These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are incredibly juicy, tender, and so simple to make. This chicken recipe is so flexible that you won’t miss the breading! This tasty air fryer main dish goes well with salads, wraps, and more!
Please don’t get me wrong – I love me some crispy breaded fried chicken. But at home, I don’t always want to deal with actually breading the chicken. It takes time and it can get messy.
Sometimes I just like to keep it simple. A quick marinade, toss it in the air fryer. Done! That’s the deal with this recipe. These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are basic AF and can be used for lots of different kinds of meals. AKA naked chicken tenders.
I even enjoy eating them cold! The quick marinade helps them become perfectly tender and juicy. And the air fryer helps maintain that juiciness all through cooking.
Air frying chicken breast strips is a quick and healthy way to put a delicious meal on the table. The air fryer gives you all the flavor and crunch of deep fried chicken without the extra calories and mess of dealing with hot oil.
But knowing exactly how long to cook chicken breast strips in the air fryer can be tricky. Undercook them and they’ll be chewy. Overcook them and they’ll be dry and tough.
Follow this guide to get perfectly cooked and crispy air fried chicken breast every time.
Why Air Fry Chicken Breast Strips?
Airfrying chicken breasts without bones or skin is a great way to cook them. The hot air quickly cooks the chicken all the way through and makes the outside crispy.
Here are some of the benefits of air frying chicken breast strips:
-
Uses little to no oil, resulting in lower fat and calories compared to deep frying. Just a light mist of oil is needed.
-
Cooks the chicken quickly thanks to hot air circulating all around the strips.
-
Gives you that satisfying crunch you expect from fried chicken but without being greasy,
-
Easy cleanup since oil splatter is minimized.
-
Convenient for quick weeknight meals. Chicken strips cook fast in the air fryer.
-
Versatile ingredient. Chicken strips can be used in salads, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, and more.
How to Prepare Chicken Breast Strips for the Air Fryer
Start with boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Leaving the skin on can cause flare ups in the air fryer.
Rinse the chicken and pat it dry with paper towels Wet chicken won’t get as crispy
Slice each chicken breast lengthwise into long 1-inch wide strips. Cutting against the grain helps the chicken cook up tender.
Season the strips with salt, pepper, and any other spices you want. Herbs like rosemary, thyme, and oregano are tasty on chicken.
For extra crispy chicken, coat the strips with flour, panko breadcrumbs, or cornflake crumbs. The coating will get nice and crunchy in the air fryer.
Mist both sides of the chicken strips lightly with oil. This helps promote browning and prevents sticking.
How Long to Cook Chicken Strips in an Air Fryer
Air fryer cooking times can vary based on the thickness of the chicken strips and the model of air fryer you’re using.
Here are some general guidelines for how long to cook chicken breast strips:
-
Thin strips (1/4 inch thick): 5 – 7 minutes
-
Medium strips (1/2 inch thick): 7 – 10 minutes
-
Thick strips (3/4 inch thick): 10 – 12 minutes
To ensure food safety, the chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Use an instant read thermometer to check.
For boneless, skinless chicken breast, we recommend setting the air fryer temperature to 380°F. This allows the interior to cook through without over-browning the exterior.
Before putting the chicken in the air fryer, always heat it up for three to five minutes. By preheating, you make sure the air fryer basket gets hot enough right away so you can start crisping the chicken.
Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave some space around each strip for air circulation. Cook chicken in batches for even cooking if needed.
Flip the strips over halfway through the cook time. This allows both sides to cook evenly.
Check for doneness a couple minutes early. Air fryers can overcook quickly. The chicken is done when it’s opaque throughout and reaches 165°F.
Let the cooked chicken strips rest for 5 minutes before serving. The temperature will rise a bit more as they rest.
Tips for the Best Air Fried Chicken Breast Strips
It’s easy to make air-fried chicken breast strips that are always juicy and crispy. Here are some tips:
-
Pat the raw chicken dry before cooking for maximum crispness.
-
Use boneless, skinless chicken breasts to prevent flare ups.
-
Cut against the grain into 1-inch strips for tender chicken.
-
Season simply with salt, pepper, herbs or spice blends.
-
For extra crunch, coat with flour, panko or cornflakes.
-
Mist with oil before air frying to promote browning.
-
Don’t overcrowd. Cook in batches for even cooking.
-
Flip halfway through cooking for crispy all over.
-
Check temperature before time is up to prevent overcooking.
-
Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Pairing and Serving Ideas
The possibilities are endless when it comes to serving crispy, golden air fried chicken breast strips. Here are some delicious ideas:
-
Classic dipping sauces – Ranch, barbecue, honey mustard, etc.
-
On a salad – Fry up some chicken strips to top your favorite greens.
-
In a wrap or sandwich – Chicken strips are tasty in a tortilla or on bread.
-
Over rice or quinoa – For a simple, protein-packed meal bowl.
-
With roasted veggies – Chicken and veggies are a complete meal.
-
On nachos or tacos – An easy weeknight taco night topping.
-
In breakfast hash – Add chicken strips to potatoes and veggies.
-
With waffles or pancakes – Savory and sweet!
-
On pizza – Use chicken strips as fun pizza topping.
-
As an appetizer – Slice into bites to pass around.
Air fried chicken breast strips are incredibly versatile. Their convenience and crunchy texture make them a great addition to many meals.
Follow this guide for exactly how long to cook chicken strips to get the best results in your air fryer. Crispy, juicy chicken is just minutes away!
How to reheat these chicken tenders:
From the fridge: Place cold tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350 for 5-7 minutes or until the tenders are hot. These tenders would also reheat well in a HotLogic Portable Oven – link to my review.
From the freezer: Place frozen cooked tenders in the air fryer and cook at 350F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.
How do you make these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders?
The first step is to prepare the chicken. Place the raw chicken breasts on a cutting board, and use a sharp chef’s knife to slice the chicken breast into uniform strips about 1 inch thick.
In these photos, I’m using my Misen Chef’s Knife ! Depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts, you should get 8-12 chicken tender slices from one pound of chicken.
Most chicken tenders are made with tenderloin cuts, but I like to use sliced chicken breasts because I always have them in the freezer. Feel free to use either for this recipe!.
Each chicken breast should make 4-6 strips. If your chicken breast is on the thicker side, make 4-5 slices closer together. If your chicken breast is thinner, make 3-4 slices a bit farther apart.
One of my chicken breasts was thicker, and one was thinner. I got 9 chicken slices total from my slightly over 1 pound pair of chicken breasts.
Next, gather the remaining ingredients in order to marinate the chicken. Cut the chicken into strips and put them in a large bowl. Add the oil, vinegar, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Use tongs to mix the ingredients together.
Cover the bowl and place in the fridge to marinate for 30 minutes to 2 hours. This step is important for tender and juicy chicken! Do not let the chicken marinate for over 12 hours – this could over tenderize the chicken and give it a mushy texture.
To cook the chicken, place the strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Try to keep them evenly spaced so they don’t touch, if possible. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to do this in batches.
Air fry at 380F for 9-11 minutes, flipping halfway through. When the chicken tenders reach 165F degrees on the inside and the edges and sides start to turn golden brown, they are done.
Serve chicken tenders immediately on a salad, in a wrap, in a grain bowl, or with sides like tater tots or fries.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
FAQ
How long to put strips in an air fryer?
Set the air fryer temperature to 380 degrees F (180 degrees C). Place frozen chicken strips in the air fryer basket, without touching or overcrowding. Cook until crispy, 11 to 12 minutes.