Sophie Bennett
Chicken tenders are a family favourite, and air fryers are a great way to make them crispy and juicy without deep frying. The key to getting that crispy texture is to brine the chicken tenders first, and then use a combination of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. You can also add spices to the breadcrumbs for extra flavour. The chicken tenders are then placed in the air fryer in a single layer and cooked for around 8 minutes at 400°F (200°C) until golden and crispy.
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What You'll Learn
How to prepare chicken tenders for breading
Preparing chicken tenders for breading is a simple process. Firstly, mix water with kosher salt and sugar in a large bowl until they are dissolved. Then, submerge the chicken tenders in the solution and leave them to brine for 30 minutes or up to overnight if you're preparing this ahead of time and storing them in the refrigerator.
After brining, remove the chicken tenders and pat them dry with a paper towel. This step is important as it ensures the breading will stick to the chicken. Next, prepare your breading mixture. In a large bowl, add flour, eggs, and a teaspoon of your chosen seasoning mix. Mix this well until the batter is slightly looser than pancake batter. If it's too thick, simply add a tablespoon of water at a time and mix until you reach the desired consistency.
On a large plate or pan, mix the breadcrumbs with the remaining seasoning. You can use regular breadcrumbs, panko, or a combination of both for a mixed texture. Now, you're ready to bread the chicken tenders. Dip each tender into the egg mixture, letting any excess batter drip off, and then coat it generously in the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly into the chicken with your hands so that the breading sticks and there are no bald spots.
Once all the tenders are breaded, place them on a cutting board or baking tray while you prepare the air fryer. Spray both sides of the chicken tenders with oil, this will help them get extra crispy. You can use a neutral oil spray like avocado oil or olive oil, or simply brush the tenders with oil if you don't have a spray.
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How to make the breading mixture
To make the breading mixture for chicken tenders in an air fryer, you can follow these steps:
Firstly, prepare a shallow bowl of beaten egg. You can add some flour to the egg mixture if desired, which should be mixed until the batter is slightly looser than pancake batter. If it is too thick, add a tablespoon of water at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
Next, prepare the dry mixture. In a separate shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs with your chosen seasonings. A popular choice is panko breadcrumbs, which will give your chicken tenders an extra crispy texture. You can also use other types of breadcrumbs, such as plain or a mix of different varieties. Season the breadcrumbs with salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper to taste. You can also add some flour to the breadcrumb mixture for a thicker coating.
Once you have prepared your wet and dry mixtures, you can start the breading process by dipping the chicken tenders in the egg mixture and then coating them generously in the seasoned breadcrumbs. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly into the chicken with your hands to ensure an even and secure coating.
Finally, after breading all the chicken tenders, place them on a cutting board or baking tray, and spray or drizzle both sides generously with oil. This step will help to ensure that your chicken tenders cook evenly and achieve a crispy texture when air-fried.
Now you are ready to cook your breaded chicken tenders in the air fryer!
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How to cook chicken tenders in an air fryer
Chicken tenders are a family favourite and can be made in an air fryer with minimal oil. The end result is juicy on the inside and extra crispy on the outside.
Preparation
Firstly, decide if you want to brine your chicken tenders. Brining the chicken for 30 minutes allows the meat to retain moisture and lets the exterior get crispy at higher temperatures. To brine, mix water with kosher salt and sugar in a large bowl until dissolved. Submerge the chicken tenders in the solution and leave for 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator.
Next, prepare your breading. In a small bowl, mix salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper. In a separate large bowl, add flour, eggs, and 1 teaspoon of the seasoning mix. Mix well until the batter is slightly looser than pancake batter. If it is too thick, add 1 tablespoon of water at a time. On a large plate or pan, mix the panko breadcrumbs and the remaining seasoning.
Remove the chicken tenders from the brine and pat them dry with a paper towel. Dip the chicken tenders in the egg mixture and let the excess batter drip off, then add them to the panko and press the breadcrumbs in firmly with your hands on all sides of the chicken.
Cooking
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not stacked. Spray the top side of the tenders with a neutral oil spray, such as avocado or olive oil. Air fry for 8 minutes, then flip the chicken tenders over and spray with oil on the other side. Continue cooking for another 5 to 7 minutes, or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the centre of the chicken reads 165°F (74°C).
Serving
Chicken tenders can be served with your favourite dipping sauce, such as honey mustard, gochujang sauce, honey sriracha sauce, or ranch. They can be paired with sides such as French fries, tater tots, sweet potato fries, onion rings, or a salad.
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How to cook chicken tenders in an oven
To cook chicken tenders in an oven, you can follow a similar process to air fryer recipes, but without the need for an air fryer, of course!
First, prepare your chicken tenders by removing the tendon. You can do this by grabbing it with a paper towel and placing it between the tines of a fork, then pulling down until it slides out. Next, create a marinade by placing the tenderloins in a sealable container with your chosen seasonings. For example, you could use soy sauce, olive oil, spicy brown mustard, garlic powder, and ground ginger. Alternatively, you could try a dry seasoning mix of paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and brown sugar. Leave the chicken to marinate for at least as long as it takes your oven to preheat to the required temperature.
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a baking sheet with olive oil spray or non-stick spray. Place the chicken tenders on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink. The internal temperature should be 165°F. If you prefer a crispier finish, you can cook the tenders at 400°F for 10 minutes, then broil for an additional 1-2 minutes.
There you have it! Juicy, tender, and flavorful oven-baked chicken tenders, ready to be enjoyed.
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What to serve with chicken tenders
Chicken tenders are a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides to add flavour and nutrition to your meal. Here are some ideas for what to serve with your air-fried chicken tenders:
Vegetables
Vegetables are a healthy and tasty option to serve with chicken tenders. You can serve them raw, steamed, air-fried, or roasted. Some ideas for vegetables to serve include broccoli, carrots, parsnips, peas, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, beets, onion, mushrooms, and cucumbers. You can also make a salad, such as a kale Caesar salad or a fennel and chickpea salad.
Pasta and Rice
Pasta is a kid-friendly option that can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as plain cheesy pasta, a creamy pasta bake, or noodles with butter. You can also add nutrient-dense ingredients like beans, legumes, vegetables, or healthy fats. Rice is another simple side dish that can be served with chicken tenders.
Potatoes
Potatoes are a classic side dish that can be prepared in a variety of ways. You can make mashed potatoes, crispy smashed buffalo potatoes, or air fryer Hasselback potatoes with garlic herb butter. Baked potatoes with toppings like cheese, sour cream, or chili are also a great option. For a lighter option, you can make a German potato salad with a warm bacon-mustard vinaigrette.
Dips and Sauces
Chicken tenders are often served with a variety of dips and sauces. Some popular options include honey mustard, gochujang sauce, yum yum sauce, ranch, ketchup, honey yogurt, and BBQ sauce. You can also serve them with lemon wedges for squeezing.
Other Sides
Some other side dish ideas to serve with chicken tenders include mac and cheese, orzo with zucchini and tomatoes, Mediterranean quinoa salad, corn on the cob, and fruit salad.
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Frequently asked questions
First, mix water with kosher salt and sugar in a large bowl until they are dissolved. Submerge the chicken tenders in the solution and brine for 30 minutes or up to overnight in the refrigerator. Next, dip the chicken tenders in a mixture of flour, eggs, and seasoning, and then into the breadcrumb mixture. Spray the chicken tenders with oil and place them in the air fryer in a single layer.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
Depending on the thickness of the chicken tenders, they should take between 8 to 14 minutes to cook at 400°F.
You can use olive oil, avocado oil, or a neutral oil spray.
Some good dipping sauces include ranch, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, honey sriracha sauce, and ketchup.
