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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The best chicken tenders are made in the air fryer!
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 and come together lightning fast!
- 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 —
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Chicken Tenders. You can find pre-cut chicken tenders (also called chicken tenderloins) at most grocery stores. If your store doesn’t carry chicken tenderloins, make your own by slicing a boneless, skinless chicken breast lengthwise into strips (about a 1/2-inch thick).
- Eggs. To help the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken tenders.
- Panko Breadcrumbs. Panko provides a lighter breadcrumb coating that crisps up perfectly in the air fryer.
- Whole Wheat Breadcrumbs. Regular breadcrumbs help fully coat the chicken tenders in breading, filling in any gaps that the panko might leave behind.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Set Up Your Dredging Station (photo 1). Eggs in one bowl, breadcrumbs and spices in another.
Bread the Chicken (photo 2). 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 (photo 3). 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 (photo 4). 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.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Video
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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):
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.
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.
Love this recipe! Easy to make. I made it in the air fryer and the crust was so crispy but thankfully lacked the fat in other recipes. I served with bbq sauce last night and reheated leftovers today and had it with chipotle ranch. Would recommend both.
Hi Molly! So glad you enjoyed the chicken! Thank you for this kind review!
My family and I love it. I will definitely make again. Super easy and great flavor!
Hi Yvonne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Awesome recipe. My teenage son jumped in to help make them. We’re really enjoying our new air fryer and these recipes are a huge part. Nice easy instructions and great crispy taste to the chicken tenders. Thanks!
Hi Brian! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Instead of wheat breadcrumbs, I used some pre seasoned ones (with romano, garlic and cheese) that I already had from Wegman’s. Have to say that these were the best air fryer tenders I’ve ever made! Everyone loved them and I’ve already saved the recipe to my list of favorites!
Hi Adrienne! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Tried it and it was delicious! The spice blend in the Breading really shined!
Hi Annabelle! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I don’t have oil spray. IS there something i can substitute it with? Thanks!
Hi Tamara, I really don’t have a substitute for the spray. You could maybe try brushing them with oil but it might be a bit of a mess.
First recipe that I tried. Came out pretty good. Will try some more recipes on this website.
Hi Jay! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Loved this recipe. I used Italian Bread Crumbs instead of the whole wheat, and Avocado oil spray instead of the Olive Oil because those were what I had on hand. My family loved this! Thanks a bunch.
Hi Lakeesha! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you for this kind review!
DELICIOUS! Didn’t have bread crumbs so substituted corn starch and flour – worked great!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Darla! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Everything about this recipe worked out amazing for me. I soaked my chicken tenders in buttermilk for 30 minutes before and it made an even juicer batch. Thanks for this recipe. 😊
Hi Maggie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Great results. Just loved it ❤️
Hi Bev! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was my first attempt at air fryer chicken strips, and my family loved these. I even made the bread crumbs from bread toasted in the air fryer! In my machine, it took 10 minutes per batch, turning at the 5 min mark, to get to 165°+. Highly recommend!
Hi D! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
These were so good! I followed as suggested except I did not have bread crumbs so used corn flake crumbs with the panko, it worked fine. The air fryer made them crispy outside moist inside. Served with honey mustard sauce. Definitely will make again! Thank you
Glad it worked out for you Marge! Thank you!
Have not tried these yet but would love too! Any suggestions for substitutions for egg (egg allergy in our home)
Hi Ashley! I’ve only tested the recipe as is, so not sure what would be a good substitute. I did do a quick Google search and it looks like you might be able to use heavy creamy, butter, or yogurt. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
I followed this recipe exactly as you wrote it, but my coating stayed white and “raw” colored and never did turn golden brown, even though I sprayed it with cooking spray first. They tasted good but they looked gross!
I’m sorry to hear you had trouble with the recipe Cheryl. Did you use olive oil spray or cooking spray? They are two different types of spray.
Do you cook the tenders 7-8 minutes total or 7-8 minutes on each side for a total of 14-16 mins?
Hi Kristina! Step 6 read: 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.) Hope this helps!
I agree that I too was confused about the cooking time. I looked at another air fryer tenders recipe with different ingredients, and the cooking temp was 400 for 7-8 minutes on each side, so that’s what I’m going with.
Hi Marie! For these you will cook 7-8 minutes total, pulling them out half way through that cooking time and flipping them. ENJOY!
Yep, 7 minutes each side made them too dry. Thanks for clearing this up, Erin.
Sure thing Marie!
Like so many of your recipes, these are great. Only took about 6-7 minutes total, and I flipped them after 3-4 minutes. I did use a thermometer to make sure they were done. However, they are pretty salty. I would cut the salt down by at least 1/2 tsp, maybe more. I did salt the tenders first and then the 1 1/2 tsps in the breadcrumbs was just too much. But they were crispy and easy to make!!
Hi Donna! Definitely adjust the seasonings based on your own preferences but also make sure it was kosher salt. It’s much different than table salt and will result in saltier dishes.
Delicious and easy recipe.
Hi Jodie! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Absolutely delicious. Kids and hubby both loved them
Hi Elizabeth! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This was delicious, subbed out 1/3 panko for corn flakes. Husband loved it!
Hi Kellyann! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
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.
Oh so good, so tender. Ummmmm!
Thank you!