These Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside making them a family favorite! They are much healthier than deep-fried chicken tenders so if you’re looking for an easy and delicious dinner, this recipe should definitely be added to your meal rotation!
One of the best things about this easy recipe is that it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table fast.
If you love air fryer chicken recipes, you may also enjoy these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders. You might also like some of these other Chicken Tenderloin Recipes.
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Air Fryer Shake and Bake Chicken
One of the best things about making a chicken recipe for dinner is that chicken is full of protein and other nutrients such as zinc, iron, and B vitamins. So, this recipe is not only healthy and kid-friendly but also easy to make!
Why I Love This Recipe
The taste and texture of these chicken tenderloins make them a great family recipe!
- Ready in under 30 minutes
- Easy to make
- Perfect for picky eaters
If you love air fryer recipes like this one, you may also enjoy this Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Wings recipe.
Ingredients
To make this air fryer chicken recipe, you will need a few simple ingredients. The best thing about these ingredients is that they are all budget-friendly and easy to find at your local grocery, so you won’t regret making the trip for this simple meal.
chicken tenderloins – For this recipe you will need the raw unbreaded chicken tenders that you can find in the meat department of your local store.
shake and bake – You can use any variety of shake and bake that your family prefers. I like to use the ranch herb or the parmesan crusted.
oil – For this recipe I prefer to use olive oil.
Substitutions
Chicken: If you don’t have chicken tenderloins on hand, you can slice a chicken breast into chicken strips and use them instead.
Oil: You can also use any other oil of your choice such as vegetable or avocado oil.
Variations / Options / Add-Ins
If you would like to add some extra flavor to your air fryer chicken tenders, there are a few variations and options that you can try.
Herbs: You can add more spices for extra flavor such as paprika, onion powder, or garlic powder.
Spicy: You can also add some hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the shake and bake for a little kick of heat.
Cheesy: To make these cheesy, you can add some grated parmesan cheese to the breadcrumb mixture before you bread the chicken.
Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
You only need a couple kitchen tools to help you make this recipe. Gather these tools and get ready to enjoy this simple meal.
- air fryer – I used an 8 quart air fryer, however you can use any size air fryer that you have on hand.
- gallon sized bag – I used a gallon sized storage bag, but you could use a bowl instead.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins
Making this recipe is so simple. Just follow the instructions below and you will have a meal that your entire family will love in no time at all.
Step 1: Remove the tendon from the chicken – optional
To remove the tendon from the chicken, place the tender on a cutting board, grip the tendon with a paper towel, place a knife edge on the tendon forcefully against the cutting board and pull the tendon away from the chicken. Do this to all the tenders.
Step 2: Rinse and dry the chicken
Rinse the tenders with water, set them on paper towels, and pat them dry.
Step 3: Add the shake and bake to a Ziploc bag
Add your shake and bake to a gallon bag with 1 tablespoon of oil; this will moisten the crumbs and help them stick to the tenders, and prevent drying out the chicken while cooking.
Step 4: Bread the chicken tenderloins
Place 2-3 tenders in the bag and seal the bag with some air. Roll the top of the bag and trap the air creating a ballooned space in the bag. Shake vigorously to fully coat each tender; roll the mix and tenders as you shake.
Step 5: Add the breaded chicken to the air fryer basket
Remove breaded tenders and place them in the air fryer basket that’s been sprayed with oil.
Step 6: Repeat until all the chicken is breaded
Repeat until all tenders are breaded and placed in the air fryer basket.
Step 7: Spray the chicken tenders with oil and then air fry
Spray the tenders with oil, and cook at 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping the tenders at 9 minutes.
Step 8: Cool the cooked chicken slightly then garnish and serve
Remove tenders and let cool. Garnish and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce for tenders.
Serving Suggestions
I love to serve this shake and bake chicken with a side dish like this Copycat Chick-fil-a Mac and Cheese and this Broccoli Bacon and Cheese Salad recipe.
Pro Tips
Here are a few tips that you can use to make sure that this recipe turns out perfectly for you every time that you make it.
- Removing the tendon takes a little effort, but it’s worth it in my opinion as the tendon can be tough and chewy.
- Spraying the chicken with oil before air frying helps to ensure that it will get crispy and not dry out.
- Make sure to shake the bag vigorously so that each tender is fully coated in the shake and bake.
- Be careful to not overcrowd your air fryer basket, you want the air to move freely around the tenders. You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- If you are making chicken nuggets instead of tenders, you will need to reduce the cooking time by about 3 – 4 minutes.
- Make sure that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the chicken tender.
- I prefer to use olive oil spray instead of cooking spray when spraying the chicken, but you can use either one depending on what you have on hand.
- Pair with your favorite dipping sauce like ranch dressing or bbq sauce.
FAQs
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 4-5 minutes or until heated through. You can also reheat on a baking sheet in the oven at 350°F for 8-10 minutes.
Yes, you can freeze the chicken tenders for up to 2 months in an airtight container or freezer bag.
More Air Fryer Recipes
If you like cooking in the air fryer, give these recipes a try:
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📋 Recipe
Easy Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins (Shake and Bake)
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- ziploc bag
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders 6-9 count
- 2.5 ounces shake and bake one packet
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1-2 stems of green onion for garnish
Instructions
- To remove the tendon from the chicken, place the tender on a cutting board, grip the tendon with a paper towel, place a knife edge on the tendon forcefully against the cutting board and pull the tendon away from the chicken. Do this to all the tenders.
- Rinse the tenders with water, set them on paper towels, and pat them dry.
- Add your shake and bake to a gallon bag with 1 tablespoon of oil; this will moisten the crumbs and help them stick to the tenders, and prevent drying out the chicken while cooking.
- Place 2-3 tenders in the bag and seal the bag with some air. Roll the top of the bag and trap the air creating a ballooned space in the bag. Shake vigorously to fully coat each tender; roll the mix and tenders as you shake.
- Remove breaded tenders and place them in the air fryer basket that’s been sprayed with oil.
- Repeat until all tenders are breaded and placed in the air fryer basket.
- Spray the tenders with oil, and cook at 400°F for 15 minutes, flipping the tenders at 9 minutes.
- Remove tenders and let cool.
- Garnish and enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce for tenders.
Notes
- Removing the tendon takes a little effort, but it’s worth it in my opinion as the tendon can be tough and chewy.
- Spraying the chicken with oil before air frying helps to ensure that it will get crispy and not dry out.
- Make sure to shake the bag vigorously so that each tender is fully coated in the shake and bake.
- Be careful to not overcrowd your air fryer basket, you want the air to move freely around the tenders.
- You may need to cook them in batches depending on the size of your air fryer. If you are making chicken nuggets instead of tenders, you will need to reduce the cooking time by about 3 – 4 minutes.
- Make sure that the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F in the thickest part of the chicken tender.