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!
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!
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.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
This recipe is ready to serve in minutes. Just follow these easy steps!
- Dredge tenders in flour, then the egg, and then the breadcrumbs and cornflakes mixture (as per recipe below).
- Lightly spray with cooking spray before placing in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook until golden brown and crispy.
Serve hot with your favorite dips and sauces.
How Long to Cook Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
- For best results, always preheat the air fryer before cooking chicken tenders. This allows the hot air to seal the coating around each piece, keeping in the flavorful juices.
- Cook for 14 or 15 minutes or until they reach 165°F internally.
- Serve with any of these delish dipping sauces or offer a variety for everyone to try
- Some favorites include buffalo sauce, spicy mango chutney, Carolina gold bbq sauce, sweet and sour sauce, blue cheese dressing, and homemade barbecue sauce.
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
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
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
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ 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
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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Do I need to flip the chicken?
I do not flip the chicken.
I need recipes for reheat dinners and how to cook ite
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.
Hi Jen, we add the flour in step 3. Yes, the time depends on how thick you cut your strips. Glad you liked them!
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!