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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 Chicken Tenders (about 1¼ pounds); salt and pepper (to taste); 2 large eggs (beaten); 1 Tablespoon water; 1 cup Italian bread crumbs; ½ cup grated parmesan cheese; ½ teaspoon salt; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon onion powder; Favorite dipping sauce ((we love BBQ sauce))

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These delicious air fryer chicken tenders are wonderfully crispy and done in a matter of minutes without messy oil.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders is an easy air fryer recipe that you can make in minutes. You no longer need to wait for the oven to preheat to get that crispy breading that we all love.

These chicken tenders are healthier than cooking them in the traditional fryer, yet, you do not have to pass up having an extremely juicy chicken tender. Since my kids love chicken tenders, this recipe is an easy meal to put together for them and then alter for the rest of us.

Ingredients for a breaded chicken recipe are arranged on a table including chicken breasts, eggs, breadcrumbs, grated cheese, and seasonings next to a pressure cooker.

Recipe Ingredients

To make air fryer chicken tenders, you need the following ingredients:

Chicken tenders
Salt
Pepper
Eggs
Water
Italian bread crumbs
Parmesan cheese
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Dipping sauce (ranch or BBQ sauce are favorites of ours)

Bowls of breadcrumbs and beaten eggs beside a tray of raw chicken tenders on a blue surface.

Raw chicken breasts marinating in a bowl of beaten eggs.

Equipment Needed

For this recipe, you only need a few simple kitchen tools. We recommend using the following equipment:

Breaded chicken strips in an air fryer basket on a blue surface.

Breaded chicken tenders in an air fryer basket with metal tongs gripping one piece.

How to Make Our Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Sprinkle chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
In a small bowl, mix together eggs and water.
In another medium bowl, mix together bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, and onion powder
Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, then into the bread crumb mixture, making sure to shake off any excess mixture.
Place a couple of chicken tenders in the air fryer basket. Put the basket into the inner pot, place the air fryer lid on top. Set the temperature to 400 degrees for 6 minutes. Take off the lid, flip each tender over, and cook for another 6 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and is golden on the outside.
Repeat with remaining chicken tenders.
Serve and enjoy!

Breaded chicken is being dipped into a small glass bowl of barbecue sauce. Other pieces are on a paper-lined surface.

Breaded chicken tenders on parchment paper with a small bowl of sauce on a wooden board.

Recipe Notes

Depending on the thickness of your chicken tenders, you may need to cook them a minute or two longer until they reach an internal temperature of 165℉.
Dipping sauce is not included in nutritional calculation.
Have you ever made your own bread crumbs? I’ve been curious if it is difficult, and it turns out it’s not! Plus, you can use your bread that you didn’t get to use before it went bad! To make your own, take a look at how to make homemade plain and Italian breadcrumbs from FIVEheartHOME. They have a wonderful recipe that is easy to follow to make your own breadcrumbs.

Breaded chicken tenders on parchment paper with a side of barbecue sauce on a wooden cutting board.

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Questions & Reviews

Sam P says:

Hi! I'm very excited to try this recipe! I recently just bought the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid so I just wanted to ask a question question before I made this. After you flip the chicken and it's done cooking, do you immediately take the food out or do you have to wait for the lid to cool. (I'm thinking like how when using the IP after the foods done you do a quick release or natural release) Thanks so much :)
Momma Cyd says:

With the Air Fryer lid there is no quick release or natural release. You can remove the lid and the lid comes with a black base that you can rest it on while the lid cools down. Then just removed the cooked food.

About The Author:

Steph Loaiza

Steph lives in Southern California with her husband, Andrew, and her five kids: twin girls and 3 boys. She going to Disneyland with her family and reading in her spare time.