Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders

This Homemade Chicken Tender recipe is low in fat and calories. Don’t let that fool you, they are packed with flavor! Ready in just 12-minutes, this is one meal your entire family will love!

A plate of air fried chicken tenders with a ranch dipping sauce.

I am so totally loving my new Power Air Fryer! I can’t even begin to tell you how often we use this appliance. It’s the best new gadget I’ve gotten in a long time.
This healthy chicken tender recipe is ready in just 12 minutes! It has a fraction of the fat and calories of traditional fried chicken tenders because these are air fryer chicken tenders!
SIGN. ME. UP.
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I really do love my Power Air Fryer XL! Let me tell you why:

1. Cooking in the Air Fryer XL is FAST! It takes only 12 minutes to cook these Air Baked chicken tenders.

2. It is EASY to use. Simply select your temp, add the cooking time, and it’s ready to go in seconds!
3. Clean-up is SIMPLE. The Power Fryer XL has a nonstick surface, making it easy to clean. No more discarding the oil and cleaning the oil from the fryer!

4. It’s a WORKHORSE in the kitchen. It turns out deliciously crunchy food but without the added fats and oils of frying.

A plate of air fried chicken tenders with a bowl of ranch dipping sauce.

A plate of air fried chicken tenders with a bowl of ranch dipping sauce.

Of course, Garlic Parmesan is one of our favorite recipes, especially for fried chicken strips. If you’re not watching your calories, these are also great with a little brown butter drizzle.

Chicken is a powerhouse food easily adapting to nearly any flavor combination you can imagine. It is a great source of protein and a relatively good source for niacin and iron. Skinless chicken breast meat has fewer calories than dark meat, making it a great food if you’re watching your weight.
We’ve substituted these breaded chicken tenders anywhere we would normally eat chicken wings for a lower-calorie and lower-fat diet. Using our air fryer helps us achieve these goals since we cook with far less oil.
A close-up photo of an air fried garlic Parmesan chicken tender being dunked into ranch dressing.

A close-up photo of an air fried garlic Parmesan chicken tender being dunked into ranch dressing.

How Do I know When Chicken is Done?

Be sure to cook the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F (73.9 °C). The meat should no longer pink and the juices run clear.
A digital kitchen thermometer works great if you’re not sure or if you are new to the kitchen. I have one and it is my go-to tool in the kitchen anytime I’m cooking something new.

What’s in Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders?

Ingredients for homemade chicken strips:

Chicken tenders (chicken fingers of chicken nuggets), raw
Egg
Water
canola oil, olive oil, or non-fat cooking spray

For the dredge coating:

Panko Japanese bread crumbs: Panko is the “special ingredient” in these chicken tenders. I prefer panko to regular breadcrumbs because of it’s texture it creates a crispier tender as compared to traditional breadcrumbs. Especially when you are using the air fryer, panko makes a huge difference in the recipe!
Salt: I use fine Kosher salt but regular table salt may be substituted. If you prefer, you may substitute seasoned salt.
Ground black pepper: Freshly cracked has extraordinary flavor but ground works well, too.
Garlic powder: I prefer roasted garlic powder for its deep flavor but plain garlic powder may also be used.
Onion powder: May be omitted if you do not care for onion powder.
Parmesan cheese: I used freshly grated Parmesan cheese as it’s more flavorful but you may substitute shredded Parmesan.
Dipping Sauce: A sauce is optional. We love ranch or blue cheese dressing but these are also good with a drizzle of lemon juice.

How to Make Chicken Tenders?

Create the Panko dredge station in a large shallow bowl or baking pan. In a second bowl or pan, create the egg wash station.
Dip chicken tenders into the egg wash.
Dip tenders into the panko bread crumbs mixture.

Create the Panko dredge station.

Coat the chicken in the egg wash.

Coat the chicken in Panko.

1. 1. 1. Place the coated chicken into the fry basket. Spray a light coat of non-fat cooking spray over the panko to encourage browning.
    2. Set the temperature to 400 degrees F.
    3. Cook for 12 minutes (depending on the size of the chicken tenders). This time could be longer or shorter.
    4. See the recipe card below for full instructions.

Spray the tenders with non-fat cooking spray.

Set the Temperature.

Adjust the time. Flip chicken halfway thru cook time.

A close up image of a crispy, golden-brown chicken tender showing the texture from the panko bread crumbs.

Want to try this Easy Chicken Tender Recipe?

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