Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
Feel like a kid again with my easy recipe for naturally gluten-free Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins! These crispy, sweet n’ savory, golden brown air-fried chicken tenders are perfect for adding protein to any meal, but are also ideal for dunking in ketchup or BBQ sauce. Just as quick as fast food, but so much healthier!
Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Chicken Tender Recipe
- Busy Weeknight Dinner? ✅Air frying chicken tenderloins is a snap. This quick and easy recipe takes just 10 minutes of prep and less than 10 minutes of cooking time, so a hearty, protein-packed meal can be on the table in just 20 minutes or less.
- Made With Fewer Than 10 Ingredients – And most of them are spice cabinet staples.
- Kid-Tested, Mom-Approved – These delicious, well-seasoned air fryer chicken tenders are a hit with both parents and their tots. They’re made with lean, protein-packed white meat chicken, have no breading, and are air-fried, so they’re super healthy! Perfect for the whole family.
- Versatile AF – Whether you eat them like chicken fingers with your favorite dipping sauce, tuck them into sandwiches or wraps, add them to your favorite salads and pasta dishes, or simply serve them alongside mashies and steamed veggies, these easy air fryer chicken tenders are bound to be a hit.
Ingredients & Substitutions
This recipe for chicken tenders in the air fryer requires just a handful of simple ingredients. Here’s what to grab:
- Chicken Tenderloins – If you can find them, this cut offers the most tender, succulent white meat option on the bird. If not, you can swap in boneless, skinless chicken breasts that have been pounded out and cut into chicken strips.
- Olive Oil – No need to bust out the fancy stuff; just your normal cooking oil is perfect. You can also use another heart-healthy oil like avocado or canola if you prefer.
- Light Brown Sugar – My favorite part about these air fried chicken tenderloins is the slight sweetness in the spice rub. Adding a touch of light brown sugar helps the tenders crisp up beautifully while adding a rich caramel undertone. In a pinch, you can swap in dark brown sugar but be prepared for a more intense molasses flavor.
- Garlic Powder – For the sweet flavor of cooked garlic without any fuss. If you can’t have garlic, try adding a pinch or two of asafoetida instead.
- Smoked Paprika – For warmth and smokiness that echoes chicken cooked on the grill. For a spicier option, use ground chipotle powder instead. You can also use either sweet or hot paprika if you don’t have smoked. (If you go that route and you have liquid smoke, add a ¼ teaspoon to the olive oil!)
- Dried Oregano – I love the earthy, minty, almost camphor-y flavor of oregano. Feel free to swap in an equal amount of thyme, or use Italian seasoning instead.
- Chili Powder – Interestingly enough, chili powder is a spice blend that usually contains at least 2 different types of chiles and additional spices like cumin. If you don’t have any, you can either make your own, or swap in taco seasoning and omit the added salt. You could also swap in cayenne pepper for extra heat!
- Salt & Black Pepper – For basic seasoning. I recommend using either sea salt or kosher salt instead of iodized table salt, and using freshly cracked black pepper over the pre-ground stuff that comes in a tin.
- Non-Aerosol Cooking Spray – Note that some cooking sprays aren’t great for air fryers. If yours falls in this camp, you can lightly brush the air fryer basket with olive or avocado oil instead.
Equipment
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Large Mixing Bowl or Gallon Zip-Top Bag
- Air Fryer or Instant Pot with Air Fryer Lid Attachment
- Air Fryer Liners (optional, for easy cleanup)
How To Make Chicken Tenderloins In The Air Fryer
Making these chicken tenderloins air fryer-style is my favorite new weeknight dinner hack. They’re so stinkin’ simple! Here’s what to do to make this easy meal:
Step 1: Season Chicken. Add the chicken tenderloins, olive oil, light brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Toss until the chicken tenderloins are thoroughly coated.
Step 2: Marinate. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or transfer the chicken tenders to an airtight container. Place the chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight if possible.
Step 3: Prep Air Fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Add the seasoned chicken tenders to the basket in an even, single layer.
Step 4: Cook chicken tenderloins for 7-9 minutes, flipping them halfway through. They are done cooking when they hit an internal temperature of 165F. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of the tenderloins.
Step 5: Serve & Enjoy!
Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations
I personally think these are the best air fryer chicken tenders around, but there are TONS of ways to make them your own. Here are just a few ideas to get you started:
- Italian Chicken Tenderloins – Skip the brown sugar, smoked paprika, and chili powder in favor of Italian seasoning.
- Cajun Chicken Tenderloins – Instead of using your own spice mix, swap in your favorite Cajun blend like Tony Chachere’s or Slap Ya’ Mama.
- Breaded Chicken Tenders – Take a page from my oven-baked chicken cutlets recipe and follow the 3-stage standard breading procedure for extra crispy tenders.
- BBQ Chicken Tenders – Keep the same spice mix/marinade, but brush your tenders with barbecue sauce before baking. The sauce gets all sticky and caramelized in the air fryer — it’s glorious!
- Any Flavor Chicken Tenders – Have fun messing around with the spice mix, or use pre-packaged mixes to make life simple. That way, you can adapt these air fryer chicken breast tenderloins to suit your needs. Use Indian masalas for curry chicken, teriyaki marinade for rice bowls, or powdered ranch dressing for a fun twist on my copycat McDonald’s chicken ranch snack wrap.
Did you come up with a brilliant twist on this air fryer chicken breast tender recipe? Let me know in the comments below or tag me on the socials so I can cheer you on!
Expert Tips
While it’s not hard to air fry chicken breast tenders to perfection, there are a few things to keep in mind:
- Think Like A Manicurist and coat your chicken very thoroughly. Make sure there’s no bare chicken peeping through — you want seasoning in every bite!
- Marination Magic – Since this marinade doesn’t have any acid in it, you can let the chicken chill out for as long as you like. (Acidic marinades can turn chicken mushy if the meat sits for longer than 24 hours.) That makes this recipe perfect for meal prep!
- Freezer Fun – Consider mixing up the spice mix and olive oil in a gallon-sized freezer bag, then toss your chicken in there. Squish the bag around a bit to make sure the chicken is well coated, then press out the air, seal the bag, and freeze it for a rainy day! Then, when you need a meal on the fly, quickly defrost the bag in a bowl of cool water — it shouldn’t take more than about 30 minutes.
- Know Thine Air Fryer – Every air fryer seems to cook a little differently, so keep close and don’t overcook. Since these airfryer chicken tenderloins are made with lean, white meat chicken, they’ll have a tendency to dry out. I recommend checking for doneness around the 5-minute mark to help you gauge how quickly your machine works.
- Give ‘Em a Trim – Chicken tenderloins often come with the tendon still attached. While it’s not dangerous in any way, it is a bit tough so I like to remove it first. This is the best way to do it!
Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins Serving Suggestions
- 🍯 We Flip For Dip: Whip out those cute little bowls and fill ’em up with all the fave sauces—honey mustard, BBQ, ranch, or get spicy with some buffalo sauce. Mix and match to find your ultimate dip combo!
- 🌯 Wrap It Up: Slice those tenders up and roll them into snack wraps or stuff ’em in sandwiches. Throw in some crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and a bit of Caesar or garlic aioli sauce for a legit tasty grab-and-go meal.
- 🥗 Salad Days: Chop the seasoned chicken up and toss it on top of a bomb salad. Think crisp greens, juicy tomatoes, cucumbers, and a dressing of your choice. Boom—lunch or quick dinner is served! It’s low carb too.
- 🍝 Feeling cheesy? Layer those tenderloins with some marinara and a heap of Parmesan and mozzarella, then broil till it’s all melty and awesome. Instant chicken parm!
- 🍚 Asian Flair: Drizzle your tenders with teriyaki or sweet and sour sauce. Pair with fluffy rice and some quick stir-fried veggies for a dinner that’s all kinds of yum.
- 🌮 Taco ‘Bout Tasty: Slice the chicken into strips for taco night. Top with salsa, guac, cheese, and lettuce. Get everyone to build their own—it’s taco time!
- 🍝 Pasta Vibes: Serve those crispy tenders over some pasta with a light lemon butter or creamy Boursin sauce. It’s like, seriously indulgent but oh-so-easy.
- 🍟Healthy Cravings: Pair your air fried chicken tenders with my air-fried french fries (or sweet potato fries!) for a healthier version of your favorite fast food meal.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- These yummy chicken tenderloins are perfect for meal prep. Feel free to add them to the spice & oil mixture and leave them in the fridge, raw, for up to 5 days (depending on how fresh your chicken is).
- You can also freeze uncooked chicken tenderloins for up to 3 months. Make sure to press allllll the extra air out of your freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. PRO TIP: If you want to be able to just grab a single tenderloin at a time, let the chicken marinate for 24 hours, then freeze in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Once they’re frozen through, pop them in your freezer bag and push out all the air. Take that, Tyson!
- Cooked air fryer chicken tenders will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
- To serve frozen chicken tenders, you can either allow them to defrost overnight in the fridge before cooking as directed ~OR~ if you froze them individually, you can pop them straight into the air fryer without defrosting. If you go for the second method, cook them for about 10-15 minutes, or until they hit an internal temperature of 165F.
- To serve leftover cooked chicken tenderloins, you can either gently heat them in an oven or toaster oven set to 200F, or microwave them. They’re also great cold!
FAQs
Chicken tenderloins, often called chicken tenders, are super tender strips of meat that are found just beneath the breast meat. They’re actually a part of the chicken breast, but are kind of their own thing because they’re more tender and, honestly, quicker to cook. They’re perfect for when you want something juicy and flavorful but are in a bit of a rush. Whether you’re breading them, grilling, or tossing them in the air fryer like we do here, they’re super versatile and a total crowd-pleaser! 🍗✨
For sure! Air fryers work the same way as convection ovens — blowing hot air around the food. Just like baking your chicken from raw is safe, so too is air frying it!
I like air frying my chicken tenderloins at 400F to get them nice and crispy. In my air fryer, it takes about 7-9 minutes to cook them to perfection at this temp.
It honestly depends on the recipe. These naked chicken tenders are made without any breading (so they’re naturally gluten-free), are chock-full of protein, and are what I’d consider clean eats. But if you’re reaching for pre-deep-fried chicken tenders from a bag, they’re likely less healthy thanks to cheap, inflammatory oils, preservatives, lots of refined sugars, etc.
You sure can! Just make sure they’re in a single layer without any overlap so the air can cook them evenly. You’ll need to add about 5-ish minutes to the cook time if you opt to cook from frozen.
Ooooh! Fun question. Aside from cooking these chicken tenderloins in the air fryer, I also recommend my air fryer buffalo chicken thighs, air fryer chicken sausage, and air fryer chicken burgers.
Related Recipes
More Chicken Recipes
- Mediterranean Chicken & Rice Bowls
- Buffalo Chicken Thighs
- Chicken Fajita Tacos
- McDonald’s Crispy Chicken Snack Wrap
- Oven Baked Chicken Cutlets
- Crockpot Salsa Chicken
- Greek Chicken Meatballs
More Air Fryer Recipes
- Air Fryer Shrimp (5 Minutes!)
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Air Fryer Frozen French Fries
- Air Fryer S’mores
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Connect With Me!
If you make this air fryer chicken tenders recipe or any of my other recipes, I would absolutely love to know! Tag me @wellnessbykay on Instagram so I can see and share your recreations.
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Print
Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes
- Cook Time: 10 Minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 Servings 1x
- Category: Lunch / Dinner
- Method: Air Fryer
Description
Feel like a kid again with my easy recipe for naturally gluten-free Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins! These crispy, sweet n’ savory, golden brown air-fried chicken tenders are perfect for adding protein to any meal, but are also ideal for dunking in ketchup or BBQ sauce. Just as quick as fast food, but so much healthier!
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Add the chicken tenderloins, olive oil, light brown sugar, garlic powder, smoked paprika, dried oregano, chili powder, salt, and black pepper to a large mixing bowl. Toss until the chicken tenderloins are thoroughly coated.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap, or transfer the chicken tenders to an airtight container. Place the chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 15 minutes and up to overnight if possible.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees F. Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or cooking spray. Add the seasoned chicken tenders to the basket in an even, single layer.
- Cook the chicken tenderloins for 7-9 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The exact cooking time will depend on the size of the tenderloins.
- Serve and enjoy!
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