The Well Plated Cookbook is now available! Crispy and easy air fryer chicken tenders. Delicious, healthy, and perfect for kids, frozen chicken tenders air fryer day, and freezer-friendly meals. All-time childhood favorite meets healthy weeknight dinner via crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders!
A homemade version of my most-requested meal growing up, they are made with simple ingredients and a serious upgrade from the frozen ones I once prayed my mother would serve for dinner every night. I’d order them off the appetizer menu as my main dish. These days, I rarely stop for fast food, but on a recent road trip, we pulled through a drive-through and for whatever reason, I HAD to have chicken fingers. Watch out golden arches, you have been beat! Crunchy and crispy outside, tender inside, and completely dippable just like Air Fryer Shrimp, these healthy air fryer chicken tenders have officially replaced the frozen and fast-food versions in my heart. How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders The key to making the chicken tenders crispy is a combination of regular and panko breadcrumbs.
The regular breadcrumbs adhere easily to the chicken, so you get a complete coating. The larger panko breadcrumbs add essential texture and crunch. If you love fried chicken with buttermilk, check out my Baked Fried Chicken. Beloved by children and adults alike, chicken tenders are a delicious, quick-cooking option for lean protein. You can find pre-cut chicken tenders at most grocery stores. If your grocery store doesn’t sell chicken tenders, you can make your own from a chicken breast.