Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are incredibly juicy, tender, and so simple to make. You won’t miss the breading one bit in this versatile chicken recipe! This delicious air fryer main dish is perfect for salads, wraps, and more!

Author: Project Meal Plan

Meal Type: Milk Free

Cuisine: American

Difficulty: MEDIUM

Prep. Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 199 kcal per serving

Ingredients

1 lb - raw, boneless, and skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons - avocado oil
½ tbsp - white vinegar
1 tsp - Italian seasoning
1 tsp - garlic powder
1 tsp - fine sea salt
½ tsp - black pepper

Instructions

Place raw chicken breasts (1 pound boneless skinless) on a cutting board. Use a sharp chef’s knife to slice the chicken breast into uniform strips about 1 inch thick. Each chicken breast should make 4-6 strips, depending on size and thickness.
In a large bowl, add the cut chicken strips, oil (2 tablespoons), white vinegar (1/2 tablespoon), Italian seasoning (1 teaspoon), garlic powder (1 teaspoon), salt (1 teaspoon) and fresh ground black pepper (1/2 teaspoon). Stir gently until chicken is coated in oil and spices. Cover and place in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours. Do not skip – this step helps tenderize the chicken. Do not let the chicken marinate for more than 12 hours – this could over tenderize the chicken and give it a mushy texture.
Place chicken strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer, not touching each other if possible. Air fry at 380F for 9-11 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when the edges and sides are beginning to turn golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
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