick-fil-a-sauce, ranch or BBQ. They are also a great addition to serve as part of a quick weeknight meal with your favorite potato and veggie sides. Try them with:
Tips!
- I’ve made these both ways – flipping the tenders halfway through and not flipping them halfway through. The tricky thing about flipping them is it can cause some of the panko breading to come off. I really didn’t find much of a difference in even browning/crispiness when I didn’t flip, so that’s my preferred method.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket and cook the chicken tenders in batches. They should be placed in a single layer otherwise they won’t get crispy all over.
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These air fryer chicken tenders are so crispy and delicious and I love how super quick and easy they are to make! Be sure to make a big batch!
More Air Fryer Recipes we Love
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Chicken Taquitos
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Air Fryer BBQ Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
If you make this recipe be sure to upload a photo in the comment section below or leave a rating. Enjoy! You can also jump to recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds chicken tenders or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted (¾ stick)
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Add the melted butter to a shallow bowl.6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- In a second shallow bowl, mix together the Panko, parmesan, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.1 cup Panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup finely shredded Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- Dredge the chicken tenders. First, dip a tender in the melted butter then dredge in the Panko breading. Set aside on a plate or sheet pan and repeat with all tenders.1½ pounds chicken tenders
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Transfer breaded tenders to the air fryer in a single layer (cooking in batches, if needed). Air fry at 400°F for 11-13 minutes. The tenders are done when they are fully cooked (165°F) and golden brown. Repeat with remaining tenders.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- Pat the tenders dry before coating to help the breading stick.
- I’ve made these both ways – flipping the tenders halfway through and not flipping them halfway through. The tricky thing about flipping them is it can cause some of the panko breading to come off. I really didn’t find much of a difference in even browning/crispiness when I didn’t flip, so that’s my preferred method.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket and cook the chicken tenders in batches. They should be placed in a single layer otherwise they won’t get crispy all over.
Nutrition Information
Prepared exactly to recipe and they were really easy and good! Didn’t get a chance to take a pic because they are gone! My husband dipped in blue cheese dressing, but I ate plain.
Made it tonight fantastic I have some left for tomorrow they are way better rolled in butter than oil .
Those look great, Marlene! Thanks so much for sharing!
What is the best way to reheat so they don’t dry out?
Reheat them in the air fryer at 375°F for about 4 minutes until warmed through!
So very easy and delicious. These will be a staple in my home. Thanks for a great recipe.
Loved this.. So easy and delicious! I subbed dry ranch dressing for the salt pepper and garlic powder. This recipe is a winner for sure!!
Awesome recipe!!!
Came out perfect!!
Best chicken ever!! I am not exaggerating!
Thank you!!
Can you use frozen tenders? If so, what would the adjustments for time and temperature?
We would try 360°F for about 15 minutes, or until 165°F internally.
So easy to make and delicious as well. The whole family loved them!
That’s awesome!!