All-time childhood favorite meets healthy weeknight dinner via extra crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders! With just 8 minutes of cook time, they’re a fast, family-friendly recipe that kids of all ages (and kids at heart!) will adore.
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Homemade is better—SO much better.
A from-scratch version of the fast food chicken fingers I loved as a kid, these air fryer chicken tenders are made with simple ingredients.
- They’re a nutritious, delicious upgrade from their processed counterparts, just like my oven-baked Chicken Tenders Recipe. But this time, made in the air fryer!
- These chicken tenders are gratifyingly crunchy outside, juicy inside, and perfectly dippable (see sauce ideas below).
- They’re also freezer-friendly! Make a big batch for the freezer, then air fry the chicken tenders directly from frozen, adding a few minutes to the cooking time.
Serve them alongside Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries and you have a simple, healthy dinner that’s a shoo-in for your greatest hits list.
5 Star Review
“These air fryer chicken tenders were a real game-changer in our household! Not only were they incredibly delicious, but the best part was that my kids and I made them together at home.”
— Mia —
How to Make Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
Set Up Your Dredging Station. Eggs in one bowl, breadcrumbs and spices in another.
Bread the Chicken. Dip the chicken in the eggs, then dredge in the breadcrumb mixture. Press the tenders in a little to make sure they’re well-coated. Lay the breaded tenders on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Arrange the Chicken in Your Air Fryer. Make sure they’re in a single layer; you will probably need to cook the chicken in batches. Crowding them will make them less crispy!
Air Fry at 400°F, Flipping Halfway Through. At 400 degrees F, chicken tenders cook in the air fryer in 7 to 8 minutes.
Cook Remaining Batches. You can keep prior batches warm in the oven. ENJOY!
Dipping Sauce Suggestions
Because dunking air fryer chicken tenders in your favorite dipping sauce is half the fun!
- Barbecue Sauce. My recipe for homemade BBQ sauce is delish!
- Ketchup. The classic.
- Honey Mustard. Try the honey mustard dipping sauce from my Pecan Crusted Chicken.
- Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip. This lightened-up version tastes just as good as the original ranch dressing.
- Honey. My childhood fave. It’s sticky and sweet. Or use this homemade Hot Honey Recipe.
- Buffalo Sauce. An easy way to enjoy buffalo chicken flavor. This is Ben’s choice (if its yours too, check out Air Fryer Chicken Wings)!
- Sweet Chili Sauce. Sweet, tangy, and a little spicy.
- Basil Dipping Sauce. Try the light and fresh basil dipping sauce from my Zucchini Fries.
- Sweet and Sour. It’s *almost* like having takeout.
More Kid-Friendly Chicken Recipes
- These Baked Chicken Cutlets are super tender and juicy!
- The air fryer is one of my favorite ways to cook chicken breast! Try this Air Fryer Chicken Breast recipe.
- Chicken Nuggets are the ultimate kid-friendly meal and this version is much healthier than takeout.
- This is my tested and perfected Baked Chicken Breast recipe!
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
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Ingredients
FOR THE AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS:
- 2 pounds chicken tenders about 14
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt divided
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Olive oil spray
FOR DIPPING (optional):
- Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
- Honey Mustard Sauce from this Pecan Crusted Chicken
- Barbecue Sauce
- Basil Yogurt Sauce from these Zucchini Fries
Instructions
- With paper towels, pat the chicken tenders dry. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon kosher salt.
- In a shallow bowl (a pie dish works well) beat the eggs together. In a second shallow bowl, stir together the panko, breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, pepper, and remaining 1 ½ teaspoons salt. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and keep it nearby.
- Coat the chicken tenders: Working a few at a time, dip each piece of chicken into the egg, then into the breadcrumb mixture, patting it gently as needed to adhere. Shake off excess.
- Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with remaining pieces.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. If you’d like to keep the chicken warm between batches, turn a regular oven to 250 degrees F. Coat the air fryer basket with the olive oil cooking spray, then add chicken tenders in a single layer so that they are not touching (I can cook 4 at a time). Coat the top of the chicken tenders with oil spray.
- Cook the chicken for 7 to 8 minutes, pulling out the air fryer basket and flipping the pieces over once halfway through. (The chicken should register at least 165 degrees F on an instant read thermometer and the outsides will be golden brown and crisp.) Repeat with remaining chicken tenders, keeping them warm in the oven between batches as desired. Enjoy hot.
Video
Notes
- TO STORE: Refrigerate chicken tenders in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.
- TO REHEAT: Rewarm leftovers in the oven at 350 degrees F, in the air fryer, or in the microwave.
- TO FREEZE: Lay cooked chicken tenders in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, then transfer the frozen tenders to an airtight, freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen.
Nutrition
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I was hesitant to try this at home cause I felt like the chicken would turn out dry but I gave it a try and to my surprise it was perfect, in fact it comes out juicy. Thank you for the recipe
These air fryer chicken tenders were a real game-changer in our household! Not only were they incredibly delicious, but the best part was that my kids and I made them together at home.
This is the first meal I made in my new air fryer and it came out perfectly. Loved the breading mixture and the Ranch dressing was perfect.
Hi Jean! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was my first time making chicken tenders in the air fryer, I usually fried them. It turn out crispy and juicy. I will definitely try it again. Thank you!
Hi Lianne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I love that I can make these air fryer chicken tenders in just a few minutes. They’re the perfect quick and easy meal.
Hi Jasmine! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
My picky eater son who doesn’t usually like chicken made at home, likes these! But he likes this chicken tenders. Thank you for the recipe!
Love that Betty! Thank you!
My husband and I both loved this! I usually make chicken tenders in oil which is messy and unhealthy. These were crunchy, tender and juicy.
I didn’t use the paprika (didn’t have any) and I think it affects the final color, they were a little pale with some toasted spots, but we didn’t care! Will become a regular in our rotation!
I have a Cuisinart Air Fryer/Toaster Oven
Hi Kate! Yes, the paprika does add a little color to the dish when used. So glad you enjoyed it!
I am making these for the fourth time! We love them. I am doing extra to save for my salad this morning. I highly recommend this recipe.
Yay! Thank you Meghan!
My husband and I really enjoyed these. They were quick and easy to make. Delicious! So moist and tender with a crispy crust! Will definitely use this recipe again.
Awesome, thanks for sharing Kimberly!
Loved this. So easy and delicious! I subbed dry ranch dressing for the salt pepper and garlic powder. This recipe is a winner for sure!!
I added some Italian seasoning and a dash of cayenne pepper, plus cut the salt in half. They turned out perfectly and will become a regular on the rotation. So tasty and easy to make.
AY so glad to hear that Rachelle!
These came out so good, both my kids enjoyed them. For some reason my Air Fryer doesn’t allow you to choose a temperature when using the air fryer option. I did cook a bit longer because mine didn’t seem done and flipped them over the last 4 minutes. Super easy delicious recipe.
Thanks for the feedback Cleo!
A new favorite in our household!
Awesome! Thank you!
Has anyone tried this with boneless, skinless thighs? I really prefer dark meat.
Hi Janet! Yes, we love using chicken thighs! Here is our recipe for them: https://www.wellplated.com/air-fryer-chicken-thighs/ Enjoy!
Made exact recipe, half the salt. Fantastic! Family, especially grandkids gobbled it up. Well done!
Great to hear, thank you Kathy!
We absolutely loved it! Grandchildren like ved them
Glad to hear you enjoyed it, Michelle! Thank you!
I am officially obsessed with this recipe! The chicken tenders were everything I hoped they’d be, crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor. I loved that I didn’t have to babysit the stove since the air fryer did all the work. It was a huge time-saver, and cleanup was a breeze too. I’ll definitely be making these again when we have friends over. They’re a crowd-pleaser for sure!
That makes me so happy to hear, April! Thank you!
Decided to give it a try without too high of an exception but I have to say we were all surprised as to how good they were. Tender, juicy and came out perfectly cooked. I didn’t peek, just followed directions exactly as written regarding time and temperature. I did the Greek Yogurt Ranch for the dip.
So happy to hear, Meryll! Thank you!
I made these air fryer chicken tenders earlier, and I can’t get over how good they were. I loved how quick and simple the recipe was to follow. I was kinda worried they might dry out, but they turned out tender and juicy. I paired them with a homemade honey mustard dip, and the combination was unbeatable.