Description
Crispy air fryer chicken tenders deliver golden, juicy perfection with minimal effort. Quick marinades and seasoned breading create restaurant-quality results that make dinner exciting for everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2 pounds chicken tenders
Seasonings:
- 1.5 teaspoons salt
- 0.75 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
Coating and Binding Ingredients:
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (120 grams) panko breadcrumbs
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Thoroughly blot chicken tenders with paper towels to remove excess moisture, creating an ideal surface for seasoning to adhere effectively.
- Create a two-part coating system by whisking eggs in one shallow container and combining panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder and paprika in another.
- Submerge each tender completely in egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then carefully press into seasoned breadcrumb mixture, ensuring comprehensive and even coverage.
- Lightly mist air fryer basket with olive oil to prevent potential sticking and promote uniform browning during cooking.
- Arrange breaded tenders in a single layer within the air fryer basket, maintaining space between pieces to guarantee consistent heat circulation and crispy texture.
- Mist chicken tenders with additional olive oil to enhance golden coloration and crispness.
- Configure air fryer to 400°F and cook tenders for approximately 6 minutes, then carefully flip each piece to ensure balanced cooking.
- Continue air frying for an additional 4-5 minutes until exterior reaches a deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Allow tenders to rest momentarily after cooking to retain moisture and help breading set properly.
- Serve immediately alongside preferred dipping sauce, such as ranch, honey mustard, or spicy aioli.
- For meal preparation, breaded uncooked tenders can be frozen in a single layer, then transferred to storage containers for future quick meals, adding approximately 5 extra minutes to cooking time when preparing from frozen state.
Notes
- Freezing uncooked breaded tenders saves time for busy weeknight meals.
- Storing prepped tenders in a single layer prevents sticking and maintains crispy texture.
- Quick meal solution that transforms dinner preparation into a stress-free experience.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minute
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 150mg