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Home Method Air Fryer
DF Dairy Free 30 30 Minutes or Less

Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders

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By: DanielleLeave a Comment Posted: 08/04/2021 Updated: 09/22/2021

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Say hello to Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders – juicy, golden brown, and delicious! This easy main dish is made with a simple breading and is perfect for salads, wraps, or just dunking in ketchup! Make-ahead and freezer friendly!
Jump to Recipe

For the times when good old basic unbreaded chicken tenders just won’t cut it – here are my super easy Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders!

For these tenders, I wanted a simple breading, different flavors than my other basic Italian tenders, golden brown exterior, and super juicy chicken. I say mission accomplished!

No it’s not the most crispy chicken ever – that would involve a wet batter which I wanted to skip here. Wet batter = more mess = not a quick weeknight meal in my opinion.

What I’ve got here is delicious juicy chicken, crispy edges, breading that STICKS, and a simple, versatile recipe. I hope you enjoy it! 

What are the ingredients in these Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders?

This is a simple recipe with staple ingredients you might already have on hand! Here are the ingredients I used in my simple Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders recipe:

  • boneless skinless chicken breast – I always have boneless skinless chicken breasts in the freezer so that’s what I used for this recipe. You can also use chicken tenderloins if that’s what you prefer (slightly different cuts of meat but otherwise the same).
  • eggs – This is what keeps the breading stuck to the chicken. If you have super large eggs, you can use one egg. Otherwise two makes it easiest to get all the strips of chicken well coated.
  • plain bread crumbs – Bread crumbs are going to make up our breading, along with the spices below. You can also use panko, but I like regular bread crumbs better, as they seemed to stick to the chicken the best and mixed well with the spices.
  • paprika – Did you know paprika is made up of various kinds of dried peppers? I think it gives this chicken the best kind of mild but delicious flavor. If you don’t have paprika, you can switch this spice out with things like cajun, bbq spice, jerk seasoning, or something else. I would leave the other spices in the recipe though.
  • garlic powder, onion powder & sea salt – These are my favorite spices for chicken that always come through on flavor and go with most other flavor profiles you might use. Swap out the paprika if you want, but leave these!
  • avocado oil spray – This is essential for getting the outside of the chicken tenders looking golden brown! Any spots not sprayed will look dry and less appealing.

ingredients for the air fryer breaded chicken tenders including raw chicken.

chicken breasts sliced on a cutting board to make chicken tenders.

How do you make these Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders?

The first step is to prepare the chicken. Place the raw chicken breasts on a cutting board and pat dry using a couple paper towels. Use a sharp chef’s knife to slice the chicken breasts into uniform strips about 1 inch thick.

For this recipe, I’m using my Misen Chef’s Knife (affiliate link!)! Depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts, you should get 8-12 chicken tender slices from one pound of chicken.

Each chicken breast should make 4-6 strips. If your chicken breast is on the thicker side, make 4-5 slices closer together. If your chicken breast is thinner, make 3-4 slices a bit farther apart. 

Next, we’re going to set up a breading station. Find two small flat-bottomed bowls, like I’m using in the pictures, and two forks. In one bowl, add both eggs and whisk. In the other, add the breadcrumbs and all the spices. Use a fork to mix.

First, add each raw chicken tender slice to the egg and coat all sides well. After that, move each piece of chicken, one a time, to the breading bowl and coat with the crumb mixture. Use the fork to press the coating on to the raw chicken.

breading the chicken tenders with bread crumbs and spices.

the breading station with an egg bowl and a bread crumb mixture bowl.

Once the piece of chicken is fully coated in breadcrumbs, gently set it on a plate (or directly into the air fryer basket) and repeat the process with each piece of chicken. 

If not already, place the chicken into the air fryer basket, in a single layer, not touching if possible. If you can’t fit all the chicken, cook in two batches instead of stacking.

Next, take the avocado oil spray and coat all the chicken with a solid spray of oil. It should be a decent amount of oil, but not dripping off the chicken. This should make the breading look wet and cover any dry spots.

breaded chicken tenders on a plate before cooking.

the chicken tenders after spraying with avocado oil spray.

flip the chicken tenders halfway through cooking in the air fryer.

Air fry the chicken tenders at 380F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. When you flip the chicken, give any dry spots a quick spritz of oil, then continue cooking for the remaining time.

The breaded chicken tenders are done when the internal temperature reaches 165F, the exterior is golden brown, and the edges are darkening.

cooked breaded chicken tenders in the air fryer basket.

Can I use chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breasts?

Yes, you can use chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts for this recipe.

I always have boneless skinless chicken breasts on hand from my Butcherbox meat delivery service (affiliate link!), so that’s what I prefer to use for this recipe. Using high quality chicken will give you a more juicy and flavorful result after cooking.

You can also use pre-cut chicken tenderloins from the store if you want. I prefer to cut my own chicken and I hate dealing with the giant tendon in the middle of each store-cut tenderloins, so I use breasts!

Can I use panko bread crumbs instead of regular bread crumbs?

Yes, you can use panko bread crumbs instead of regular bread crumbs.

However, during testing, I found they fell off the chicken more easily than the regular breading. I also noticed that all the spices fell down to the bottom of the bowl (because of the larger pieces of panko) and less spices ended up on the chicken.

Testing notes for these Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders

Some things I noticed while testing this recipe:

  • Bread crumbs: I found the panko breadcrumbs fell off the chicken more easily than the regular breading. I also noticed that all the spices fell down to the bottom of the bowl (because of the larger pieces of panko) and less spices ended up on the chicken.
  • Dredge: I opted to skip the additional dredging in flour because it always ends up a lot more messy to me. I kept it simple with a one step breading.
  • Oil spray: Don’t spray TOO much oil or it will drip down and end up in the air fryer basket. Don’t spray while on the plate – the breadcrumbs fly everywhere. Instead, spray after the chicken is in the basket.

delicious air fryer breaded chicken tenders on a plate ready to eat.

How do you meal prep these chicken tenders?

Here are three ways to meal prep this recipe:

  • Fridge: Cook the chicken as the recipe instructs, and store it in an airtight container in the fridge. Use the chicken for various recipes over the next 3-4 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350F for 7-10 minutes, until hot and sizzling, or enjoy cold.
  • Freeze uncooked/raw: Freeze uncooked breaded tenders in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To avoid a big chunk of frozen chicken, freeze flat on a sheet pan for 4 hours, then transfer to a freezer safe bag. Place frozen uncooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure to check the internal temperature reads at least 165F with a meat thermometer.
  • Freeze cooked: Freeze cooked breaded tenders in an airtight container for up to 3 months. To avoid a big chunk of frozen chicken, freeze flat on a sheet pan for 4 hours, then transfer to a freezer safe bag. Place frozen cooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Are Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders freezer-friendly?

Yes, these Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders are freezer-friendly, whether they are cooked or raw!

To avoid a big chunk of frozen chicken, freeze flat on a sheet pan for 4 hours, then transfer to a freezer safe bag and store for up to 3 months. Reheating instructions below.

Do not freeze raw chicken that has previously been frozen. In that case, it is better to cook the chicken, and then freeze.

How to serve these breaded chicken tenders:

Here are a few ideas for serving these Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders:

  • By themselves, dipped in ketchup, with potato wedges or tater tots as the sides
  • On a salad! This chicken is a great addition to grocery store salad kits, particularly to the kale caesar version 🙂
  • On a wrap or a pita with veggies and melty cheese
  • On a burger bun with melty cheddar, tomatoes, and pickles!

dipping a breaded chicken tender into ketchup.

Alternative customization ideas:

To change up the flavors of this chicken, leave out the paprika, and substitute with one of these other ideas:

  • cajun seasoning
  • Ranch seasoning powder
  • bbq rub
  • chili powder + cumin
  • lemon pepper

Another option is to completely change the breading, and try something random like crushed corn flakes or potato chips!

What kind of air fryer do you recommend?

The air fryer I have currently, and the one that is pictured in this post is the Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer (affiliate link!). If you’re going to invest in an air fryer to cook things for 2 or more people, you should opt for a larger size like this one, in my opinion!

I previously had a slightly smaller Philips Air Fryer with a metal grate basket which I liked, but I prefer the larger Cosori model with the nonstick coated basket.

If you have a smaller air fryer, I would recommend cooking the chicken tenders in two batches.

eating breaded chicken tenders with tater tots and ketchup.

How to Store, Freeze and Reheat:

To Store: Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

To Freeze: Wrap cooked or uncooked tenders tightly and place in an airtight or vacuum sealed container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To Reheat from the fridge: Place cold cooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350 for 5-7 minutes or until the tenders are hot. 

To Reheat from the freezer: Place frozen cooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Place frozen uncooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350F for 25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Make sure to check the internal temperature reads at least 165F with a meat thermometer.

 

Did you make this? I want to see how it turned out! Tag me in your social media post @projectmealplan and use #projectmealplan when you share!

Recipe
air fryer breaded chicken tenders on a plate with ketchup.

Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders

Yield: 4 servings 1x
Print Save Rate it
Prep: 15 minutesCook: 10 minutesTotal: 25 minutes

Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders – juicy, golden brown, and delicious! This easy main dish is made with a simple breading and is perfect for salads, wraps, or just dunking in ketchup! Make-ahead and freezer friendly!

Scale:

Ingredients

  • 1 pound raw boneless skinless chicken breast (or tenderloins)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup plain bread crumbs
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons fine sea salt
  • avocado oil spray

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Place the raw chicken breasts on a cutting board and pat dry using paper towels. Use a sharp chef’s knife to slice the chicken breasts into uniform strips about 1 inch thick.
  2. Prepare breading station: In a flat-bottomed bowl, add the eggs and whisk until combined. In another flat-bottomed bowl, add the breadcrumbs and all the spices. Use a fork to mix.
  3. Bread the chicken: Add each raw chicken tender slice to the raw egg bowl and use a fork to coat all sides. One at a time, move each piece of chicken to the other bowl and completely coat with the crumb mixture. Use the fork to press the coating on to the raw chicken. Gently set it on a plate (or directly into the air fryer basket) and repeat with each piece of chicken. Place the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer, not touching if possible. If you can’t fit all the chicken, cook in two batches instead of stacking.
  4. Cook the chicken: Use avocado oil spray to coat all the chicken in the air fryer basket with a solid spritz of oil. It should be a liberal amount of oil, but not dripping off the chicken. This will make the breading look wet and cover any dry spots. Air fry the chicken tenders at 380F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. When you flip the chicken, give any dry spots a quick spritz of oil, then continue cooking for the remaining time. The chicken tenders are done when the internal temperature reaches 165F, the exterior is golden brown, and the edges are darkening.
  5. Serve & store: Serve chicken tenders immediately on a salad, in a wrap, in a grain bowl, or with sides like tater tots or fries. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Equipment

sharp knife and cutting board.

Misen Chef’s Knife

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black cosori air fryer.

Cosori XL 5.8 qt Air Fryer

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Notes

Chicken: Tenderloin cuts are traditional for ‘tenders’, however I prefer to use organic chicken breast from my ButcherBox meat delivery service (affiliate link!) because I do not like the tenderloin cut. Strips and tenders are very similar, so you can pick your favorite. To customize: Sub paprika for your favorite seasonings such as Cajun, ranch powder, chili powder, etc.

Nutrition information estimated with My Fitness Pal.

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 2-3 tenders
  • Calories: 249
  • Sugar: 1g
  • Fat: 9g
  • Carbohydrates: 11g
  • Fiber: 1g
  • Protein: 30g
© Author: Danielle
Cuisine: American Method: Air Fryer
air fryer breaded chicken tenders on a plate with ketchup.

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About Danielle

Hi, I’m Danielle! My passion for meal planning was born from a desire to save money and reduce food waste, and I want to share it with you! Besides cooking and photography, I absolutely love my cats & dog, growing food in my yard, and cheesy sandwiches! Read More...

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