Make crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders in no time! Coated in a savory blend of Italian herbs and breadcrumbs, these golden chicken tenders are perfectly cooked in the air fryer for a healthier, yet delicious, meal.
Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders are amazingly easy. Today, I made a batch of Italian-Style Chicken Tenders for my kids, and they loved them!
Juicy, tender, and delicious. Best yet, they are prepared with a minimum of ingredients but have loads of flavor, which your entire family will love.
If you are looking for even more easy air fryer chicken recipes, some of my favorites are BBQ AIR FRYER CHICKEN BREAST, AIR FRYER GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN RECIPE, AIR FRYER HONEY BBQ CHICKEN WINGS, AIR FRYER CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI and AIR FRYER BUFFALO CHICKEN TENDERS.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- These Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with flavorful Italian herbs and seasonings
- They’re quick and easy to make, perfect for a busy weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer.
- With no frying oil required, they’re a healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken tenders, without sacrificing flavor.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Chicken tenders (tenderloins): Offers a juicy and tender bite that’s perfect for breading and air frying.
- Buttermilk: Helps tenderize the chicken and creates a rich, flavorful base for the breading to adhere.
- All-purpose flour: Forms the first layer of coating, giving the chicken a light crispiness.
- Cornstarch: Added to the flour mixture to help create an extra crispy coating when air fried.
- Egg: Used to bind the dry ingredients to the chicken, ensuring the breading sticks perfectly.
- Water: Added to the egg to create a smooth egg wash for better breading adhesion.
- Italian-style breadcrumbs or Panko: Provides a crispy, golden coating with delicious Italian seasoning for added flavor.
- Red pepper flakes (optional): Add a spicy kick to balance out the savory flavors.
How To Make Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders
Step One: Place chicken tenderloins in a large bowl and add buttermilk. Cover and place into the refrigerator to let them soak for at least 6 to 12 hours.
Step Two: When you’re ready to cook the chicken, get your breading station set up. In one bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, egg, and water. Stir well. This is your wet batter. Set aside. In another medium bowl, add panko crumbs (or breadcrumbs) and red pepper flakes.
Step Three: Preheat air fryer to 395 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 3-5 minutes.
Step Four: Coat each piece of chicken in the wet batter. Allow any extra to drip off into the wet batter bowl before transferring the chicken to the bowl of Panko crumbs. Coat each piece completely in Panko.
Step Five: After you’ve coated the chicken, place it in the air fryer basket. Set the cook time for 6 minutes. Flip and air fry for another 4-6 minutes. Cook until the chicken is a nice golden brown on the outside and completely white on the inside. An internal thermometer should read 165 degrees F when inserted into the middle of the chicken.
Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders Recipe Tips
- Don’t Skip the Buttermilk Soak: Allow the chicken tenders to marinate in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes to enhance the flavor and tenderness.
- Use Panko for Extra Crispiness: For an extra crispy texture, opt for Panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.
- Spray with Cooking Oil: Lightly spray the chicken tenders with cooking spray before air frying to ensure they come out golden brown and crispy.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Basket: Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece for even cooking.
- Flip Halfway Through: To achieve an evenly crispy coating, flip the chicken tenders halfway through the cooking process.
- Adjust for Thickness: Depending on the size and thickness of your chicken tenders, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Serve with a Dipping Sauce: Pair your crispy chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauces, like marinara, ranch, or a zesty aioli.
Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders Recipe Faqs
Can I use regular breadcrumbs instead of Italian breadcrumbs? Yes, you can use regular breadcrumbs, but Italian-style breadcrumbs add extra flavor from the herbs and seasoning.
Do I need to flip the chicken tenders while cooking? Yes, flipping halfway through ensures an even crispy texture on both sides of the chicken.
Can I make these gluten-free? Yes, you can use gluten-free breadcrumbs and cornstarch to make this recipe gluten-free.
Can I freeze the breaded chicken tenders before cooking?
Yes, you can freeze the breaded chicken tenders. Just place them on a baking sheet in a single layer, freeze, and then transfer to a zip-top bag. Cook from frozen, adding extra time if necessary.
Storing
- Storing: To store leftover air fryer Italian chicken tenders, place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Make sure they have cooled to room temperature before sealing to prevent condensation.
- Freezing: For freezing, lay the chicken tenders on a baking sheet in a single layer to freeze them first, then transfer to a zip-top bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. When ready to use, reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer for the best results.
- Reheating: Reheat leftover chicken tenders in the air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for about 4-5 minutes to restore their crispy texture. You can also reheat them in the oven at 400°F (200°C) for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
- AIR FRYER HONEY BBQ CHICKEN WINGS
- AIR FRYER RANCH CHICKEN BITES
- EASY AIR FRYER BREADED CHICKEN CUTLETS
- AIR FRYER FLAMIN’ HOT CHICKEN
- EASY AIR FRYER CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI
- AIR FRYER CHINESE CHICKEN WINGS
Air Fryer Italian Chicken Tenders
Description
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders , or tenderloins
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs , or panko
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Place chicken tenderloins in a large bowl and add buttermilk. Cover and place into the refrigerator to let them soak for at least 6 to 12 hours.
- When you’re ready to cook the chicken, get your breading station set up. In one bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, egg, and water. Stir well. This is your wet batter. Set aside. In another medium bowl, add panko crumbs (or breadcrumbs) and red pepper flakes.
- Preheat air fryer to 395 degrees F, air fryer setting. (200 celsius)
- Coat each piece of chicken in the wet batter. Allow any extra to drip off into the wet batter bowl before transferring the chicken to the bowl of Panko crumbs. Coat each piece completely in Panko.
- After you’ve coated the chicken, place it in the air fryer basket. Set the time for 6 minutes. Flip and air fry for another 4-6 minutes.
- Cook until the chicken is a nice golden brown on the outside and completely white on the inside. An internal thermometer should read 165 degrees F when inserted into the middle of the chicken.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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msSally
Can these be frozen?