Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Cut used: Tenderloin chicken →
Prep
15 min
Cook
12 min
Total
27 min
Chicken tenderloins are naturally tender and quick-cooking, making them ideal for the air fryer's fast, circulating heat. A panko crust crisps beautifully with just a light spray of oil, giving you the crunch of fried chicken without a pot of hot oil. These come together fast enough for a weeknight but are also great party food.
What Ingredients Do You Need?
- 1.5 lbs Chicken tenderloins
- 1/2 cup All-purpose flour
- 2 Eggs, beaten
- 1.5 cups Panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black pepper
- as needed Olive oil spray
How Do You Make Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders?
- 1
Season the flour
Mix flour with half the salt and pepper in a shallow dish.
- 2
Prepare the panko
In another dish, combine panko, Parmesan, garlic powder, paprika, and remaining salt and pepper.
- 3
Bread the tenders
Dredge each tenderloin in flour, dip in egg, then coat thoroughly in the panko mixture, pressing to adhere.
- 4
Preheat the air fryer
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- 5
Arrange and spray
Place tenders in a single layer in the basket without overlapping and spray both sides lightly with olive oil.
- 6
Air fry
Cook 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- 7
Serve
Rest 2 minutes and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
What Are the Pro Tips for This Recipe?
- 💡 Don't overcrowd the basket; cook in batches so hot air can circulate around each piece.
- 💡 Spraying oil directly on the breading (rather than just the basket) is key to getting them crisp.
- 💡 Tenderloins cook faster than breasts, so start checking temperature at the 10-minute mark.
- 💡 Remove the white tendon running through each tenderloin before breading for a better texture.
