Air fryer chicken tenders come out so perfectly crispy and juicy, you won’t believe they’re not deep-fried!

Just dip in a tasty breading mix that includes cornflakes, pop in the air fryer, and enjoy a delicious crunch, followed by a burst of juicy, savory flavor. No deep fat oil here! Just crispy and tender satisfaction in every bite!

chicken tenders on a plate

Homemade Breaded Chicken Tenders

  • Less time, less fat, fewer calories, and less clean-up all from the air fryer! Get restaurant-worthy chicken tenders that are ready for dipping or dunking in minutes!
  • This homemade recipe uses a combination of breadcrumbs and cornflakes to get that light and crispy, crunchy coating!
  • Once you try this easy homemade recipe, you’ll never buy pre-made frozen tenders again! Add them to a bed of salad greens, or tuck them into a hoagie roll or wrap them with this lemon aioli sauce, for the perfect chicken sandwich!
chicken tenders being dipped in coating

Ingredients & Variations

CHICKEN: Many stores sell boneless, skinless chicken breasts pre-cut into tenders. If pre-cut fresh tenders aren’t available, it’s easy to slice breasts into strips!

BREADING: Flour, egg, breadcrumbs, and cornflakes are all used to coat the chicken before it’s air fried. Panko can be used in place of either the breadcrumbs or the cornflakes and for a lower-carb breading, use a combination of almond flour and crushed pork rinds. Experiment with a variety of seasoning blends, like everything bagel, taco, or a zesty chili seasoning.

cooked chicken tenders in an air fryer tray

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

This recipe is ready to serve in minutes. Just follow these easy steps!

  1. Dredge tenders in flour, then the egg, and then the breadcrumbs and cornflakes mixture (as per recipe below).
  2. Lightly spray with cooking spray before placing in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Cook until golden brown and crispy.

Serve hot with your favorite dips and sauces.

How Long to Cook Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

chicken tender being dipped in sauce with text

Tips for Crispy Chicken Tenders

  • For the best breaded tenders, pat the strips dry with a clean paper towel before dipping them in the flour mixture. This helps the breading adhere to the strips.
  • Press the breadcrumb mixture into the chicken to help it stick.
  • Avoid overcrowding the air fryer and cook chicken tenders in batches, if necessary.
  • Keep cooked pieces warm in the oven. Reheat leftover chicken tenders in the air fryer before serving or enjoy them cold on a salad!

Favorite Air Fryer Chicken Recipes

chicken tenders on a plate
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These Air Fryer chicken tenders are super crunchy and juicy chicken made with a delicious crust of corn flakes and bread crumbs.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 4

Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • ½ cup cornflake crumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • ¼ cup flour
  • teaspoon salt
  • teaspoon pepper

Instructions 

  • Preheat the air fryer to 350°F.
  • Cut the chicken breasts into strips lengthwise.
  • In one bowl mix flour, salt, and pepper. In another mix the breadcrumbs and corn flakes. Then add the egg and milk.
  • Dredge the chicken strips in the flour mixture, then the egg mixture, and then in the bread crumb mixture.
  • Spray with cooking spray and place in the air fryer basket.
  • Cook for 14-15 minutes or until they reach 165°F internally.

Notes

Leftover chicken tenders will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
 
4.91 from 11 votes↑ Click stars to rate now!
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Nutrition Information

Calories: 333kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 41g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 150mg | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 712mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 185IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 73mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Main Course
Cuisine American

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About the author

Holly is a mom of 4 with a love for all things air fryer! Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making recipes for the everyday home cook!
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4.91 from 11 votes (10 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. These tasted really good. Mine needed more time so I did 15 minutes total. There was no directions on what to do with the flour but I mixed it in with the bowl of seasonings.

    1. Hi Jen, we add the flour in step 3. Yes, the time depends on how thick you cut your strips. Glad you liked them!

      1. 4 stars
        Vortex novice here. Tenders turned out great. Not dry and good crunch with Panko crumbs. I did use flour for first dredge, egg wash, bread crumbs. I am curious about nutrition counts. I didn’t see anything. I’ll make these again!