Name: Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts; 3 Large Eggs; 1 1/2 cups Panko Breadcrumbs; 1 1/2 cups Regular Breadcrumbs; 3 tbsp Olive Oil; 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour; 1 tsp Smoked Paprika; 1/2 tsp Onion Powder; 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Black Pepper

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This is an air fryer chicken strips recipe that is juicy and crispy with panko breadcrumbs. They’re done cooking in just 12 minutes!

Air Fryer Chicken Strips on a platter with a bowl of ranch

I love a good crispy chicken tender so naturally, I love making chicken tenders in the air fryer. Making them in the air fryer gets them really nice and crunchy without the extra oil saturation.

This recipe for air fryer chicken strips is so good you won’t want to cook them any other way!

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Strips

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Large Eggs
Panko Breadcrumbs
Regular Breadcrumbs
Olive Oil
All-Purpose Flour
Smoked Paprika
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Salt
Black Pepper

A hand dipping a chicken strip into ranch

How to Air Fry Chicken Strips

First, tenderize the chicken breasts with a mallet. Slice chicken into strips by cutting on the long-edge into ½″ thick pieces.
Scramble eggs in a bowl. In another dish, add the flour and all of the seasonings, stir to combine.
In a microwave-safe bowl, add all of the breadcrumbs and olive oil, stir well. Microwave the panko for 2-3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until they are lightly browned.
Dredge chicken strips into the flour, then dip in egg, and then panko breadcrumbs. Press the panko into the chicken to adhere.
Spray air fryer basket with oil spray to prevent sticking. Add a single layer of chicken and cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 6 minutes, then flip and cook an additional 4-6 minutes.

Tip If breadcrumbs look dry, spray with additional oil.

Uncooked breaded chicken strips in an air fryer basket

Cook Time and Temperature

Air fryer chicken strips in this recipe cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for approximately 12 minutes until golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink in the center.

Be sure to flip them halfway and if the breadcrumbs look dry, spray with additional oil.

Cooked chicken needs to reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for safe consumption.

Air Fryer Chicken Strips with a Small Bowl of Ranch

Freezing Tips

Chicken strips are always a great freezer meal to cook later. Simply cut them into strips, bread them, and then freeze them for later.

When you’re ready to have them for a meal, do not worry about thawing them. Frozen chicken tenders are easy to cook in an air fryer.

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tender Cook Times

Making frozen chicken tenders in air fryer are easy too and require no thawing beforehand.

Spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil.
Place a single layer of chicken in the basket and lightly spray with oil.
Cook for 6 minutes on each side at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
If they are not heated through to the center after cooking, I recommend keeping them in the air fryer basket for a few additional minutes without turning it on.

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Enjoy!