Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
The BEST Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe that's flavorful and juicy and perfectly crisp on the outside without deep frying.
Servings: 6
Calories: 295kcal
Cost: 5
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 lb raw chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup pickle juice
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 large eggs
Breading:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Instructions
- Marinate: Place chicken tenders in a bowl or ziplock bag with the pickle juice and marinate for 30 minutes.2 lb raw chicken tenders, 1/2 cup pickle juice
- Make Breading: Add flour, powdered sugar, paprika, black pepper, chili powder, salt, and baking powder to a ziplock bag.1 cup all-purpose flour, 3 Tablespoons powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Prep Egg Mixture: Add milk, and egg to a separate bowl and mix. Preheat air fryer to 360 degrees.1/2 cup milk, 1 large eggs
- Coat the chicken: Remove chicken from pickle marinade and add to the bowl with the egg mixture. Spoon out tenders, letting any excess egg mixture drip off, and place them in the ziplock bag with the dry seasonings. Seal and shake bag to evenly coat all of the chicken tenders.
- Air Fry: Spray the bottom of the fry basket with nonstick cooking spray. Remove tenders from bag, shaking off excess flour and place in a single layer in the bottom of the fry basket (you will likely need to do two batches). Space them out so they don't stick together. Generously spray the top of each piece of chicken with cooking spray so that flour is not visible. Then flip the chicken over in the fry basket and spray the other side.
- Air Fry the chicken tenders at 360 for 6 minutes. Open air fryer, flip chicken tenders to the other side, spray tops again with cooking spray. Increase air fryer temperature to 400 degrees and cook for 2-3 more minutes, or until crisp and cooked through. (Exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of your tenders, your air fryer, etc.).
Video
Notes
Freezing Instructions: Freeze cooked chicken tenders in a freezer safe bag or container for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in air fryer at 380 degrees until golden, crispy, and warmed through.
Healthier Chicken Nuggets: leave out the powdered sugar, and use wheat flour or panko instead of all-purpose flour.
Gluten-Free: Use gluten free flour or breadcrumbs.
Spicy Chicken Tenders: add 1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
Oven Baked Chicken Nuggets: prepare the same, and bake on a baking tray at 400 degrees F for 10 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 5-10 minutes, or until cooked through.
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
Nutrition
Calories: 295kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 690mg | Potassium: 679mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 521IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 2mg
Recipe Link
Recipe Video
