Crispy Air-Fried Chicken Tenders (Print Version)

Juicy chicken strips coated in seasoned breadcrumbs and air-fried until golden and crispy.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs chicken tenders or boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips

→ Breading

02 - 3/4 cup whole-wheat breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
05 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
06 - 1/2 tsp onion powder
07 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Coating

10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 2 tbsp low-fat milk
12 - Olive oil spray

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Pat chicken tenders dry using paper towels.
03 - In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and low-fat milk.
04 - In a separate bowl, blend breadcrumbs, Parmesan, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
05 - Dip each chicken strip into the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then press into breadcrumb mixture ensuring even coverage.
06 - Place coated chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket; lightly spray both sides with olive oil.
07 - Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
08 - Serve immediately with desired dipping sauce.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The crust shatters between your teeth but the chicken stays impossibly juicy inside, no dry texture in sight.
  • You can make a batch in under 30 minutes from cold kitchen to steaming plate.
  • A sprinkle of smoked paprika and Parmesan makes these taste way more interesting than the frozen kind.
02 -
  • Don't skip the drying step—I learned this the hard way when my first batch came out soggy because I went straight from rinsing to breading.
  • The oil spray matters more than you'd think; without it you'll get a tender that's more bread-heavy than crispy, so invest in a good spray bottle or use the air fryer basket spray if yours has one.
03 -
  • If you're doubling the batch, resist the urge to stack the tenders—they need space to crisp properly, so work in two rounds if your basket is small.
  • Let the breading mixture sit for a few minutes while the air fryer preheats; the breadcrumbs absorb a bit of moisture and stick better during cooking.
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