This Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe makes the perfect quick and easy dinner for both kids and adults.Super crispy, golden and ready in under 30 minutes!
Add panko breadcrumbs, plain breadcrumbs and all the seasonings to a medium sized bowl and stir to combine, set aside. Pour flour on a plate or in a shallow bowl and set aside.
Add the milk and egg (plus salt and pepper to taste if you wish) to a medium sized bowl and whisk until well combined, set aside.
Season thawed chicken tenders with salt and pepper to taste One at a time, take a chicken tender and coat on all sides with flour. Next, dredge the same chicken tender in the wet mixture and let the excess drip off. Finally, coat the chicken strip in the breadcrumb mixture then set on a large plate. Repeat these steps until all the chicken tenders are breaded.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Once preheated, mist the basket with oil and add the chicken tenders in. I fit 5-6 in mine at a time, but you may be able to fit more or less depending on the size of you air fryer. Be sure not to have the tenders crowded together. Once the tenders are in, mist lightly with oil and close the lid. Cook for 10-12 minutes flipping the tenders halfway through and re-misting.
Once the chicken tenders are golden, crispy and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees F remove carefully from the basket with tongs. Air fry next batch following the directions above. Once all the chicken is fried, serve warm with sauce and side of choice.
Frozen Chicken Tenders Directions: For store-bought frozen chicken tenders, preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees F and mist the basket with oil. Add chicken to the basket (don't crowd) and cook for 12-14 minutes flipping halfway through.Leftover Storage: Store leftover chicken strips in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Rewarm in the oven, air fryer, or microwave until warmed through.Preheating: Many air fryers come with a preheat setting, but you can also run it on your desired temperature for 5 minutes empty. Preheating will help the chicken cook faster and more evenly.Pro Tip: When misting the tenders with oil be sure not to oversaturate the breading. If you spray on too much oil the breading will not adhere as well to the chicken and could stick to the air fryer basket.