It’s Friday night and I am looking for a quick, easy, and tasty dinner option. Even as an adult, there is seldom anything better than crispy chicken tenders with a side of fries. Am I right? If you are looking for restaurant-quality chicken tenders from home, look no further. This recipe for frozen chicken tenders in air fryer will change your life!
Why Use An Air Fryer To Make Chicken Tenders?
Air fryers are a great option for cooking frozen chicken tenders. They do not require any oil and they can be used to cook a variety of foods. Air fryers use hot air to cook the food instead of oil, which is a healthier option than deep frying or pan frying your food.
It also means that the food will be crispier than if you were to use oil on a pan or in an oven. Air fried food is usually ready in half the time as well, so you don’t have to wait around for your food before it’s done and ready to eat!
I have been making frozen chicken tenders in my oven for years. You have to preheat the oven to at least 425 degrees which seems to take an eternity. If you want your breading crispy, add another hour of cooking time.
Thank goodness for my Ninja! The air fryer does not need to be preheated, the tenders take less time to cook at only 20 minutes, and the breading on the chicken tenders rivals any of the local fast food restaurants!
Frozen Chicken Tenders In Air Fryer
To make this recipe for air fryer frozen chicken tenders, you will need a bag of your favorite chicken tenders and an air fryer. I have the Ninja Deluxe 9 in 1 (8-quart size) which not only has an air fryer oven feature but also bakes, roasts, and pressure cooks.
Place your favorite brand of frozen chicken strips into the air fryer basket. I recently discovered the Top Chick brand. I can not recommend them enough! They are definitely restaurant quality. The breading is crispy and the chicken is white muscle meat.
You do not need any cooking spray. You should attempt to place the frozen tenders into a single layer, however I have just thrown them in there overlapping and they have still come out amazing.
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees with a cook time of 20 minutes. I use oven mitts to remove my basket and just shake it after it has cooked for about 10 minutes and again at 15 minutes. You may wish to use tongs to flip the tenders instead.
The tenders are ready when they are golden brown. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165 degrees F.
Air fryer brands differ so you should check on your crispy chicken strips as they cook. The 20 minute cook time may vary. If you make several batches of air fryer chicken nuggets, the second batch will take less time as the air fryer is already pre-heated from cooking the first.
Serve your tenders with your favorite dipping sauce. I love ranch dressing, buffalo sauce, Chic Fil A sauce which you can now purchase in many grocery stores, bbq sauce, or honey mustard. If you are looking for a sweet yet spicy sauce option, I recommend Thai Style Sweet Chili Sauce.
These frozen tenders pair well with a variety of classic side dishes such as french fries, sweet potato fries, potato wedges, rice, or even pasta. Add a side salad or even cut them up for a crispy chicken salad. In addition, you can use the tenders to make chicken parmesan.
Homemade Chicken Tenders In Air Fryer
If you have a bit more time or wish to control the type of breading on your chicken tenders, you can make them from scratch.
This full chicken tenders recipe is a delicious meal. You have the option to use bread crumbs or if you are cutting back on your carbohydrate intake you can use pork rinds for your breading.
The full recipe for homemade chicken tenders can be found at this link:
Delicious Crispy Homemade Chicken Tenders
Leftover Chicken Tenders
If you have any leftover chicken tenders, they should be stored in an airtight container and placed in the refrigerator.
To reheat the tenders, you should use the air fryer. Position the leftover tenders into an even layer in the air fryer basket. Set the temperature to 400 degrees and let cook for about 5-8 minutes, flipping after several minutes to ensure both sides are crispy.
Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Check out these other easy air fryer recipes:
Restaurant Quality Frozen Chicken Tender In Air Fryer
Ingredients
- Bag of Your Favorite Frozen Chicken Tenders
Instructions
- Place your favorite brand of frozen chicken strips into the air fryer basket. You should attempt to place the frozen tenders into a single layer, however I have just thrown them in there overlapping and they have still come out amazing.
- Set the air fryer to 400 degrees and a cook time to 20 minutes
- I use oven mitts to remove my basket and just shake it after it has cooked forabout 10 minutes and again at 15 minutes. You may wish to use tongs to flip the tenders instead.
- Thetenders are ready when they are golden brown. The internal temperature of thechicken should be at least 165 degrees F.
- Air fryer brands differ so you should check on your crispy chicken strips as theycook. The 20 minute cook time may vary. If you make several batches of airfryer chicken nuggets, the second batch will take less time as the air fryer isalready pre-heated from cooking the first.
- Serve your tenders with your favorite dipping sauce.
In summary
Whether you are looking to make a main meal or a quick snack, frozen chicken tenders in air fryer paired with your favorite sauce is a delicious option the entire family will love. With no prep time, these chicken tenders are crunchy perfection!
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https://www.pinterest.com/pin/609534130830230781/About the Author:
Hi! I’m Chris. I’m a mother, wife, college professor by trade and micro-influencer by hobby. I am a bargain hunter, jack of all trades, and master of chaos.
Thank you for reading my random thoughts on travel, my stories of life as an under appreciated mother of a teenager, and my easy recipes that have won no awards but instead my family’s love and adoration (which is WAY better, right?).
