Crispy Air Fried Chicken Tenders – Great for Dipping
Everything is better with cheese, including these air-fried chicken strips or tenderloins! They’re crispy and full of flavor! If you’re wondering how to cook chicken strips or tenders in an air fryer, read on!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means information on purchasing products. I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Introduction
I love chicken tenders almost any way I can get them. Lately, I’ve been trying to avoid deep-frying foods. I was doubtful I would enjoy chicken tenders as much if they were cooked in an air fryer instead of deep fried. I loved the crispy breading on chicken fingers, and I was shocked to find that they came out just as crispy when cooked in an air fryer! By cooking chicken strips in an air fryer, there’s a lot less mess, plus they’re so much better for you by cooking them this way (lower in fat and calories).
How To Cook Chicken Tenders in an Air Fryer
If you haven’t cooked in an air fryer, relax – it’s easy! I have an Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Air Fryer and Electric Pressure Cooker Combo that I use for air frying, or you can use a traditional Air Fryer. Spray the inside of the cooking basket with Pam Original Cooking Spray and wipe it with a paper towel to completely coat the bottom surface. Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature. Prepare the chicken tenders and place them in a single layer into the basket. I cooked these for 7 minutes on the first side, flipped them, and then cooked them for 5-6 more minutes until the internal chicken temperature reached 165 degrees. An instant-read thermometer makes checking the internal temperature of items you’re cooking easy.
How to Serve Air Fried Chicken Tenderloins
I like chicken tenders with barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch dressing. Recently, we discovered a recipe for using them in Lemon Chicken that was out of this world! You can also use them in Chicken Parmesan. The lemon zest in the breading isn’t overpowering but gives the chicken a nice flavor.
Air Fried Pecorino Romano Chicken Tenderloins
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs Progresso
- 1 lemon zest
- ¼ cup Pecorino Romano cheese grated
- 1 spray Pam Original Cooking Spray
Instructions
- Spray the inside of the air fryer with Pam Cooking Spray and wipe across the basket surface to coat it.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Set up three shallow bowls for 1) flour, 2) beaten eggs, and 3) a mixture of bread crumbs, lemon zest, and Pecorino Romano.
- Coat each tenderloin in flour, dip in eggs, and coat with the bread crumb mixture.
- Cook the chicken in the air fryer until golden brown, about 7 minutes. Then turn the tenderloins over and cook for about 5 to 6 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees
Notes
Nutrition
Shop This Recipe Through Instacart
To make shopping easier, here’s the shopping list for this recipe saved in Instacart. You can have the ingredients delivered to your home or pick them up at the store. You’ll see multiple stores with the ingredients listed—you can decide where to purchase based on the best prices. You can save $10 when you click here and place your first Instacart order.
Easy to make, tender, and juicy!