How long should you cook unbreaded chicken tenders in your air fryer? The short answer is 10 to 12 minutes at a temperature of 400°F or 200°C, flipping them halfway through.
If those details don’t result in tasty, juicy chicken tenders, scan through the guide below for essential prep tips. You should have to endure air-fryer chicken tenders as a healthy entree — you should crave them.
1. Use real tenderloins
The chicken tenderloin is a small, delicate strip of meat located below the chicken breast. It is smaller and thinner than breast meat, and therefore cooks differently. Using real tenderloins, rather than sliced chicken breasts, often produces better results — because the meat is already more delicate in texture and the pieces are more likely to be evenly sized.
If you do cut your own chicken pieces, slice them as evenly as you can. Uniform pieces cook more predictably.
2. Pat dry and season
Use paper towels to pat your tenders dry. Then brush the tenders lightly with oil or melted butter and add salt, pepper, and any other dry seasonings you would like.
If you prefer to marinate the tenders, you can do that for 15 or 20 minutes before cooking. Note that some sweet sauces can burn in the air fryer. To avoid that, you can brush the sauce on the tenders after cooking.
Looking for tips on air-frying breaded chicken strips? See: How long to cook chicken strips in an air fryer
3. Preheat the air fryer
Your chicken starts cooking immediately in a preheated air fryer, which can improve the texture.
4. Cook tenders in one layer
Size is a regular challenge with air fryers. Foods, including chicken tenders, air fry best when they’re arranged in a single layer and not touching each other at all. If your air-fryer has a deep basket, you can try standing the chicken pieces up around the edge. Otherwise, you may have to work in batches, but it’s worth it.
Read next: The top large-capacity air fryers
5. Flip halfway through
Flipping the tenders halfway through the cook cycle encourages even browning.
6. Don’t overcook
This is the hardest tip to follow, but also one of the most effective. Even slightly overcooked tenders can be dry and tough. Aim to remove them from the fryer just before they reach 165°F or 74°C. This is the safe temperature for chicken, but the temperature will rise slightly after you take them out of the fryer. Take them out a touch early and let them rest for a few minutes for a juicy result.
The first time you air-fry chicken tenders, the timing will take some guesswork. It helps to have an instant-read thermometer on hand. Check smaller tenders after 7 1/2 minutes and larger ones after 8 minutes. Make a note of how long it takes so you can be more precise next time.
Storage and reheating
You can store your leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. Alternatively, freeze them for up to three months.
You can reheat them in the air fryer or a 350°F (177°C) oven until they are just heated through.
Simple seasoning ideas
- Toss with barbecue sauce after cooking
- Mix melted butter and garlic powder, paprika, or chili powder, then brush on tenders before cooking
- Mix olive oil and lemon juice (2:1 ratio) plus salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Coat the chicken and let it sit for up to 30 minutes before cooking.
Quick and healthy chicken tenders
Unbreaded, air-fryer chicken tenders can anchor a quick and healthy meal. Keep those tenders moist and juicy by arranging them in one layer in the air fryer and cooking them just until they’ve reached a safe temperature. Adding seasonings, oil, butter, or a marinade can also improve the taste and texture. Have fun experimenting!
