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Benjamin

Best Air Fryer Chicken Tenders for Quick Dinners

If you’ve ever dreamed of making crispy, juicy chicken tenders at home without the mess of deep frying, this recipe is for you! These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are perfectly golden on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with flavor thanks to a buttermilk marinade and a seasoned breading. Ready in under 30 minutes, they’re perfect for family dinners, quick snacks, or party appetizers. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauces, and watch them disappear faster than you can cook them!

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 16 –20 chicken tenders
Course: Main Course, Snack
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Marinade
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
For the Chicken
  • 1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into 1/2-inch-thick strips
For the Breading
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For Cooking and Serving
  • Nonstick spray for cooking
  • Parsley chopped, for garnish (optional)
  • BBQ sauce ranch dressing, or other dipping sauces

Method
 

Step 1: Prepare the Marinade
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the buttermilk, lemon juice, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
Step 2: Slice and Marinate the Chicken
  1. Slice the chicken breasts into strips about 1/2 inch thick and 3–4 inches long. Aim for uniform sizes to ensure even cooking.
  2. Submerge the chicken strips in the buttermilk marinade, ensuring all pieces are well coated. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to overnight for extra tenderness and flavor.
Step 3: Prepare the Breading
  1. In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, garlic powder, paprika, and kosher salt.
  2. Add 1/4 cup of the buttermilk marinade to the flour mixture and stir to create small lumps. These lumps will give the breading a crispy texture.
Step 4: Bread the Chicken Tenders
  1. Remove each chicken strip from the marinade, allowing any excess to drip off.
  2. Coat the chicken strips in the flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure the breading sticks to all sides.
  3. Place the breaded chicken on a baking sheet or plate until ready to cook.
Step 5: Air Fry the Chicken
  1. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. Arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket, leaving space between each piece.
  3. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray to help the breading crisp up.
  4. Set the air fryer to 350°F and cook for 6 minutes. Flip the tenders, spray again with cooking spray, and cook for an additional 6 minutes.
  5. Repeat in batches until all the chicken tenders are cooked.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
  1. Garnish the chicken tenders with chopped parsley if desired.
  2. Serve warm with BBQ sauce, ranch dressing, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

  • Make Ahead: You can bread the chicken tenders in advance and refrigerate them for up to 2 hours before air frying.
  • Customize the Spices: Add cayenne pepper for a spicy kick, or swap paprika for smoked paprika for a richer flavor.
  • Cooking in Batches: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you’ll need to cook the tenders in 3–4 batches. Keep cooked tenders warm in a 250°F oven while finishing the rest.
  • Freezing Option: Bread the tenders and freeze them uncooked. Air fry directly from frozen, adding 3–5 minutes to the cooking time.

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