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You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dish / Chicken / Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Published March 2, 2023 by Lauren Vavala Harris

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Air fried chicken tenders in the basket of an air fryer with text overlay.
A chicken tender dipped into barbecue sauce with text overlay.
Close up air fryer chicken tenders with barbecue sauce in a white bowl on a white plate.
Air fryer chicken tenders with barbecue sauce in a white bowl on a white plate.
Air fryer chicken tenders with barbecue sauce in a white bowl on a white plate.
Air fried chicken tenders in the basket of an air fryer with text overlay.

This easy recipe for extra crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders can be made in 30 minutes or less and uses much less oil than traditional recipes for fried chicken. These chicken strips are just as crunchy and juicy as deep-fried chicken, and all of the ingredients are pantry staples. Air frying is a quick, healthier method for cooking a family-friendly meal. 

A stack of air fryer chicken tenders on a white plate with a white bowl of barbecue sauce and a glass of water in the background.

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Like many homes with children, chicken nuggets and chicken tenders are on regular rotation for lunch and dinner. While we do sometimes make Crispy Pan-Fried Chicken Tenders, frying chicken in oil can get a bit messy and we limit fried foods to just once in awhile.

Keeping the recipe very similar, but cooking the chicken in an air fryer is not only a bit healthier due to the fact that you don’t need nearly as much cooking oil, it’s also just as quick and less messy.

Each chicken tender will be just as crispy and crunchy as the fried chicken you’re served in any restaurant.

All you need is 30 minutes and a handful of pantry staples. This quick dish comes together in a pinch and leaves you with a tasty plate of extra crispy chicken strips. The batter is easy to prepare with a couple of eggs and seasoned flour for dredging.

You can even dress this dish up by serving these crispy fried chicken tenders with homemade dipping sauce such as Mango Barbecue Sauce or creamy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce.

Air fried chicken is a kid-friendly main dish which traditionally pairs well with french fries or other fried potatoes like Lyonnaise Potatoes. For a lighter side dish, you can also serve them with a refreshing Tomato Basil Salad or Spiced Roasted Carrots.

Why This Recipe Works

This is a quick, 30-minute meal and the recipe is quite simple to follow.

All you need is a handful of pantry staples, so you don’t really need to plan too much or make an extra trip to the grocery store. 

Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are very kid friendly. Plus, who doesn’t love juicy, crispy chicken.

How To Air Fry Chicken Tenders

Ingredients

Ingredients to make air fryer chicken tenders with text overlay.

  • 2 pounds chicken tenders
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour: gluten free flour can be used. You can also use a combination of flour and breadcrumbs or panko, if preferred.
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more for sprinkling)
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 eggs
  • Cooking spray: this is used to coat the bottom of the air fryer basket and lightly sprayed on the chicken to keep it from sticking.

    The entire recipe and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. You can print the recipe from the card, if needed.

Prep!

Place the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika in a shallow dish or bowl and whisk the eggs in a second bowl.

Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.

Create!

A chicken tender in one rectangular dish with flour and a second tender in a second rectangular dish of whisked eggs.

Coat each chicken strip in flour, then dip into the egg, let the excess drip off and then dip it back into the flour. Place the coated chicken strips on a plate.

Chef’s Tip: if you’d prefer to use breadcrumbs or panko instead of all flour, after dipping each chicken tender into the egg, dip it into breadcrumbs on panko spread out onto a plate or shallow bowl.

Four floured chicken tenders in the bottom of an air fryer basket.

Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray. Place the breaded chicken tenders into the basket of your air fryer being careful to leave a little space in between each one. Spray the tops of the chicken with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray. If using only flour for breading, you will want to make sure it’s all lightly moistened with either the egg or the spray to prevent dry spots during air frying.

You will likely have to work in batches.

Four air fried chicken tenders in the bottom of an air fryer basket.

Set your air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken tenders. Flip and cook an additional 5 to 6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. The internal temperature of chicken needs to reach 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portion.

Transfer the chicken tenders to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt to taste.

Present!

A chicken tender with barbecue sauce on one end being held up over the bowl of sauce.

Serve with your favorite dipping sauces, if desired.

Tips and Techniques

  • Ensure the chicken is dry before breading. This will help the breading stick to the chicken better.
  • The thickness of the chicken tenders will cause cooking times to vary slightly. For thinner, smaller tenders, you may want to start with 5 minutes on each side then check for doneness before continuing.
  • Store leftover chicken strips tightly covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven to re-crisp the breading. Consume within 3-4 days.

FAQ’s

How Do Keep The Breading On Chicken?

Pat the chicken dry before coating it in flour and then egg. You can either do another coating of flour or breadcrumbs.

What Do You Serve With Fried Chicken Tenders?

Fried chicken tenders can be served with a variety of sauces. They are most commonly served in restaurants with Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce. They can also be served with ketchup or any type of barbecue sauce. Try them with Raspberry Barbecue Sauce or Mango Dipping Sauce for a delicious combination of sweet and savory!

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A stack of air fryer chicken tenders on a white plate with a white bowl of barbecue sauce.
Print

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

This easy recipe for extra Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders can be made in 30 minutes or less and uses much less oil than traditional recipes for fried chicken strips. These chicken tenders are just as crunchy and juicy as deep-fried chicken, and all of the ingredients are pantry staples. Air frying is a quick, healthy method to cook a family-friendly meal. 
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American, Chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 25 minutes minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 280kcal
Author Lauren Harris

Ingredients

  • 1 cup all purpose flour (see notes)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (plus more for sprinkling)
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 pounds chicken tenders
  • Cooking spray

Instructions

  • Place the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika in a shallow dish or bowl.
    1 cup all purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika
  • Lightly whisk the eggs in a second bowl.
    2 eggs
  • Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
    2 pounds chicken tenders
  • Coat each chicken strip in flour, then dip into the egg, let the excess drip off and then dip it back into the flour. Place the coated chicken strips on a plate.
  • Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray. Place the breaded chicken tenders into the basket of your air fryer being careful to leave a little space in between each one. Spray the tops of the chicken with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray.
    Cooking spray
  • Set your air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, depending on the thickness of your chicken tenders. Flip and cook an additional 5 to 6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the center. You may need to work in batches.
  • Transfer the chicken tenders to a paper-towel lined plate and sprinkle with salt to taste.
  • Serve with your favorite dipping sauces, if desired.

Notes

Tips and Techniques

  • Ensure the chicken is dry before breading. This will help the breading stick to the chicken better.
  • After dipping the tenders in the egg, you can dip them in breadcrumbs or panko instead of back into the flour, if you prefer.
  • The thickness of the chicken tenders will cause cooking times to vary slightly. For thinner, smaller tenders, you may want to start with 5 minutes on each side, then check for doneness before continuing. The internal temperature of chicken needs to reach 165°F on a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest portion.
  • Store leftover chicken strips tightly covered in the refrigerator. Reheat in an oven or toaster oven to re-crisp the breading. Consume within 3-4 days.
** Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 151mg | Sodium: 392mg | Potassium: 620mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 289IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 22mg | Iron: 2mg

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Filed Under: Chicken, Main Dish, Recipes

Comments

  1. Amy L says

    March 8, 2025 at 7:33 pm

    These are fantastic! My go to recipe for chicken tenders now. Made exactly as written. You need to spritz liberally to ensure you don’t have spots of flour. My husband loved them.

    Reply
  2. Kim says

    October 7, 2024 at 5:59 pm

    Do you preheat The air fryer?

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala Harris says

      October 8, 2024 at 2:39 pm

      Hi Kim,

      Thanks for reaching out. In general you should always preheat the air fryer. I think it would be helpful to have that added to air fryer recipes, so I’ll make note to update that in the instructions.

      – Lauren

      Reply
  3. Nancy Greene says

    July 15, 2024 at 6:44 pm

    I made these this evening for dinner and they were so moist and delicious! Hubby loved them! For the coating, I used 1/3 cup flour, 1/3 cup breadcrumbs and 1/3 cup panko crumbs. Also, I marinated the chicken tenders in buttermilk for about an hour and then dipped them in the coating. I made a ranch sauce and a honey mustard sauce for dipping. I’m astounded at how quickly dinner came together. I always forget about my air fryer, but seeing your recipe reminded me to dust off a few cobwebs and get it out. I’m glad I did! Thanks for a terrific recipe!

    Reply
  4. Liz Nafus says

    May 17, 2024 at 7:05 pm

    These were so good!

    Reply
  5. Farwin says

    May 15, 2024 at 4:51 pm

    These were so easy to make and tasted so good. My kids devoured them!

    Reply
  6. Anjali says

    May 14, 2024 at 7:43 pm

    Love this healthier chicken tenders recipe – it’s so much better than takeout or fast food but honestly tastes just as good!! My kids loved it!

    Reply
  7. Jill says

    May 14, 2024 at 7:36 pm

    These are fantastic and so easy to make. My kids love them!

    Reply
  8. Gianne says

    May 14, 2024 at 7:03 pm

    The breading was perfectly crunchy and the chicken was juicy. The recipe was easy to follow and the cooking time was quick. Definitely a new favorite in my household.

    Reply
    • Cullt says

      July 12, 2024 at 12:02 am

      Did you use just flour? I’m going to make these for my grandkids …. Looks pretty easy.

      Reply
      • Lauren Vavala Harris says

        July 14, 2024 at 11:17 am

        Hi!
        The recipe includes some spices, but you can omit them if you think you’re grandchildren won’t care for them. It won’t affect the recipe or cooking time. Hope they love them!

        – Lauren

        Reply
  9. Heather says

    May 14, 2024 at 5:48 pm

    Quick and easy chicken tenders, perfect for busy weeknights! The family loves them, thanks so much!

    Reply
  10. Holley says

    May 14, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    Cooked to perfection! My kids love these tenders and this recipe is in my weekly dinner rotation!

    Reply
  11. Maddie says

    March 4, 2024 at 8:29 am

    These were easy to make, however followed recipe to a T and they were very bland. I would adjust the dry ingredients to add more flavor and also season the tenders independently before dredging. Cook time needed just a little longer as there was still flour on tenders.

    Reply
  12. MacKenzie says

    February 6, 2024 at 8:22 pm

    We made a big batch and froze a few for later. They are perfect and so much better than the store-bought kind.

    Reply
  13. Gianne says

    February 6, 2024 at 7:02 pm

    The breading came out perfectly crispy and the chicken was tender and juicy. It was so easy and quick to make, and it’s now one of my favorite go-to meals!

    Reply
  14. Tayler says

    February 6, 2024 at 4:42 pm

    I will never make chicken tenders any other way! These turned out so perfectly crispy and delicious!

    Reply
  15. Lana says

    February 6, 2024 at 4:16 pm

    Was looking for a recipe for chicken like this but a few didn’t turn out right, yours was perfect, thank you — making this again!

    Reply
  16. Holley says

    February 6, 2024 at 3:29 pm

    Thank you so much for this recipe! The chicken was cooked to perfection!

    Reply
  17. Ann says

    January 6, 2024 at 7:08 pm

    I followed your recipe and prep steps to the tee, but while they looked very similar to yours, they still fell short of how yours looked. They were very tasty and family really enjoyed them. I’ll keep trying for the real fried look. As Giadia says, you really do eat with your eyes first.

    Reply
  18. Jason Shumney says

    December 31, 2023 at 5:53 pm

    The tenders were good but the time on the air fryer cook just didn’t seem to match up. There is still flour on them and they just don’t look like the picture. I may just go back to stove top frying them

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala Harris says

      December 31, 2023 at 6:58 pm

      Hi Jason! Thanks for the feedback. If there’s still flour when you go in to turn them you can spritz them again with a little cooking spray/olive oil mist. The only way to get them from being “dry” and more like the photos is to mist with the oil.

      Hope this helps for next time,
      Lauren

      Reply
  19. T says

    December 18, 2023 at 6:55 pm

    Can they be made in the oven?

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala Harris says

      December 19, 2023 at 9:10 am

      Hi! You can definitely bake these in the oven. I would preheat to 400F and bake for about 15 minutes, turning halfway. Internal temp needs to reach 165F.

      – Lauren

      Reply
      • T says

        December 19, 2023 at 3:56 pm

        Ok thank you

        Reply
  20. Melissa says

    October 8, 2023 at 7:09 am

    I made these for my husband and I and they turned out perfectly! Thanks for the recipe, this one is a keeper. 😊

    Reply
  21. Lauren says

    August 16, 2023 at 11:06 am

    How many tenders is 1 serving? Just 1?

    Reply
    • Lauren Vavala says

      August 16, 2023 at 2:52 pm

      Hi Lauren. To get an approximate serving size, you would take all your tenders and divide them into 6 equal portions. Sizes and weights of individual tenders vary so much that there is no way to accurately say how much would be in just one. Unfortunately, even splitting them up into 6 servings will have some variation which is why there is a disclaimer that nutritional info may vary, but it should be close.

      Hope this help some,
      Lauren

      Reply
  22. Denise says

    July 29, 2023 at 8:58 pm

    Excellent, I’m just learning how to air fry, recipe was great!

    Reply
  23. Elizabeth says

    March 12, 2023 at 1:14 pm

    These chicken tenders came out very crispy – exactly how we like them! My kids devoured these chicken tender! Will definitely make again!

    Reply

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Welcome, I'm Lauren!

Delicious Little Bites is where I share all types of recipes from appetizers to desserts. You will also find plenty of keto, gluten free, and vegetarian recipes here to help you put a delicious meal on the table every night that the whole family will love! Read More...

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