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Three air fryer chicken tenders on a white plate next to a ramekin of barbecue sauce. One of the tenders is cut in half.
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These air fryer chicken tenders are crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and so flavorful! Make them for dinner or freeze them for quick and easy meals later. The whole family will love these!
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Marinating Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 28 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds boneless/skinless chicken tenders
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce or buffalo sauce
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons seasoned salt
  • 2 cups Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Crumbs
  • 2 eggs whisked with a splash of water
  • Fine sea salt & black pepper

Instructions

  • Whisk together the buttermilk and hot sauce in a lidded bowl or container. Add the chicken tenders to the container, tossing to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1-2 hours, but ideally overnight.
  • When you are ready to assemble the chicken tenders, place the marinated chicken in a colander, draining off the excess liquid.
  • Grab 3 large, shallow bowls or pie plates. In one, whisk together the flour, seasoned salt, and a heavy pinch of sea salt and black pepper. In the second, place the eggs whisked with a splash of water. In the third, place the corn flake crumbs.
  • Dredge each chicken tender in the flour mixture; coat thoroughly. Dip into the egg wash, coating well. Finally, coat in the corn flake crumbs, using your hands to lightly press the crumbs onto the chicken. Place the breaded tenders on a baking sheet.
  • While coating the chicken, preheat an air fryer to 400°F for 10-15 minutes.
  • Once the air fryer is preheated, carefully place the breaded chicken tenders in an even layer into the air fryer basket; you will need to work in batches. Air fry at 400°F for 8 minutes, flipping halfway through.

To freeze:

  • Place the breaded, uncooked chicken tenders on a parchment-lined sheet tray. Place the tray in the freezer for about 2 hours, until the strips are frozen through. Place the frozen strips in a zip-top freezer bag; freeze for up to 3 months.
  • To cook, preheat an air fryer to 400°F for 10-15 minutes.
  • Once the air fryer is preheated, add the frozen chicken tenders in an even layer into the air fryer basket. Air fry at 400°F for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Notes

  • You can also use 2 pounds of boneless/skinless chicken breast, butterflied and cut into 1 ½ to 2-inch strips, in place of the boneless/skinless chicken tenders.
  • I like to use the boxed Kellogg’s Corn Flakes Crumbs for convenience, but you can make your own crumbs from a box of corn flakes. Make sure the crumbs are very fine – I recommend using a food processor if making your own.
  • If you’d like your chicken tenders to be extra golden, lightly spray the breaded tenders with cooking spray before air frying.
  • If you do not like touching raw chicken, you can place the seasoned flour and the corn flake crumbs in separate gallon-size zip-top bags. Toss the marinated and drained chicken in the bag with the flour, shaking to coat. Pour the chicken into a large bowl with the whisked eggs; use tongs to coat the chicken thoroughly with the eggs. Finally, add the chicken to the bag with the corn flake crumbs and toss to coat, pressing the crumbs into the chicken.