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Easy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Kids Love

crispy air fryer chicken tenders - featured image
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These crispy air fryer chicken tenders are crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and ready in under 20 minutes. A kid-friendly recipe that uses a double-coating technique for a perfect crust that stays crispy.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb chicken tenders (or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch strips)
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • Avocado oil spray (or any neutral oil spray)
  • For serving: ketchup, honey mustard, or ranch dressing (optional)
  • Lemon wedges (optional)

Instructions

  1. Set up your breading station with three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko mixed with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  2. Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels. If using chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch thick strips about 4 inches long.
  3. Dredge each piece of chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Dip in egg, letting excess drip off. Press into panko mixture until fully coated. Place on a plate and repeat with remaining chicken.
  4. Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
  5. Arrange breaded tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece. Cook in batches if needed.
  6. Lightly spray tops of tenders with avocado oil.
  7. Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes. At the 4-minute mark, flip each tender and spray the other side lightly with oil. Continue cooking for remaining 4 minutes.
  8. Check for doneness: internal temperature should reach 165°F. Cook in 1-minute increments if needed.
  9. Let tenders rest in the basket for 2 minutes before serving.
  10. Serve immediately with dipping sauces and lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Don’t skip the flour step—it helps the coating stick. Use panko breadcrumbs for maximum crunch. Spray oil halfway through cooking for a golden finish. Let breaded chicken rest 5 minutes before cooking for better adhesion. Avoid overcrowding the basket to prevent sogginess.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, kid-friendly chicken, quick dinner, easy chicken recipe

Find it online: https://spoonmira.com/easy-crispy-air-fryer-chicken-tenders-kids-love/