Air Fryer Fried Chicken Tenders

These crispy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Tenders deliver all the crunchy, golden goodness of classic fried chicken without the extra oil of deep frying. Seasoned to perfection and cooked in the air fryer, they’re juicy on the inside with a perfectly crisp coating on the outside. This easy, family-friendly recipe is perfect for busy weeknights, game day, or anytime you’re craving comfort food made lighter, faster, and right at home.

Easy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Tenders Recipe

You really can make chicken just about any way you please in an air fryer, and that’s a big part of why I love it so much. You get that crave-worthy crispy texture using way less oil, with quick cook times and almost no cleanup, which is a win all around. It’s become such a go-to in my kitchen that I’ve built up a whole collection of air fryer recipes in the recipe index that I make on repeat.

A quick spritz of cooking spray or a light mist of oil over the breaded chicken before it goes into the air fryer is all it takes to help the coating turn golden and crisp. It keeps things lighter, saves on calories, and means you’re not left with a greasy mess afterward, just good, down-home flavor fried to crispy perfection.

Key ingredients to make juicy Air Fryer Fried Chicken Tenders: (Scroll down for full printable recipe card.)

Chicken – Chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips.
Buttermilk Marinade – Buttermilk, hot sauce, pickle juice tenderizes the chicken and adds flavor.
Flour – All purpose flour forms the base of the breading.
Spices – Seasoned salt, black pepper, granulated garlic or garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika.
Oil – Cooking spray or an oil mister filled with peanut oil or vegetable oil.

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How to Make the BEST Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe

Make Buttermilk Marinade – Whisk together buttermilk, dill pickle juice and hot pepper sauce. Add chicken. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the fridge to marinate.
Make Flour Breading – Whisk together the flour with seasoned salt, ground black pepper, granulated garlic, paprika and onion powder.
Egg Wash – In a separate shallow bowl whisk together the eggs, remaining buttermilk, dill pickle juice and a few dashes hot sauce.
Dredge Chicken – Remove from marinade, dredge into the seasoned flour mixture, then into the egg-buttermilk mixture coating both sides, allowing excess to drip off. Have nearby a sheet pan or platter to place breaded tenders. Repeat process with all chicken tenders.
Air Fry – Spray the inside of the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Spray chicken pieces on all sides with cooking spray or brush gently with oil. Arrange in basket in an even layer leaving space between for air to circulate. Be sure there is no overlap. Spray the tops of the chicken pieces again with cooking spray.
Cook – Fry per the cooking time in the recipe flipping halfway through cooking. Repeat process frying in batches.
Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauces.

Kitchen Equipment to Make Buttermilk Chicken Tenders Air Fryer

Large air fryer. You can also use the air fry function on your microwave or multi-cooker. Cook in batches if needed, depending on the size of your appliance.
Medium bowl.
Balloon whisk.
Measuring cups and measuring spoons.
Tongs to flip the chicken tenders.
Two shallow bowls or dredging trays.
Pastry brush, oil mister or cooking spray.
Sheet pan.
Meat thermometer.

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Recipe Variations, Tips and Substitutions

Chicken – You can use chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips for this recipe. Raw chicken tenders are smaller and will cook more quickly. Depending on the size and thickness, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly to accommodate.
Buttermilk – You can use whole milk in place of buttermilk. Typically to make your own buttermilk, you add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to each cup of whole milk. Let stand, then proceed with the recipe as written.
Spices – You could add cayenne pepper to the seasonings for extra spice.
Breading – You can use seasoned breadcrumbs like panko for the second coating.
Be Generous with the Cooking Spray – When cooking any breaded item in an air fryer, it’s important to coat the breading liberally with cooking spray, an oil mister or brush the exterior with oil. When using a pastry brush, be gentle to prevent disturbing the coating.
Use an Instant-Read Thermometer – If you’re uncertain, check for an internal temp of 165°F when inserted into the thickest portion of the chicken.
Keep Chicken Warm – If you are cooking in batches, preheat the oven to 200°F. Fit an oven safe rack into a sheet pan. Once air fried, transfer chicken to the oven to keep warm between batches.
Serving Options – Serve fried chicken tenders as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauces, as an entrée with your family’s favorite sides dishes, on salads, wraps or turn them into a chicken sandwich with dinner rolls, slider rolls or kaiser rolls.

Storage and Leftovers

Leftovers – Store leftover fried chicken tenders in an airtight container or wrapped in heavy duty foil chilled in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating – Reheat in the air fryer at a lower temperature for approximately 2-3 minutes.
Freezer – You can freeze this fried chicken recipe in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the air fryer just before serving.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes to Make

Juicy tomato glazed Air Fryer Meatloaf.
Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken Breasts can be made with your favorite barbecue sauce.
Load these Air Fryer Baked Potatoes up with butter, sour cream, bacon and cheese.
Air Fryer Pork Chops are tender on the outside with a crispy outside.
Make the family Air Fryer Macaroni and Cheese for a side dish in no time.
Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken is finger licking good.
EASY Air Fryer Hamburgers.
Air Fryer Jalapeno Poppers from The Pioneer Woman.

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