Description
Crispy golden chicken tenders with this easy air fryer recipe bring restaurant-quality crunch to home cooking. Quick preparation and perfectly seasoned coating make these tenders a weeknight dinner favorite you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 lbs (907 g) chicken tenders
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups (120 g) panko breadcrumbs
- 1.5 tsps salt
- 0.75 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preparation: Meticulously pat chicken tenders dry, creating an optimal surface for seasoning adhesion.
- Coating Setup: Whisk eggs in one vessel while blending panko breadcrumbs with garlic powder and paprika in another container.
- Breading Process: Immerse each tender fully in egg mixture, allowing excess to drain, then carefully press into seasoned breadcrumb mixture for comprehensive coverage.
- Air Fryer Preparation: Lightly spray basket with olive oil to prevent sticking and promote uniform browning.
- Positioning: Arrange breaded tenders in a single, uncrowded layer within the basket, ensuring adequate space for heat circulation and crispy development.
- Pre-Cooking Treatment: Mist chicken with additional olive oil to enhance golden coloration and textural crispness.
- Cooking Cycle: Set air fryer to 400°F, cook for 6 minutes, then gently flip tenders to guarantee balanced cooking and consistent browning.
- Finalization: Continue air frying for 4-5 minutes until exterior achieves deep golden hue and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Resting Phase: Allow tenders brief repose to retain moisture and stabilize breading structure.
- Serving Suggestion: Present immediately with complementary dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or spicy aioli.
- Meal Prep Option: Freeze uncooked breaded tenders in single layer, transferring to storage containers for future use, adjusting cooking time by adding approximately 5 minutes when preparing from frozen state.
Notes
- Blot for Perfection: Remove excess moisture from chicken tenders with paper towels to help seasonings stick and create a crispier coating.
- Double-Dip Technique: Use a two-step coating method with egg wash and seasoned breadcrumbs for maximum flavor and crunch.
- Spacing Matters: Arrange tenders in a single layer with gaps between pieces to ensure even cooking and ultimate crispiness.
- Freezer-Friendly Hack: Prepare extra batches by freezing uncooked breaded tenders for convenient future meals, adjusting cooking time slightly when cooking from frozen.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 550mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 120mg