Air Fryer Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders
Description
Air Fryer Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders are juicy, crispy, and packed with tangy flavor from a simple pickle brine. An easy air fryer chicken recipe perfect for quick dinners, snacks, or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs chicken tenders, or chicken breasts cut into strips
- 1 CUP dill pickle brine, from any jar of dill pickles
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp salt
Instructions
- Place chicken tenders in a shallow dish or zip-lock bag. Pour pickle brine over them until fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 6–24 hours. (Overnight is ideal.)
- Remove tenders from brine and pat completely dry with paper towels on all sides. Don't skip this step.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- Set up three shallow dishes: flour in the first, beaten eggs in the second, and panko mixed with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper in the third.
- Dredge each tender in flour (shake off excess), dip in egg (let excess drip), then press firmly into seasoned panko to coat all sides.
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Arrange tenders in a single layer. Spray the tops generously with cooking spray.
- Air fry at 400°F for 5–6 minutes. Flip each tender, spray the tops again, and cook for another 5–6 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Check internal temperature — it must reach 165°F (74°C). Rest for 2–3 minutes before serving.
- Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Notes
Longer brine = better tenders. The 24-hour brine produces noticeably juicier, more flavorful results than a 30-minute brine.
Gluten-free option: Use a 1:1 GF flour blend and gluten-free panko.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 4–5 minutes to restore crispiness.
Freeze: Freeze cooked tenders in a single layer, then transfer to a bag. Reheat from frozen at 380°F for 8–10 minutes.
Nutrition
Serving: 1ServingCalories: 395kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 44gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 202mgSodium: 1522mgPotassium: 736mgFiber: 2gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 226IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg