Air-Fried Chicken Tenders: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Chicken tenders are a great, quick and easy meal to make in an air fryer. They are versatile, tasty, and can be made in a variety of ways. You can make them breaded or unbreaded, and they can be served with a variety of sauces and sides. They are also healthy, low-carb, keto-friendly, and gluten-free. The cooking time is usually around 10-12 minutes, and they are perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.

Choosing and preparing your chicken

Choosing the Right Chicken

When selecting chicken for your tenders, you have a few options:

• Chicken Tenderloins: These are thin strips of meat located under the breast, and they are the leanest part of the chicken. They are also known as chicken strips or goujons. You can easily find them at your local supermarket, labelled as chicken tenders or tenderloins.
• Chicken Breasts: If you can't find chicken tenderloins or want to save some money, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cut them into large strips. This is a great alternative and ensures you have uniform-sized tenders, which is important for even cooking.

Preparing the Chicken

Once you've chosen your chicken, here are the steps to prepare it for the air fryer:

• Cut Chicken Breasts: If you are using chicken breasts, cut them into strips that are similar in size to chicken tenderloins.
• Brining (Optional but Recommended): Brining the chicken tenders in a saltwater solution adds moisture to the meat and keeps it juicy during cooking. Mix water with kosher salt and sugar, submerging the chicken tenders in this solution for at least 30 minutes or even overnight in the refrigerator. This step is especially useful if you want to air fry at higher temperatures to get an extra crispy exterior.
• Pat Dry: Whether you brined the chicken or not, it's important to pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels before proceeding to the next steps. This helps prevent sogginess.
• Seasoning: Place the chicken tenders in a large mixing bowl and drizzle with olive oil (or a neutral-flavoured oil of your choice). Toss to ensure the chicken is completely coated. Then, add your choice of seasonings and toss again to coat the tenders evenly. You can use a simple blend of smoked paprika, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper, or get creative with other spices like cayenne pepper, chilli pepper, or red pepper flakes.

Now that your chicken is chosen and prepared, it's time to move on to the next steps of making chicken tenders in your air fryer!

Brining your chicken

Brining is a great way to add flavour and moisture to your chicken, and it's a technique widely used by chefs. It's a simple process that involves submerging the chicken in a salty liquid, known as a brine, and leaving it to marinate. This not only adds flavour but also helps to tenderise the meat and keep it juicy during cooking.

How to brine chicken:

To make a basic brine, you'll need water and salt. For a standard brine, use a ratio of 30g of salt per litre of water. You can adjust this ratio depending on your preference and the desired saltiness. Keep in mind that different types of salt have varying grain sizes, so the amount you need will differ. For example, kosher or sea salt has larger grains than table salt, so you'll need less of it.

Here's a step-by-step guide to brining your chicken:

• Bring the water and salt to a boil, stirring to dissolve the salt. You can also add other ingredients like honey, herbs, peppercorns, garlic, or bay leaves for additional flavour.
• Remove from the heat and add cold water to bring down the temperature. It's important that the brine is completely chilled before adding the chicken.
• Submerge the chicken in the brine, ensuring that it is fully covered. You can do this in a large pot or a plastic container.
• Place the container in the refrigerator and let the chicken brine for at least 12 hours, and up to 24 hours. The longer it brines, the more intense the flavour and tenderness will be.
• After brining, remove the chicken from the brine and pat it dry with paper towels. It's important to remove any excess moisture before cooking.

Tips for brining:

• Always use cold brine to avoid bacterial growth.
• The brining time can vary depending on the desired saltiness and tenderness. Aim for at least 12 hours, but no more than 24 hours, as the chicken can become too salty.
• You can brine chicken breasts for a shorter time, between 30 minutes to 2 hours, for optimal results.
• Rinse the chicken after brining to remove excess salt and pat it dry before cooking.
• If you want to add aromatics like garlic or herbs, consider brining for a longer period (around 1 hour) to allow the flavours to penetrate the meat.

Benefits of brining chicken:

• Brining adds moisture to the chicken, resulting in juicier meat after cooking.
• It tenderises the meat, making it more delicate and easier to chew.
• The salt and other seasonings infuse the chicken with flavour, enhancing the taste.
• Brining is a simple technique that can elevate your chicken dishes and make them more delicious.

By brining your chicken tenders before air frying, you'll end up with juicy, flavourful, and tender results that your family and friends will love!

Preparing your breading

The first step in preparing your breading is to set up your breading stations. You'll need three separate stations: one with beaten eggs in a shallow bowl, one with flour, and one with breadcrumbs and panko. If you're making a large batch, combine two eggs with the flour and a teaspoon of your seasoning mix to make a wet batter for the chicken tenders to adhere to. This will ensure the breading sticks to the chicken tenders.

Next, season your panko breadcrumbs. Add your desired spices and seasonings to the breadcrumbs and mix well with your hands to ensure they are evenly distributed. For a simple option, you can use a combination of kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

Now you're ready to start dredging the chicken tenders. Start by dipping each tender into the egg mixture, letting the excess batter drip off. Then, add the tenders to the flour and coat them evenly. Next, dip them back into the egg mixture, and finally, into the seasoned panko breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly into the chicken with your hands to ensure an even coating. Don't be gentle—really press the breadcrumbs into the chicken to avoid any bald or damp spots, which can cause the breading to fall off during cooking.

Once all your tenders are breaded, place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet or plate and spray the tops with a neutral oil spray, such as avocado, canola, or vegetable oil. This will help ensure a crispy exterior.

If you have time, placing the breaded tenders in the refrigerator for about 20 minutes before cooking will help the breading stick better and prevent it from falling off during cooking.

Cooking your chicken

The first step to cooking your chicken tenders in an air fryer is to preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. While the air fryer is preheating, you can pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl.

Next, you'll want to add some oil to the chicken. You can use olive oil, vegetable oil, or corn oil. Drizzle the oil over the chicken and toss it to ensure the chicken is completely coated.

Now it's time to add your seasonings. You can use a blend of smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, oregano, and basil. You can also add salt and pepper, to taste. Mix the seasonings in a small bowl, then sprinkle them evenly over the chicken tenders.

Once your chicken is seasoned, it's ready to go into the air fryer. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket or tray to ensure even cooking. You may need to cook the chicken in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer.

Air fry the chicken tenders for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. The tenders are done when they are golden on the outside and have an internal temperature of 165 degrees F when checked with a meat thermometer.

If you're looking for some extra crispiness, give the chicken tenders a light mist of cooking spray before placing them in the air fryer. This will help the outside get nice and crispy.

And that's it! You've now got perfectly cooked, juicy, and flavorful chicken tenders cooked to perfection in your air fryer.

Serving suggestions

Air fryer chicken tenders are a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides and sauces. Here are some ideas to get you started:

Sauces

• Ketchup
• Ranch
• BBQ sauce
• Honey mustard
• Sweet and sour sauce
• Honey sriracha sauce
• Buffalo sauce
• Chick-fil-A sauce

Sides

• French fries
• Tater tots
• Sweet potato fries
• Onion rings
• Asparagus
• Carrots
• Green beans
• Salad
• Baked mac and cheese
• Roasted green beans with bacon
• Korean broccoli salad
• Hawaiian macaroni salad
• Air fryer Brussels sprouts
• Air fryer French fries
• Air fryer sweet potato fries
• Air fryer baked potato

For a complete meal

• Chop the tenders and put them into a buffalo chicken salad
• Serve with zucchini tomato orzo and lemon wedges

Frequently asked questions