Homemade Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Printer-Friendly)
Crispy, golden chicken strips air fried for juicy bites and crowd-pleasing crunch in minutes.
# What You’ll Need to Cook:
→ Chicken
01 -
450 g chicken tenders or chicken breasts, cut into strips
→ Breading
02 -
120 g panko breadcrumbs
03 -
60 g regular breadcrumbs
04 -
60 g all-purpose flour
→ Egg Wash
05 -
2 large eggs
→ Seasoning
06 -
1 teaspoon paprika
07 -
1 teaspoon garlic powder
08 -
0.5 teaspoon onion powder
09 -
0.5 teaspoon salt
10 -
0.5 teaspoon black pepper
→ Other
11 -
Cooking spray or a light drizzle of olive oil
# Steps to Prepare:
01 -
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C for 3 to 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
02 -
Organize three separate shallow bowls: Bowl 1 with flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder; Bowl 2 with whisked eggs; Bowl 3 with panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, and paprika.
03 -
Dredge each chicken strip first in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Dip into the egg wash, then coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
04 -
Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil. Place chicken tenders in a single layer, ensuring pieces do not overlap. Work in batches if necessary.
05 -
Spray the tops of the coated chicken strips with cooking spray or drizzle lightly with olive oil. Air fry at 200°C for 10 to 12 minutes, turning the tenders halfway through. Cook until the coating is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 74°C.
# Extra Cooking Tips:
01 -
To make these gluten-free, substitute almond flour for regular flour and use gluten-free breadcrumbs.
02 -
For a spicy variation, add 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
03 -
Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes to regain crispiness.
04 -
Delicious with honey mustard, ranch, barbecue sauce, buffalo sauce, or garlic aioli as dipping options.