These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are golden and juicy, so easy to make and perfect for weeknight cooking!
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
I made these tasty chicken strips the other night for dinner along with some orzo with zucchini and tomatoes, and my family loved them! They are super easy and quick for weeknight meals. Air fryer recipes are one of my top requests, some favorites are Skinless Air Fryer Chicken Breast, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs and these Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets. And if you like sandwiches, this Air Fryer Chicken Sandwich is a must!
I like making homemade chicken strips because they are so much healthier than fried versions. The great thing about the air fryer is that the tenders get super crispy with way less oil. This air fryer recipe for chicken tenders only requires a little olive oil spray on each one.
How do you make chicken tenders from scratch?
It’s very easy to make chicken tenders from scratch. Chicken tenders are already cut into strips, so you don’t have to spend any time slicing a raw chicken breast. So, the first step is to season the chicken with salt and pepper. Then, prep your breading stations. Put two eggs in a shallow bowl and the panko and breadcrumbs in another bowl.
Next, it’s time to bread the chicken tenders. Dip each one in the egg and then in the breadcrumb mixture. Place on a cutting board or baking tray until you’re done breading all of them. Then, spray the chicken strips on each side with olive oil spray before placing them in the air fryer.
How long do you cook chicken tenders in the air fryer?
Place chicken tenders in a single layer of the basked and air fry for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, turning halfway. They’re done once the chicken is cooked through and crispy and golden on the outside.
I love cooking chicken strips in the air fryer because they come out very crispy. If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake them in the oven at 425 degrees for 16 minutes, turning halfway.
What to Serve with Chicken Tenders
I served these air fryer chicken tenderloins with zucchini tomato orzo and lemon wedges for squeezing. They would also be good with this Broccoli and Orzo or Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. Or, if you want to go the more traditional route, you could serve them with regular French fries or sweet potato fries cooked in the air fryer. You could also try this recipe for seasoned fries baked in the oven.
More Chicken Tender Recipes You’ll Love:
- Skinny Buffalo Chicken Strips
- Sesame Encrusted Chicken Tenders
- Tortilla Encrusted Chicken Tenders
- Pickle-Brined Baked Chicken Tenders
- Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- Air Fryer (I love this pretty white one from AllCool)
Ingredients
- 12 chicken tenders , (1 1/4 lbs)
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs*
- 1/2 cup seasoned panko*
- olive oil spray
- lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Season chicken with salt and pepper.
- Place egg in a shallow bowl. In a second shallow bowl, combine the bread crumbs and panko.
- Dip chicken in the egg, then into the breadcrumb mixture and shake off excess and place on a large dish or cutting board. Spray both sides of the chicken generously with oil.
- Preheat air fryer to 400F.
- In batches, cook the chicken 5 to 6 minutes on each side, until the chicken is cooked through and crispy and golden on the outside. Serve with lemon wedges.
Very good, quick and easy. Great dipped in honey mustard or bbq sauce
I made 24 pieces & not one is left over. I sent 5 home with my 11 yr old granddaughter & she loved it, she is a very fussy eater. I will be making more.
Delicious, easy and fail proof! Thanks for taking the guess work out of a family favorite.
Quick and easy! My son loved it. Thank you!
First time making and we LOVED them. Thank you so much!! Finally a new meal.
The chicken tenders came out crisp and delicious. Thank you!
Quick, easy and delicious! Loved how crunchy they were on the outside and how tender and moist they were on the inside. No messy oil, not greasy, so tasty even without dipping sauce, but I do love sugar free honey mustard that went terrific with these as well. Made with both chicken tenders and thighs. I think I will try with pork chops next.
I have a 3qt air fryer and I’m completely new to it. How would I change this recipe to work with what I have?
you don’t need to change the recipe.
Fantastic
Excellent
I didn’t have bread crumbs or panko so I threw a bunch of ritz and saltines into the blender to make a breading, worked perfectly. I had thicker raw chicken strips so 6 mins on each side was perfect!
My husband’s favorite chicken tenders ever! Easy to make and taste great.
I’ve made this a couple of times. It is quick, easy, and successful.
Just made this recipe tonight, and it was a success! Super quick and easy, plus they were delicious. My 10 year old said they were “bangin ‘ and a cross between home made and fast food.” This recipe is being put into the rotation for sure after that review! He’s not one to throw out compliments unless he really likes something, so that review is one I’ll remember.
Can you freeze these for meal prep?
I haven’t made her chicken tenders but I have made her chicken nuggets. Yes, you can freeze them. (recipes are similar) The chicken nuggets turn out just fine after being frozen.
These turned out perfect! I am saving this recipe, it will be my go to for chicken tenders from now on. -Thanks!
Make these all the time. We love them!
Can’t wait to try this as my daughter is in her toddler stage of only wanting chicken nuggets/tenders. Question though…could these be made in advance and frozen for reheat later? Or just kept stored in the fridge?
My husband, my toddler and I LOVE this recipe! We make it almost weekly!
(Adding the stars to my review!)
About as easy and straightforward as it gets. I’m new to air frying and the chicken came out tender and juicy.
Delicious & so easy.
Just made this….much crispier & tastier than fried. Definitely a doer again!
Wanted to try making these can I substitute olive oil for avacado oil?
Very delicious, crispy and moist.
Excellent
quick and easy and it’s so good!!!
This is one of my favorite recipes I keep on rotation! Love the mix of bread crumbs and panko for crispy, crunchy and moist tenders. I serve this with the simple cucumber and tomato salad (another of my favorite repeat recipes). I planned on freezing what we didn’t eat but they didn’t last long in the fridge. I’m so glad I found your website! I’m on WW and I can keep within my points and enjoy great tasting food!
Love these, so does my little guy!
Can you prep/bread these earlier in the day, put them in the fridge, and then pop them in the air fryer later that day? Or will it get soggy?
These are great! I make a honey dijon mustard sauce to dip them in.
Easy as h-e double hockey sticks. Came out with a nice crispy crunch. So easy someone who is a novice cook cam do it
Hello Gina, this is a fantastic recipe. My first time air frying chicken. I actually just had chicken breast that I cut up which is what I usually do but I did the recipe exactly to the letter, except I didn’t have olive oil spray and I used vegetable oil and I know that makes a difference but they came out pretty good and I know it’ll be better next time Thanks for sharing this. I’m checking your other recipes and we’re gonna do your seasoned French Fry recipe next.😁
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great flavor. I cut to thin so it came out dry. But I not giving up. Anyone got ideas?
Would love to try this out. My son is allergic to eggs. Is there an alternative ingredient or method I can use to get the same results?
Buttermilk is a good egg replacement. Soak your tenders in the buttermilk for about 5 minutes to get good adherence to the chicken and the breadcrumbs.
If you don’t usually keep buttermilk on hand (I don’t), then you can make your own by using milk (nothing lower than 2%; skim milk won’t work) or half-and-half and an acidic agent like white vinegar or lemon juice (apple cider vinegar *will* work in a pinch, but be aware it isn’t as neutral-flavored as white vinegar).
Put 1 Tbsp. white vinegar or lemon juice in a 1-cup measuring cup, then fill the rest of the cup with the milk or half-and-half to equal one cup. Let it sit at room temp for 5 to 10 minutes. The milk will begin to curdle slightly and may look thick and tangy. This is the desired consistency. Stir before using.
There is some back and forth on whether you can just add one tablespoon of your acidic agent to 1 cup of milk, or whether you should add enough milk *to* that tablespoon to *equal* one cup. I’ve seen it listed on the internet both ways, and having tried it both ways (because adding to the milk seemed simpler/faster to me) I can say I got better results by adding enough milk to equal one cup.
In the event you’re caught without lemon juice or vinegar, use 1 cup milk plus 1-1/2 teaspoons cream of tartar works (I’m much more likely to have vinegar on hand than cream of tartar, but maybe that’s just me).
Yogurt is is another option. Substitute an equal amount of plain yogurt for the buttermilk needed. If using thick yogurt, like Greek yogurt, thin it with some water or milk and measure out a cup.
Sour Cream and milk or water (3/4 cup sour cream and 1/4 cup of the liquid) is another way to go.
I haven’t tried it, but The Pioneer Woman Rae Drummond says that unsweetened, non-dairy milk + lemon juice (not vinegar) can be used for a vegan alternative (soy and almond work best).
My son asks for these a lot. I usually use homemade bread crumbs and change the seasoning each time to whatever I have on hand. Used for chicken parm also. YUM!!!
How would you make ahead and freeze?
Yes, you can flash freeze on parchment paper for 1-2 hours or until they are completely frozen. Then when chicken tenders are frozen solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container. Squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing.
Do you freeze after cooking or before?
You could do either. Texture may be better if frozen before cooking, but freezing them already cooked makes a good quick-meal option.
Easy and delicious. My 11 year old says they are restaurant quality. The adults gobble them up too.
Wanted to make some chicken that did not have to much prep. My chicken turned out tasty and tender. I added garlic and onion powder to my coating. Thank you!
It came out amazing thank you
I made these for lunch today. I didn’t have Panko so only used seasoned bread crumbs and added some Parmesan cheese to the mix. Timing was perfect. They turned out great. Thank you!
After first batch I realized that 400 is too high. Try 380 and the edges don’t burn and they are more evenly golden. And yes, crisp yet juicy! It’s now become a staple!
BEST recipe EVER! Crispiest and most delicious chicken tenders! Only thing I changed was I used an Avocado Oil Spray instead of Olive oil… but BRAVISIMO! YUMMMMMM! Thank you for this! Will definitely make again and again!
Chicken was really good
We served it with linguini and Alfredo sauce.
I made this today for the first time. I did make the gf recipe and also made in the oven. My husband said put this in the rotation. He loved it. I will admit, this is not my normal type of food, thus the 4 star rating. I enjoyed it and liked the crispiness and also how moist it was. I also would add some additional seasoning.
AMAZING recipe!!! The only thing I suggest is adding seasonings-Helps bring out better flavor. OTHERWISE all you people that haven’t tried this recipe needs to!
These were very good and came out looking like the picture. I used 11 minutes on the second batch and they were more juicy than at 12 minutes. I would add garelic powder and paprika next time as they were a little bland. (probably because of cheap breadcrumbs). Will make again next week.
These were SO , so good. I only used panko because thats all I had. Will mist definitely make again. Yum😋!
Easy to prepare, and the breading is delicious. Thank you for sharing.
My whole family loves this meal. You can add any additional seasoning you want as well.
Could be a little tastier but very good and only needed to cook 5 minutes and not turn over for another five
So insanely good and easy!!! Did the roasted carrots also on the site for extra fiber, and a side salad. Had an assortment of dipping sauces to go with, and fiancé was very happy!!
So happy to hear!
I made these chicken tenderloins in the air fryer. They were so easy and so Chrisp and delicious the best. I seasoned the chicken well where Southern style spices and herbs, including onion, salt, bell pepper, paprika, garlic, onion, and Italian seasoning, and served it with a chicken rice, microwave bag, easy and fast and delicious
The chicken was really moist, and so easy to make. Thanks!
I finally made chicken in the air fryer that was done to perfection! This is going to be my go to recipe!
Juicy and crispy. Love this recipe.
My husband said those were the best chicken tenders I had ever made.
So versatile, my family loves them for lunch, as a wrap, for snacks etc. Easy to adapt with additional spices, I add garlic powder and paprika. I make them frequently and they are gobbled up quickly. Thanks for this easy and delicious recipe.
Easy and yummy. Will be added to list of “what to have for dinner”. Thinking I might add a dash of cayenne the next time because there will be a next time.
I made them tonight the directions were very easy to follow and they came out. Excellent thank you very much. I will make these again.
Great quick and easy meal! Served these with Greek yogurt ranch and it was an awesome healthier alternative to fast food! Thank you for the great recipe!
Very tastey!
Very pleased, the tenders were crispy and juicey on the inside. I may add more seasoning to the bread crumbs next time, but overall great.
Great recipe! Tenders were crispy and flavorful. I did tweak the seasoning a bit to add some heat!
Oops..I forgot to mention, I used gluten free bread crumbs in this recipe tonite.
what is cooking time for cooked frozen tenders?
Good and easy
After re-looking at the directions I completely missed the part where it told me to spray the tenders with oil (🤦🏼♀️)
I thought it was excellent and I felt the need to spray the tenders with Pam to get them nicely browned,
Fantastic thread! For those experimenting with frozen tenders or batch-cooking (👋 Nancy and Patty!), an air fryer with oven combo is a game-changer. I recently tested the Emeril French Door 360 and loved how its large capacity handled two trays of tenders at once without sacrificing crispiness—perfect for families or meal prep.
Pro tip for frozen tenders: Skip thawing! Use the combo’s “Air Fry + Bake” mode at 400°F for 12-15 mins (flip halfway). The dual heat circulation ensures they’re golden outside, juicy inside—even straight from the freezer. Plus, cleanup’s a breeze with the stainless steel trays.
Keep the recipes coming! 🍗✨
Will this work if you are starting with frozen chicken tenders?
Excellent outcome! It was my first time using the new air fryer that is now part of the microwave we recently replaced. So I am feeling a lot more confident trying out other air fryer recipes – and have already ordered the Skinnytaste air fryer cookbook on Amazon.
Easy and fast prep and turns out great n tasty south the Air fryer
Best chicken tendy recipe I’ve ever had!
Quick and easy! My family LOVED it 😍
This is a tasty quick way to make chicken. It was moist but also crisp and delicious.
These were so easy and delicious!
Omg! This is by far the easiest, quickest and most delicious air fryer recipe I have ever had! I could not get enough! I blended plain panko with 1 serving of low sodium Ritz crackers (5 crackers). I love the air fryer fries too…quick, easy and delicious!
This is our go to recipe for chicken tenders. So easy.
Okay, I want to try this, but when I purchase chicken tenders at my grocery store, there is always like a white segment in them and when I try and cut that part out, it’s always difficult. Can someone share what the solution is? Thanks!
Place the back of a fork and pull that white tendon between the tines of the fork, grab it with a paper towel and pull. It should come right out.
I used almond flour instead and they were delicious!
Looked for an easy tasty recipe.
This was it. It was YUMMY
I made this receipe!!! It was delicious 😋 I had my grandson, he’s 5, a very picky eater, he ate 2 large ones. He is very tiny. I loved 😍 this receipe. It’s so easy!!!!!
Thank you for sharing your recipe with us…This is a fabulous recipe! The result looked just as beautiful as pictured. I did not have seasoned bread crumbs so used my regular bread crumbs and we loved it. I have noted it on my recipe for next time. We had it last night and I wish we could have it again for tonight.
Made these tonight for dinner and they were delicious! I used plain panko and seasoned bread crumbs. I’ll add a little grated Parmesan next time too! I cooked 6 mins on each side and they were perfect! Will definitely make again.
These are delicious! We have them almost every week.
Great taste. Crispy outside.
I cooked it at 380 F for 10 minutes flipping halfway through. It turned out great!
I cooked it at 380°F for 10 minutes flipping halfway through. It turned out great!
Was good! I did cook it longer and I didn’t preheat my air fryer.
I made this gluten free and it was delicious!!
Love these chicken tenders and so easy to make. I use all panko breadcrumbs due to lower sodium content. Great recipe for low sodium diet with the change out of bread crumbs to all panko.
I haven’t made this yet but if I can maneuver my new air fryer properly I know this will be a good recipe! Thanks
Just had these tonight. Perfect for a hot, humid dinner. Loved them. My husband said he could eat these every night!
Glad you both enjoyed them!
These were absolutely delicious! I have zero bad things to say about them. The only thing I will add is that you can also use grated Parmesan cheese in place of the panko, in the event you can’t find it or simply don’t have any on hand, like I did. This is my first recipe I’ve tried from this site and I’m so excited to dig in to some more recipes!
Favorite way of cooking chicken breasts! Delicious hot out of the air fryer as well as cold in a green salad the next day (— not to mention a wonderful midnight snack when everyone else is asleep 🙂
Delicious. A great base recipe for different spices and flavors.
Another deeee-licious recipe from you! Thank you – so quick and easy to make. And all ingredients are usually in my kitchen!
I have never reviewed a recipe online but felt the need to with these tenders! My three sons absolute favorite thing we make. So crispy and juicy. We crushed up kettle barbecue chips because we were out of the panko and it turned out fabulous!
Thanks Sara!
Delicious and easy to make
I made these tonight for dinner for myself and my two teenagers. They were very easy and quick to prepare. The kids loved them. I added a salad and some macaroni and cheese. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi do all your recipe are weight watchers points
Yes! They are listed under the recipe title as well as in the recipe card. 🙂
This recipe changed how I make chicken. I was just throwing chicken in the air fryer. Now I follow this recipe. Made me look forward to eating chicken. So easy and the added calories are minimal compared to the added taste. Perfect for a quick meal on a weeknight.
I have a Cosori 5.8-quart air fryer, and 5 minutes on each side was perfect! I added a tiny bit of oil to the crumb mixture because I was out of spray. They came out crispy outside and tender inside. I served them with homemade honey mustard, and the family loved them.
Super easy and oh so good. I make a bunch for the week to add to salads, for sandwiches etc.
Excellent recipe . Perfect every time . as a twist we substituted the 1/2 cup of bread crumbs with 1/2 cup of crushed PC Crispy Onions .MMMMM.
This sounds like a great idea! Would definitely enhance the taste. Going to try this today
Crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside, these are sure to please!
Delicious
These are great for a quick easy meal. Moist inside and crunchy on the outside. I used one breast and made it more like nugget size and it was plenty for 2 people.
Very good!
Best chicken tenders we ever had but cooking time was off in my air fryer. 2nd time did them 8 minutes a side and they came out perfect
Could this be done in the oven? If so, what temperature and time?
Yes, you easily make this in the oven. Bake them at 400F for about 15-20 minutes until done. This is how I did mine all the time (still do if I have a lot to make at a time) before getting my air fryer.
Made this with sweet potato fries. Delicious and so easy. Thanks for sharing this recipe.
forgot to give this a 5 star!
Great as is, but on the 2nd batch I added a little Kicked Up Chicken seasoning and grated Parmesan cheese. Did 6 min and 5 min on other side and they were crispy yet still juicy! Perfect on top a salad! Thanks for the recipe!
First time making tenders in air fryer. They were delicious, will add to rotation. Perfecto. Many thanks!
These chicken tenders were perfect! I’ve been looking for an alternative to deep frying them. Plus the breading was super light but crispy. We added Cajun seasoning to the egg mix though for some heat! Perfect recipe, thank you.
Can I just use panko and add some seasoning rather than do both breadcrumbs? Or might this throw off the texture?
I used crush captain crunch
This recipe was so easy but the best part they were really good
Added some cayenne pepper to the breadcrumbs and it had just the right kick. Very tasty tenders!
Loved these chicken tenders…very crispy. Very easy to make.
Perfect! Thanks
These are the best chicken fingers I have ever made. Quick, easy, healthy, and absolutely delicious.
So good and easy and healthy!
Amazing! My extremely picky daughter even tried them and asked for second! I literally fell out of my chair! Will definetly be adding to our dinner rotation.
These are great! Can these be frozen for later use?
Sure!
Excellent
Love this recipe easy and delicious.
Delicious as always!
Wow I usally fry mine but I tried it ur way minus butter milk an was so crispy an juicy
Excellent recipe! My first try using an air fryer and results were superb!
chicken took too long to air fry. Coating fell off somewhat while flipping.
Juicy and crispy
Chicken was good but make sure you increase cooking time for air fryer size!!! I did not increase and my chicken was pink when I checked after 7 minutes on each side. I used a GE oven air fryer so that could have been my issue but please be wary or you may have pink or under temp chicken at these listed times
How long did it end up taking? I have GE oven air fryer and Gina’s air fryer burgers times also didn’t work. I had to nearly double the time
Delicious and very quick to make!
Loved it! My kids never ask for seconds on chicken and they did with this recipe!
So easy, chicken was tender and moist! Since I’m gluten free I just used gf breadcrumbs. Came out perfect!
Quick, easy, and delicious! Great lighter dinner served with a salad.
This recipe is so simple however, very tastey..I have a small 2 quart air fryer and I cooked my chicken about 7 minutes. If I cooked it any longer the chicken would have been very dry. Yummy!!
I just made these tenders. They are so easy and super yummy! I will def be making these again!
These were crispy, moist & delicious! They earned a chef’s kiss from my 12-yr-old granddaughter, who did all the prep work.
This chicken was delicious. Perfect for my husbands type two diabetes. It was definitely a save. Quick and easy.
I’m so glad!
This is the recipe I run to for golden tenders! Yummy!
My go to chicken tender recipe!!! So tender and juicy.
Good
Excellent !!
Delish! Chicken stays so juicy. My daughter went back for thirds!
If i would’ve wanted them brown and crispy, they would’ve been dried out! Not sure anout different air fryers!
Very good, taste as good, if not better, than fried.
So goood! New favorite at our house.
I made these tonight and they are so good!! I found that 5-6 minutes on each side was too much. By the time I got to the last batch (I have a 2-quart air fryer), I was cooking them 4 minutes on each side. I did add some Cajun Seasoning (not a lot because I don’t like “high” heat – but enough to give them a bit of a kick) to the breadcrumb mixture. Thanks for this recipe 🙂
My picky eater who doesn’t usually like chicken made at home, likes these! And they are good for me, too. Thank you!
Our favorite movie night meal!
Excellent recipe. Super easy to do
I have made these so many times. Always delicious. You can add some seasoning of your choice to the breadcrumb/panko mix but it’s great as is.
We followed as directed but used Chex Mix crumbs instead of seasoned bread crumbs for a little extra spice. If you like to make Chex Mix, this is a good way to use up the leftover mix. Turned out well, but I’d add more salt, pepper and garlic powder next time. This is also great with bottled sweet chili sauce; Trader Joe’s makes a good one.
I have an air fryer function on me convection oven- made another air fryer recipe of yours and it tanked. Didn’t cook through and kept putting it back in over and over. Do you have a suggestion this to convert since it’s a bigger air fryer/convection ?
We use Cool Ranch Doritos after running them a few seconds in a ninja chopper! And then Ranch Dressing for the dip too!
This was the first thing I tried in my new air fryer. They were delicious! Just reheated the leftovers the next day and they were great too.
Making them again tonight, but adding a little cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper for that Popeye’s taste!
Very yummy! I accidentally made a double batch because I thawed out more chicken than intended. We had to stop ourselves from eating all of them.
I did add a little extra garlic powder and salt to the breadcrumbs. I added Cajun seasoning salt to the egg wash to give it a little Popeye’s zing. My family loves their chicken. 🐔
Really great recipe. We enjoyed it. A keeper. Thanks!
Family staple. We eat these once a week. Thanks for the perfect easy recipe
Tenders turned out very good, not dried out. Thanks!
Made this and the chicken came out prefect. Chicken was moist and juicy. Perfect will keep this one.
Instead of breadcrumbs, I used Crushed Doritos chips.
I used two chicken breasts that I sliced and made the recipe exactly as printed. They were very tender and crispy on the outside. Delicious. I’ve never been disappointed with Skinnytaste!
Thanks Laura!
Delicious! All my picky eaters enjoy. Any tips on reheating in the air fryer?
How can i make it at home
It was quick, easy, and the chicken was not dry.
Just got my hair fryer. Very cautious of how to use it. Can’t wait to try this recipe.
Thank you
DELICIOUS! I used Italian seasoned breadcrumbs since that is what I had opened. Looking forward to the leftovers and will definitely make these again!
This recipe is a keeper! I used chicken breasts that I thinned and cut into strips. I added the salt & pepper, to the bread crumbs because I only had plain. I also added garlic powder. My kids said they were delicious so that makes this my best attempt at air-fried chicken tenders lol. Thanks so much!
They turned out nice and crispy on the outside while still moist on the inside.
This came out wonderful. My granddaughters gobbled it up. For the first batch, I forgot to spray with cooking oil. It was still delicious.
Great recipe! Very quick (we’ll for one batch and then had the second cook while we were eating) and filling – just had salad with it. I only needed one egg. Thanks Gina, as always!
The recipe is super simple! Love the simplicity and quick to cook.
Turned out better than I expected. Had plain breadcrumbs but put in some spices and it was delicious. Will do this again for sure!
Love this recipe! My new easy go-to and it always comes out delicious.Love this site!
I add “Everything bagel” seasoning to the panko breadcrumbs…yummy!
Great!
These were the best air fryer tenders I’ve made so far! They stayed so moist! The only thing I did different was add some red hot to the egg mixture and some garlic powder and Parmesan cheese to the bread crumbs. I just bookmarked this recipe and will make these again and again!
Adding some garlic powder to the breadcrumbs and hot sauce to the egg mixture is a good idea. I’m going to try this next time I make these. Thanks!
Do you have a a sprayer you recommend or just use a store bought can?
I use Bertoli
My husband is a chicken tender connoisseur and he LOVED these! And I was sneaking more when putting away leftovers too. So so good! Thank you!
I love to hear that!!
Tasty; my new go to for chicken tenders.
This is an easy recipe and delicious. The pieces were crunchy and so flavorful.
Do you think you can freeze these and have them be good reheated?
Thank you for the recipe! Easy, tasty and healthier than store bought.
Made it a few times. Those of us who are on WW old points plus program, three tenders is seven points. This is perfect for me.
What a great recipe. So easy and simply delicious. Will be making this many times – thanks for sharing!
Absolutely delicious. Husband kept saying these are good. This is a keeper!!!
These look so good! I’m thinking of taking them for my lunches, only have a microwave to reheat them. Any tips ?
My new chicken fingers recipe! Follows my usual with the addition of brushing oil on them. Turned out great.
I make these ALL the time! They’re so moist and crunchy, I don’t miss fried chicken. Gina, is there a way to freeze these and maintain their integrity?
I was just wondering this myself – My 7 year old requested these for a regular basis (lunch AND Dinner).
EVERYONE in my family enjoyed these! I made these with Gluten free panko and “crumbs.”
Doesn’t say to use fridge, freezer, room temperature chicken
It’s always assumed your chicken is in the refrigerator. If frozen I would mention that and I don’t recommend room temp chicken.
Made these and used avocado spray instead of olive oil. Came out crispy and delicious! Cooked 5-6 minutes each side.
Love this recipe! Chicken comes out juicy every time not dry or over cooked at all!!
Love this recipe for chicken tenders. I have made them several time.
Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but how do you keep the chicken warm while you’re cooking the whole batch? I’m thinking of getting an air fryer and am curious about this. Thanks!
Not a dumb question at all. I was confronted with this dilemma this evening as it was my first go with using the air fryer my wife got for Christmas. I ended up putting them in our little convection toaster oven and covered them with tinfoil and kept the heat set down to about 130°F. Worked out really well.
Easy & Delicious!
Seasoned my own GF panko crumbs with a pinch of garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, paprika and season salt. Sprayed chicken with PAM because I didn’t have olive oil spray. Browned up nicely.
Will definitely make again with various seasonings. Cajun, lemon pepper or whatever I want to toss in the bread crumbs!
Salt a pepper the chicken before breading. Adds a lot more flavor.
Thanks for the recipe!!
The video shows Salt and pepper before breading
I can’t seem to get these crispy even though I’ve used this recipe a couple times. The chicken is OK, but the outside is not crispy at all and very pale looking. Not sure why.
Sounds like your air fryer is not as hot? Try letting it preheat a few minutes before you cook but also don’t overcrowd the basket.
I cooked mine 6 min, then 5. Next time I will cook longer. Texture of the chicken was off.
This is GREAT! You can use the same method with zucchini or mozzarella instead of chicken! YUM! Oh – I didn’t have panko so I used all breadcrumbs without an issue.
Excellent Recipe. I cut thin tenders out of 1 breast. Used Milk, then dipped in breadcrumb mixture (which I added Tony’s spicy seasoning). I overcooked the first test tender, so being thin tenders I literally cut the cook time to 5 minutes per side. I also forgot the olive oil spray on the test tender, that and being overcooked it became the dog’s chicken jerky LOL. For thin tenders, 5 min per side with a good amount of olive oil spray and they were delish! Thank you for this recipe! This will be a regular in our house. I can also envision full cutlets cooked to use a chicken parm patties. Ty again!
Has anyone figured out the calories per ounce? These are excellent. I made them in the oven and cooked them a few minutes longer than listed and they came out delicious. Thank you.
Delicious and sooo easy! I made them with gluten free breadcrumbs to fit our family’s dietary needs and everyone raved about these chicken tenders last night! I will definitely make them again.
This was the first thing I made when I got my air fryer for Christmas, and I make them all the time. I mix up the seasonings to keep it interesting. Thanks for a great recipe!
I make these almost weekly and my husband loves them. I mix some grated Parmesan and garlic powder in the breadcrumb mixture—it’s a subtle, fantastic addition! Thanks Gina!
I have a similar recipe to this that I do in the oven but it uses butter instead of eggs. I have a grandson who is allergic to eggs. I’m wondering if I could substitute butter for the eggs in this recipe and how it would do in the air fryer.
Yes, just make sure the breading sticks. Or you can try olive oil.
I use this recipe as the main ingredient in my Chik-Fil_A air fryer chicken sandwich dupe. I pair it with a brioche bun, all the toppings, and of course, the Chik fil a sauce. Everyone’s absolute favorite! Thank you for a perfect recipe.
Made for lunch today with my new GoWise air fryer! Paired with air fryer French fries. Delicious, quick, and easy! Had all ingredients in the pantry. Pressed the magic orange button and calculated 5 total points for my personal program.
These turned out perfect! I cooled them of slightly and topped them on a spinach and fruit salad in a taco bowl. So good!
The first “crispy chicken” I’ve made that was actually CRISPY!!!! I cooked at 400 for 12 minutes (flipping in the middle) and it was slightly dry, so I may do 10 minutes next time. Still highly impressed.
Very good!
Oh these were wonderful! I liked them better than deep frying! I did season my chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and thyme before egging. I also added some fresh grated parm to the panko. Cooking time and method was spot on! Just delicious! Thank you!
Great recipe! Simple and fried wonderfully. I cut chicken breast into 4 sections. Air frying for 12 minutes they were perfect! Thank you!
Loved!! Didn’t have panko so used almond meal, also added a little Parmesan and garlic salt. So good !
Delicious! Very easy to make. I’ve made this recipe a few times and will use it every time I make air fryer chicken tenders going forward.
I felt like this was really bland. Needs more spices.
I agree…needs more seasoning. Going to try brining the chicken next time first, and maybe add a fry seasoning to the breadcrumbs.
I read bringing for sir fryer food is a no no as the air fryers do not absorb liquid. Not sure about it but wanted to mention it. Let us know if you do!
Easy and turned out great!
This chicken is delicious and easy to-boot! I used boneless, skinless chicken thighs, and the fat on the really crisps up nicely, and the bottom of the chicken gets golden.
I only have plain bread crumbs
What should I use for seasoning?
Mary
Salt, pepper, garlic powder, Italian seasoning. Whatever you want really. 🙂
When I put in the nutritional information as listed my WW app calls it 6 points for purple…just fyi! Still delish!
Just checked, its 3. 0 for chicken, 7 for crumbs, 6 for panko…. divided by 4 servings.
Did it turn out okay with regular bread crumbs
Yes!
Hi! I absolutely love these!!! Question… Do they freeze well?
Cook at what temperature? Simply saying airfry for 5 mins on each side isn’t telling us enough.
400
If you’d read the instructions completely – the author stated to preheat to 400 degrees.
I just bought an air fryer so I’m new to cooking with it. I’m on Weight Watchers and I love that the recipe has point value. I love these chicken tenders! They are so good!
My family loves these! They are so quick and easy for weeknight meals.
so easy and good! I like to spice up the breadcrumbs for a little more flavor, but they are good just as listed above 🙂
The recipe is simple and there aren’t a lot of ingredients, but the taste is just too bland.
Yuck. This was just not good. There wasn’t enough seasonings and this in no way resembled real fried chicken tenders.
Season to your taste.
So yummy!! I didn’t have breadcrumbs on hand so I made some and seasoned it then added Italian Panko. Came out delicious. I’d definitely use this recipe again. Thank You!!!
Quick question when cooking is it 5to 6 min on one side flip and five to six min on the other? Or 3 min on one side 3 min on the other
5-6 minutes each side.
Soooo yummy! Used some Hot and spicy breadcrumbs, black garlic powder, and granulated garlic with the Panko to spice it up.
The only recommendation I’d make is to pat the tenders dry before salt and pepper. Totally recommend!!
I’ve made these twice and just LOVE them! The first time I dipped them in ranch. This time I sliced them up and had a Buffalo chicken salad. Tasted just like a very popular restaurant’s salad that I enjoy ordering. No reason to go out for that salad anymore! Thanks for another great recipe Gina!
This recipe is awesome. Added 1/2 tsp of both onion powder and garlic powder to the bread crumb mixture the 2nd time I made these. great on top of a salad.
Hello,
Sometimes I am the worst at having a plan for things I want to cook. But today I wanted to make these chicken tenders, but had made the frittata earlier and used all my eggs. So, I used greek yogurt to coat the tenders. I could have used mayonnaise, but thought the yogurt would be 0 points. I also didn’t have panko crumbs, so I skipped that ingredient. But with all this said, I loved the tenders. And I spritz them with spray oil to bake them. I rate it a 5, even with all my changes. Thank you!!
I made this last night exactly as directed except for using lemon pepper rather than black pepper. The tenders came out crispy on the outside and moist on the inside–a rare achievement since chicken tenders dry out easily. I will definitely be making these in the future and will experiment with adding parmesan cheese and various spices for variety.
What air fryer do you recommend?
I’ve made this recipe before using this air fryerhttps://www.amazon.com/DASH-DAFT2350GBSS01-Chef-Stainless-Steel/dp/B07Y2L4FBJ/ref=asc_df_B07Y2L4FBJ/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385191967814&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12927047038457619753&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016865&hvtargid=pla-841249874569&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=78082493949&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385191967814&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12927047038457619753&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9016865&hvtargid=pla-841249874569. Best air fryer ever!!!
Delicious!
First recipe we tried with our air fryer and it turned out great! Thank you.
Didn’t have panko breadcrumbs, but added garlic and fresh parmesan cheese to the seasoned regular bread crumbs and they came out very tasty.
Thanks for the WW smart points value. I’ve reached my goal and am looking for WW recipes to maintain. I plan to make these tonight. Love my air fryer, so appreciate any of these recipes. You don’t have a recipe book, by any chance?
Elizabeth, she has multiple cookbooks. You can find them here. 🙂
https://www.skinnytaste.com/cookbook/
What is panko and can you get it in the UK, thanks.
Panko is like bread crumbs but very fine pieces. If you don’t have them near bread crumbs in the store they might be with Japanese food. Or put regular bread crumbs in a baggie and get angry at them with a rolling pin.
“Get angry at them with a rolling pin” OMG I needed that laugh! 🙂 🙂
I think you might be mistaken. Panko is generally a lot coarser.
This is my second time making these and they are delicious!! Tonight I served 1 piece with the Lighter Eggplant Parmesan – both were delicious!!! I made 2 pounds of chicken tenders which I will freeze individually to have for salads, burgers, chicken parmesan, etc. Thanks Gina!!
These were fantastic! I made exactly as written, easy enough to have my 5 year old make. She had a blast! Entire family loved eating these. I’m going to make more and freeze- forget those store bought frozen chicken tenders!
Thank You!
Hi! How long can these keep for?
I am an older fellow who doesn’t own nor intend to purchase an “Air Fryer.” Otherwise, I like your recipe. How would I cook the chicken tenders sans air fryer?
Heat oven to 425, spray large baking sheet with oil. Bake in lower third of the oven 8-10 minutes, flip and cook another 5-6 or until golden.
Do you have a favourite device to mist the oil? I have read not to use canned spray so looking to find a mister if you happen to use one.
Thanks for the great recipes
Yes, I use a https://www.amazon.com/Misto-Brushed-Aluminum-Olive-Sprayer/dp/B00004SPZV/ref=sr_1_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1515181085&sr=8-1&keywords=misto.
Pampered Chef makes one. It’s about $30. You can order it online or look for a dealer in your neighborhood.
Followed the suggestion of others and added parmesan to the breadcrumbs. They worked perfectly and were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Were lovely with lemon juice squeezed over but next time l might make an aioli as well…although that’s not so skinny of course.
These were the first things I made in my new air fryer. They were easy to make and turned out crispy and very tender. I made them exactly according to the recipe but added extra parmasean to the breadcrumbs. The whole family loved them! Can’t wait to try another Skinnytaste air fryer recipe.
Awesome! Enjoy!
First time using an air fryer. Can’t wait to try theses recipes.
I have a ge stove with air fryer. Do I cook them at 400°?
I am on a quest to lose weight and keep it off this time by discovering WW friendly recipes that I c LOVE – and could happily eat rest of my life.
So i will try 1-2 new skinnytaste recipes each week and cook as many skinnytaste recipes as possible. Just fyi – your recipes rock!!
Thanks Colleen!
this recipe looks great! could i prep the tenders in the morning, refrigerate, and then air fry in the evening?
These tenders were absolutely perfect!! I set the air fryer to 11 minutes, flipping the chicken after 6 minutes. It was crispy and juicy. I added some Parmesan cheese to the bread crumbs and it was a nice addition. I will definitely make this recipe again.
Absolutely amazing!!! Added a little pickle juice for some extra flavor and my picky kids devoured them! Thanks for saving dinner tonight!!
You should check this one out too! 🙂
https://www.skinnytaste.com/pickle-brined-baked-chicken-tenders/
Oh my word! These are so good! I rarely fry food because I fear over frying or under cooking. My husband bought me an air fryer for Christmas and I have made these 4 times!! Definitely a crowd pleaser in my family of picky eaters:)
These were 💯% incredibly crispy, crunchy, savoury and delicious. Hubby loved them too. I used my new Air Fryer for the first time tonight and these chicken tenders will be on weekly dinner rotation. Thank you for this recipe!!
I use your recipes all the time and love them, but I’ve never left a review. These chicken tenders turned out so amazing that I HAD to give them five stars. Followed the recipe exactly, but served with bbq sauce to dip in instead of lemon. Delicious and crispy! Thanks!!
Thanks Kelly!
If making in the oven, do you still use the olive oil spray?
This recipe is so delicious! My husband came back for seconds! Very crispy
Recipe sounds great, and like it needs a proofreader 😃. But, I am seriously making these, just probably sans lemon. Thank you for a lovely recipe.
your comment about needing to be proofread is juvenile.
AMEN juvenile on the the proofreading!
🙄😒
Is the serving size one piece?
3 tenders. FYI serving size is listed at the beginning of the nutrition info. 🙂
When I am putting the nutrition facts into WW I am getting 6 points on blue. Am I doing something wrong? I am very new to WW and I see that you are calculating 3? Thanks!
Hi Sarah. Are you using the recipe builder? The only accurate way to determine any recipe’s SmartPoints® value is to plug the ingredients into the recipe builder on the Weight Watchers website (Click on “My Foods,” select “Recipe,” and click “Create a recipe.”) which does not count fruits and vegetables in recipes in the calculations as they are now 0 points.
The SmartPoints® calculator isn’t meant for recipes and will often give you the wrong points (usually higher) because it’s counting the fruits and vegetables. So if you see a recipe with a SmartPoints® value that’s different from what the calculator tells you, now you know why.
My daughter and her friend said that these were better than dino nuggets which is quite a compliment from them!
Love it!
AMAZING!!! Healthy and delicious, definitely a weekly staple. Thank you!
Really good! My picky 4 year old chicken tender snob devoured his tenders with not ONE complaint. This is unheard of. Winning!
These were fantastic! Definitely making them again soon, such a great alternative to traditional fried chicken!
Making this tonight so thank you! But just as an FYI the chicken tender is an actual piece of the breast, not just a breast cut into strips. It lays under the breast against the breast bone.
So juicy! And easy!
Simple and delicious! Thanks so much for posting this!
I followed this recipe exactly as written. The chicken was delicious! My husband and children said they can’t wait to have it again. Thank you for giving us healthy, yummy meal ideas!
Fantastic! Made gluten free and hubs loved em!
When I plug in nutritional facts into WW calculator, the SP for blue comes out to 6 not 3. Anyone else getting the same number? Want to make sure I am counting correctly.
Use the recipe builder. 🙂
Because the nutritional info includes the the chicken breast, which is 0 points. You’ll need to put it in the recipe builder.
I came up with 0 points on Blue as well using the calculator. 🙁
This is so good! I’m so glad I got an air fryer. I love this website. The recipes are easy to follow.
My son made these today. DELICIOUS! Thanks so much for always having amazing recipes!
If I don’t have an olive oil sprayer, what are my options? Spray with non-stuck cooking spray?
I use Chosen brand Avocado oil spray. Higher smoke point than olive oil. Its in most stores where pam is. No propellant just oil.
Yas! What a great recipe. Made some honey mustard to go with it and my 16 month old gives it 3 “mmms”
Awesome!
SO DELICIOUS. I did it gluten free w just break crumbs and my entire family was raving about how delicious it was. Absolutely amazing!!!
I am learning new recipes and I am using iTrackbite. Can I use any panko and it still be the same value point or is there something I need to look for while looking for a particular panko?
I have a Cuisinart oven style air fryer. Would the cooking directions be the same? Thanks!
I made this recipe with my new Cuisinart was great. Was looking to make it taste like Chick FiletA so I marinated it in Buttermilk & Pickle Juice for a couple of hrs. Turned out great!
Made these last week with chicken breasts cut into tenders…. Absolutely delicious!!!! My husband, who loves fried chicken said that they tasted just like fried chicken! I will try making this with breast fillets next… Thanks so much for another great recipe! A keeper!
These were great, followed the recipe as written. Thank you!!
I bought a tray of chicken tenders for $5.00, got like 20 tenders. Made them according to this recipe. Yummy. wrapped up the rest for the freezer for another lunch for my hubby. For dinner tonight I used the same coating for our porch chops. moist & tender….delicious. Thank you for posting.
I do not have an air fryer. Can I make these in the oven?
Bake them in the oven at 425 degrees for 16 minutes, turning halfway.
I don’t have an air fryer and would like to make this in the oven. What temp and for how long would you recommend?
Bake them in the oven at 425 degrees for 16 minutes, turning halfway.
Delicious! Thanks for this recipe.
Another EXCELLENT recipe. Thank you for putting the Nutritional Data on your recipes. Great Value chicken strips have never tasted better!
The mixing of the bread crumbs and panko is GENIUS. I’ve used one or the other, but not both.
I let the frozen chicken strips defrost in a saltwater bath. Will try marinating them in pickle juice and see how that goes. Thanks again for always putting the Nutrition Data on your recipes as we are calorie counters and your recipes ALWAYS come out great and flavorful.
I made these for dinner last night and they were amazing. My husband told me not to loose this recipe. I used garlic seasoned bread crumbs. This recipe will definitely be going into our meal rotation. I want to try using this recipe and substituting fish for the chicken.
These came out AWESOME! my 12 and 14 year old boys loved them; said they were better than the kind at restaurants. Thanks!!
Perfect!!
Hi Gina! Made this recipe last night with all the ingredients suggested. Ended up being great! Do you have any suggestions on how to keep the breading on? Mine felt off. It still cooked in the airfryer so we just sprinkled it back on top, but I’m wondering if there is a way to prevent this in the future.
Thank you for the recipe! Easy to follow and very quick.
Spray the air fryer basket or racks with cooking spray before placing the tenders on ’em. I have the same problem if I forget to do that.
Made them for lunch today. Fabulous taste & very moist. A keeper. Thank you for creating. 🙂
These are tender and flavorful! A great recipe!! This will be a keeper in our house!
There’s an asterisk next to both of the breadcrumb/panko ingredients but I cannot find what they are referring to
If gluten-free use gf crumbs
Hi! I have a dumb question haHa! When you say….turn halfway…if you are cooking 5 to 6 mins per side why do you turn them halfway or am i reading this wrong? Thank you!
good point!
So what’s the answer I was wondering same thing
I have the same question!
Updated! Cook 5-6 min each side. 🙂
I’m confused by this, too.
I don’t have gluten free bread crumbs but I do have Baked Lays Potato Chips so I’m going to process them and make these with the crumbs.
yum!
Can these chicken tenders be frozen? I assume so but want to confirm before I make too many of them. They look fantastic. Thanks for all the great recipes! I have all your cookbooks!
I haven’t tried freezing them. I feel that recipes that cook so fast are better eaten right away but if you freeze them let me know how they are!
Can you use all panko if you don’t have regular bread crumbs?? 🙂
Yes. 🙂