The Easiest 15 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Air fryer chicken tenders are crispy, juicy, and also super quick and easy to throw together! If you’re looking for an alternative to frozen chicken tenders, you are going to love this recipe.

 

You Will Love This Recipe

• These are SO easy! You almost won’t believe how simple it is to throw these chicken tenders together. Gone are the days of tossing frozen store-bought chicken into the oven. In less time you can have these freshly made chicken tenders baking away.
• There’s no egg! The coating for these chicken strips uses a combination of mayo and Dijon mustard as the binding agent instead of an egg! This makes for a more flavorful, tender chicken and allows the Panko bread crumbs to get super crispy while sealing the moisture in.
• If you loved this recipe, be sure to check out my air fryer hot dogs, air fryer tater tots, and air fryer grilled cheese!

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Boneless, Skinless Chicken Tenders – You can use chicken breast, chicken thighs, or chicken tenders for this recipe.
• Mayonnaise – Avoid low-fat or reduced-fat mayonnaise for this recipe. You aren’t using much and full-fat mayo will give you a ton more flavor.
• Dijon Mustard – Dijon mustard adds a delicious depth of flavor and don’t worry, the tenders won’t taste like mustard! I love using Dijon, but you can also use regular yellow mustard, whole grain, or spicy brown mustard. 
• Panko Breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are light and flaky so they get the perfect crisp in the air fryer. You can also use regular breadcrumbs or Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs.
• Parmesan Cheese – The nutty Parmesan is going to take these tenders to the next level. For this recipe, I like to use the grated Parmesan that comes in the plastic shaker container – like the kind you might find at your favorite pizza place. It blends seamlessly with the Panko breadcrumbs.
• Herbs & Spices – Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and paprika make up the spice blend for these chicken tenders. Feel free to use your favorites or switch it up with chili powder, onion powder, dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried thyme, or dried marjoram.
• Olive Oil Spray – Olive oil spray adds a thin layer of oil to the outside of the breadcrumb and Parmesan coating so that it gets extra crispy.

Instructions

In a shallow bowl, combine Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, and a couple large pinches of Kosher salt and black pepper.

Combine mayo with Dijon mustard and a couple pinches of salt and pepper in another large bowl. Pat tenders dry with a paper towel and add them to the mayonnaise mixture. Toss to coat evenly on all sides.

Dredge chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, gently pressing it into each piece of chicken. Spray with olive oil cooking spray and place chicken about an inch apart on the air fryer tray or air fryer basket.

Air fry for 10-12 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the breadcrumbs are dark golden brown.

Garnish with parsley if desired, serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!

Tips

• Lay the chicken tenders out in a single layer. To ensure the chicken tenders cook evenly and crisp up, lay the tenders out in a single layer on the air fryer tray or basket. Depending on your air fryer, you may have to cook the tenders in batches. I have the Instant Vortex which I love because it has two large shelves so I can cook them all at once.
• Spray the olive oil spray several inches above the tenders so that it doesn’t blow all the breading off of the tenders.

Dipping Sauces

• homemade honey mustard sauce
• creamy Greek dressing
• homemade burger sauce
• BBQ sauce
• ranch dressing
• ketchup
• Dijon mustard

How long do chicken tenders take in air fryer?

Once you bread these air fryer chicken tenders, you can have them on the table in as little as 10 minutes! No need to wait for the oven to preheat and then slowly cook. These air fryer chicken tenders will save you tons of time!

Can you put raw chicken in the air fryer?

Yes! These homemade chicken tenders go in the air fryer raw and cook up in just minutes. That’s what makes this my favorite air fryer chicken recipe!

How do you know when chicken is done in air fryer?

The best way to know if your chicken is done is to check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. When it reaches 165 degrees, you know it’s cooked through. However, you can also slice into the thickest part of the tender and see if it looks cooked through.

What can I serve with chicken tenders?

• oven-baked French fries
• air fryer tater tots
• air fryer potato wedges
• air fryer green beans
• cheesy pizza fries
• roasted baby potatoes

Make-Ahead, Storage, and Reheating

• Make-Ahead: These chicken tenders are a delicious make-ahead meal and can be stored in the fridge for up to a week and then reheated as needed.
• Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
• Reheating: Reheat chicken tenders in the air fryer at a low temperature (300-350 degrees) until warmed through. Or you can reheat them in a 350-degree oven on a baking sheet. 

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