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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

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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.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

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.

Video

Keyword air fryer, chicken, dinner, snack