Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Crispy air fryer chicken tenders are breaded with panko and cooked to golden perfection in just 10 minutes at 400°F. Paired with a tangy-sweet honey mustard sauce made from mayo, Dijon, and honey, they’re an easy, irresistible meal.
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
- 3 plates to drudge chicken
- 1 mixing bowl
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tenders:
- 1 ½ lb chicken tenders or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 ½ cups panko breadcrumbs
- Kosher salt to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Cooking spray preferably olive oil or nonstick
For the Honey Mustard Sauce:
- ⅓ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 3 tbsp honey
- ¼ tsp hot sauce optional, for a kick
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- – Bowl 1: Add the flour.
- – Bowl 2: Whisk together the eggs and buttermilk until smooth.
- – Bowl 3: Place the panko breadcrumbs.
- Working in batches, dredge each chicken tender in the flour (shake off excess), dip it into the egg-buttermilk mixture, then coat it thoroughly with panko, pressing lightly to adhere. Set the breaded tenders aside on a plate.
- Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket (avoid overcrowding; cook in batches if needed). Spray the tops of the tenders lightly with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for 5 minutes, then flip the tenders, spray the other side lightly, and cook for another 5 minutes, or until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- While the chicken cooks, whisk together the mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey, and hot sauce (if using) in a small bowl. Season with a pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Adjust to taste.
- Transfer the cooked chicken tenders to a platter. Serve warm with the honey mustard sauce on the side for dipping.