Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders

These air fryer breaded chicken tenders are everything you want in an easy weeknight meal, juicy on the inside, golden brown on the outside, and perfectly crispy with every bite. Made with a simple, flavorful breading, they cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer with minimal effort. Enjoy them on their own with ketchup, add them to salads or wraps, or make a batch ahead of time since they’re freezer friendly and great for busy days.

Author: Project Meal Plan

Meal Type: Peanuts Free

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: EASY

Prep. Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Calories: 289 kcal per serving

Ingredients

1 lb - boneless skinless chicken breast
2 - eggs
1 cup - plain bread crumbs
1 tsp - paprika
1 tsp - garlic powder
1 tsp - onion powder
2 teaspoons - fine sea salt
avocado oil spray

Instructions

Prepare the chicken: Place the raw chicken breasts on a cutting board and pat dry using paper towels. Use a sharp chef’s knife to slice the chicken breasts into uniform strips about 1 inch thick.
Prepare breading station: In a flat-bottomed bowl, add the eggs and whisk until combined. In another flat-bottomed bowl, add the breadcrumbs and all the spices. Use a fork to mix.
Bread the chicken: Add each raw chicken tender slice to the raw egg bowl and use a fork to coat all sides. One at a time, move each piece of chicken to the other bowl and completely coat with the crumb mixture. Use the fork to press the coating on to the raw chicken. Gently set it on a plate and repeat with each piece of chicken. Place the chicken into the air fryer basket in a single layer, not touching if possible. If you can’t fit all the chicken, cook in two batches instead of stacking.
Cook the chicken: Use avocado oil spray to coat all the chicken in the air fryer basket with a solid spritz of oil. It should be a liberal amount of oil, but not dripping off the chicken. This will make the breading look wet and cover any dry spots. Air fry the chicken tenders at 380F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. When you flip the chicken, give any dry spots a quick spritz of oil, then continue cooking for the remaining time. The chicken tenders are done when the internal temperature reaches 165F, the exterior is golden brown, and the edges are darkening.
Serve & store: Serve chicken tenders immediately on a salad, in a wrap, in a grain bowl, or with sides like tater tots or fries. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition