Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Crispy, golden chicken tenders in the air fryer — no deep frying, no mess, just juicy crunch.
Prep
10 min
Cook
12 min
Total
22 min
Servings
4
Calories
320
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- 1
Soak chicken in buttermilk 15 minutes.
- 2
Whisk flour with seasonings; place panko in a second bowl.
- 3
Dredge each tender in flour then panko.
- 4
Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Spray basket and tenders.
- 5
Air fry 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway.
- 6
Serve with dipping sauce.
Nutrition Facts
Per serving · 320 calories
protein
34g
carbs
22g
fat
9g
fiber
1g
sugar
2g
sodium
560mg
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use chicken breasts instead?+
Yes — slice them into 1-inch strips and add 2–3 minutes to the cook time.
How do I keep the breading from falling off?+
Pat the chicken dry before dredging and press the panko firmly into each tender.
How do I reheat air fryer tenders?+
Reheat at 375°F for 3–4 minutes to keep them crispy.
Recipe by Sarah Mitchell
Professional home cook · Tested in a real American kitchen
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