Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are golden and juicy, so easy to make and perfect for weeknight cooking!

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, so I promise to share more soon!

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.

The Skinnytaste by Vremi Air Fryer (affil link) is the air fryer I use to create all my air fryer recipes! It has a large basket, it’s dishwasher safe and food comes out so crispy!

Why you need an air fryer!

Food comes out so much crispier than it does in the oven.
It takes only three minutes to preheat, it doesn’t heat up the kitchen.
It’s safer and healthier than deep frying and it doesn’t smoke up the whole house.
The air fryer has now replaced my oven on most weekdays and nights, whether making hard boiled eggs, whipping up a side dish, heating up leftovers, or making dinner.

If you don’t have an air fryer, there’s still some air fryers left in inventory but they are running low! And if you get the Skinnytaste by Vremi Air Fryer be sure to get a copy of the Skinnytaste Air Fryer Cookbook!

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: