These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are made with no breading, and are perfect for when you need something quick, easy and delicious for lunch or dinner! No time to pan fry? Air fry instead! These
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are juicy, perfectly seasoned, healthy, and the quickest dinner or snack ever. Don’t forget the chipotle aioli for dipping! I made these chicken strips without any breadcrumbs or a messy coating to keep the naturally gluten free recipe as quick and simple as possible. Plus, since they’re made in the air fryer, they make for a delicious and healthy meal you can serve for
dinners, lunches, or family-friendly snacks. Once they’re cooked, layer the tenders over a loaded salad, cut them up for lettuce wraps, or pack them away for filling and healthy lunches. They’re the perfect protein to pair with broccoli,
cauliflower rice, potato wedges, pasta, and more! Step 1: Season the chicken tenders. Pour the spice mixture over the chicken tenders in a large bowl. Toss to coat. Step 2: Air fry the tenders. Next, lay the tenders in an even layer in your air fryer basket and cook. No
flipping necessary! Step 3: Serve and enjoy! Serve the tenders with your favorite dipping sauces or side dishes and enjoy! Chicken tenders need to be air fried at 380ºF for 14 minutes. This may vary depending on the air fryer you use. If you aren’t sure if they’re cooked through, use an instant read thermometer to measure the internal temperature (chicken is
safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165ºF).Recipe features
Ingredient notes:
Step-by-step instructions
Tips and FAQs
How long do you air fry chicken tenders?
Can you use frozen chicken tenders?
Absolutely! But, make sure the frozen tenders are thawed before you toss them in the seasonings.
Can you make chicken tenders ahead of time?
You can toss the chicken tenders in the seasonings and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 or 2 hours ahead of air frying.
Can you bake them instead?
Sure! Lay the seasoned tenders on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and bake at 400ºF for about 15 to 20 minutes.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Keep the leftover cooked chicken in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat the cooked chicken in the air fryer or oven to maintain the crispiness.
More air fryer chicken recipes
- Air Fryer Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Drumsticks
If you made this recipe, be sure to leave a comment and star rating below. Thanks!
- 1 lb. chicken tenders (approx. 7 tenders)
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- olive oil spray or nonstick spray
Place chicken tenders in a large bowl.
Combine the spices in a small bowl, then pour the spice mixture over the chicken and use your hands to coat the chicken in the spices.
Next, preheat your air fryer to 380° (this should take about 3 minutes).
Spray your air fryer with olive oil spray (or nonstick spray). Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in your air fryer, spray them with a little olive oil spray then cook them at 380° for 14 minutes (no need to flip!).
Serve with ketchup or chipotle aioli and enjoy!
*Calories are per serving and are an estimation
Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 49g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 145mg | Sodium: 847mg | Potassium: 895mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 570IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
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Erin is the recipe developer, writer and photographer behind the healthy food blog, The Almond Eater. She's been blogging since 2014 and loves to create food for many different diets, including vegan, gluten free and/or Whole30 recipes.