These easy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are baked, not fried, and have a flavorful crispy breading made of crushed tortilla chips. The whole family will love these crispy chicken tenderloins and they are a favorite with kids!
Try my Stuffed Chicken Breasts, these Broccoli Tots, or Air Fryer Potato Wedges next for another delicious next meal.
Chicken tenders are one thing that never fails with my kids. It's a fool-proof meal that I know my family loves and will eat every last bite. Baking them in the air fryer instead of frying keeps them healthy and easy!
Be sure to check out our other healthy air fryer recipes on this website like Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts and Air Fryer Fries. We also have an Air Fryer Cooking Chart if you want to use this breading recipe for chicken breasts and other foods.
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Why you'll love this recipe
- Baked in and ready in 20 minutes! This easy classic dinner is ready in as little as 20 minutes and bakes in the air fryer in as little as 8-10 minutes.
- Classic kid-friendly meal! Air fryer chicken tenders are a kids favorite and these are gluten-free and healthy!
- Uses up crumbs at the bottom of a tortilla chip bag! We use the crumbs or whole tortilla chips and crush them in a food processor or bag and bread each chicken strip with them for great flavor!
Wat ingredients you'll need
See recipe card for quantities.
- Chicken tenders - organic is best, but just to let you know you can also use chicken breasts for this recipe. Just make it the same way for air fryer chicken tenders and use chicken breast - see below for variations on how.
- Crushed tortilla chips - ok, you know those crumbled chips at the bottom of a tortilla bag? Don't throw them out! Use them for chicken tenders! It makes a great gluten-free breading for chicken. Just make sure the bag does say "gluten-free" if you need.
- Gluten-free flour - you can also use all purpose flour if gluten is not an issue, but really any gluten-free flour works for chicken tenderloins baked. It is the glue that helps to hold the egg on the chicken tenders.
- Eggs, whisked - this is the other glue that helps to hold the tortilla chips and breading to air fryer chicken tenders.
- Garlic powder, salt, and pepper - cause we need extra flavor here, right?
How to make air fryer chicken tenders
Full details and recipe instructions are in the recipe card below.
Place tortilla chips in a sealed zip bag and using a rolling pin, roll over them to crush them into a flour or breading consistency. You can also pulse them in a food processor. Measure out about 1 ½ cups.
Get three shallow bowls. Add flour to one, whisked eggs to the next, crushed tortilla to the third. Mix garlic powder and dash of salt and pepper to the flour. One at a time, dip chicken tender in flour then egg then tortilla. Repeat for each strip and place in a baking dish or large plate.
Start the air fryer and set the temperature to 360 degrees F. Open the tray and spray the bottom with cooking oil. When it beeps and says "add food", then transfer the breaded chicken tenders to the air fryer and bake 8-10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Storing
Cook these healthy air fryer chicken tenders first, then store any leftovers in a sealed airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating leftover chicken tenders
To reheat homemade chicken tenders, preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Place the previously cooked air fryer chicken tenders on a baking pan. Place in the oven and heat for about 10 minutes or until heated through.
Healthy ways to serve with air fryer chicken strips
These easy air fryer chicken tenders go great to top over salads, serve into tacos, and / or add a side with these wholesome chicken strips. Try them with a side of Garlic Parmesan Carrot Fries, Detox Salad, and your favorite soups like this Tortilla Soup.
Chicken variations
- Boneless skinless chicken breast - Raw chicken tenders in the air fryer can easily be turned into chicken breasts in the air fryer. Simply use a chicken breast and bread it in this tortilla chip crust and then bake it in the air fryer at 360 degrees F for about 19 minutes or until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
- Boneless chicken thighs- make then in the air fryer by heating at 380 degrees F and cooking them for 18-20 minutes, again until the internal temperature is 165 degrees F.
Recipe FAQ's
To cook chicken tenders in the air fryer, it takes 8-10 minutes at 360 degrees F.
In a conventional oven chicken tenders typically take about 20-25 minutes to cook at 375 degrees. The air fryer only takes about 10 minutes!
Check for doneness, by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the tenderloin. Make sure it reads 165 degrees F, which means it is safe to eat.
More Air Fryer Recipes You May Enjoy
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Easy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
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Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups tortilla chips crushed in a food processor or zip bag with a rolling pin
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders
- 2 eggs whisked
- 1 cup gluten-free flour (you can use all purpose flour if not gluten-free)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place tortilla chips in a sealed zip bag and using a rolling pin, roll over them to crush them into a flour or breading consistency. You can also pulse them in a food processor. Measure out about 1 ½ cups.
- Get three shallow bowls. Add flour to one, whisked eggs to the next, crushed tortilla to the third. Mix garlic powder and dash of salt and pepper to the flour.
- One at a time, dip chicken tender in flour then egg then tortilla. Repeat for each strip and place in a baking dish or large plate.
- Start the air fryer and set the temperature to 360 degrees F. Open the tray and spray the bottom with cooking oil. When it beeps and says "add food", then transfer the breaded chicken tenders to the air fryer and bake 8-10 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.
Kimberly says
Such a GREAT healthy and easy recipe. Thank you!
Danielle Fahrenkrug says
Hi Kimberly! Thank you for being here, and your sweet comment! These really are a favorite! xx