Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are super easy to make in the Air Fryer and not as messy as frying chicken on the stove. The chicken tenders turn out crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside.
Table of contents
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🔑 Key to Success #1 – Season Every Step
One of the keys to delicious fried chicken is making sure you season the chicken every step of the way.
I mean season the chicken then season the flour then season the egg and milk mixture.
For the seasoning, you can use something as simple as salt and pepper.
Or you can spice things up with some Slap Ya Mama seasoning or any other seasoning of your choice.
My kids are masters at finding the hidden spice in any dish so I went with salt and pepper in my chicken tenders.
🔑 Key to Success #2 – Double-Bread the Chicken
The key to keeping the breading on the chicken is by using a double-breading technique.
This means you’ll dip your chicken into flour then into the milk/egg mixture then back into the flour.
Double-breading will help make your chicken tenders crispy and will help the breading stay in place while cooking.
Isn’t that just miserable when all your breading falls off into the bottom of the frying pan?
You won’t have this problem with Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
🔑 Key to Success #3 – Use Just a Touch of Oil
After you put your Chicken Tenders in a single layer in the basket of your Air Fryer, you’ll want to spray them lightly with olive oil.
I have these nifty aerosol-free oil spray bottles that I use often with my Air Fryer.
With every pull of the trigger, a tiny 1.35 milliliters of oil are dispensed so it really does not add much oil to the recipe.
Spray enough oil that it’ll completely wet the breading on the chicken tenders.
For me, this is maybe 4-5 trigger pulls.
Be sure you turn your Air Fryer Chicken Tenders halfway through cooking then spray the other side lightly with oil.
This will allow both sides of your chicken tenders to crisp up.
I have a Cozyna XL Air Fryer and I can fit about 5 chicken tenders in my basket at one time.
With 5 chicken tenders, it takes 18-20 minutes for my chicken to fully cook and crisp up.
Every Air Fryer is different so be sure to watch your chicken carefully.
Don’t forget to check out the 5 best non-toxic air fryers that don’t cause cancer.
These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders would be great paired with some Air Fryer French Fries. Or even enjoy with some Coleslaw or Broccoli, Rice and Cheese Casserole on the side.
Find out the best knives to use to cut your chicken with our Best Knives Under $50 round-up.
What’s your favorite dipping sauce for Chicken Tenders?
🔑 Get the Printable Recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Pin this Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe to your favorite Air Fryer recipes board or your Poultry Recipes board.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 2-3 pounds chicken tenderloins fresh
- 1 egg
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- salt and pepper to taste
- olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Air Fryer to 360 degrees F.
- In small flat bowl, whisk egg then add milk. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- In separate flat bowl, add flour and salt and pepper, to taste.
- Season trimmed chicken with salt and pepper then dredge each tenderloin in flour then place in egg and milk mixture. Remove from egg mixture, shaking gently to remove extra liquid. Place back in flour and coat well.
- Place coated tenderloins in Air Fryer basket in single layer. Lightly spray with olive oil. Cook 10 minutes. Use tongs to flip chicken tenders. Cook another 8-10 minutes. If needed, cook an additional 4-6 minutes until crispy and fully cooked.
Equipment
Nutrition
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Melinda Cooper
Saturday 30th of October 2021
I’m a beginner cook and made these for myself and my husband last night. They turned out great. I think my air fryer may run a little hot because at 20 minutes total the chicken was a little overdone, but I’ll just reduce the total time by 2-3 minutes when I make the tenders again.
Amber
Thursday 23rd of September 2021
We made this recipe last night and oh my goodness was it good! We use our air fryer Atleast 4 nights a week and are always looking for easy kid friendly recipes. My daughter went crazy on these and my husband and I loved them! Will def be making these over and over again…thank you!
Linda
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Thank you for your quick reply!! Will be trying these soon! :)
Jennifer
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Fantastic! Do you use your air fryer a lot? I use mine maybe a couple of times a week for different things.
Linda
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Where does the olive oil go? I don't see it anywhere in your instructions. :(
Jennifer
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Hi Linda,
The olive oil is lightly sprayed or drizzled onto the chicken tenders before air frying. I use a food-grade spray bottle to lightly spritz the oil onto the chicken to reduce the amount of oil that I am using. It's important to moisten the flour with little oil before air frying or you could have some spots that are very dry and powdery.
I will update the recipe card to be more clear! Thanks for your question.
Linda
Tuesday 1st of September 2020
Thank you for your quick reply!! Will be trying these soon! :)