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Crispy Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Tenders: Easy 20-Min Recipe

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These crispy air fryer Parmesan chicken tenders are crunchy, cheesy, and ready in about 20 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights, they use simple ingredients and deliver an unbelievably crispy crust without deep frying.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound chicken breast tenders (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (or avocado oil)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika (smoked paprika preferred)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt (kosher salt preferred)
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Optional: 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • For serving: marinara sauce, ranch dressing, honey mustard, lemon wedges

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). If your air fryer doesn’t have a preheat function, run it empty for 3 minutes at 400°F.
  2. Set up your breading station. In one shallow bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth and slightly frothy. In a second shallow bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne if using. Drizzle olive oil over the breadcrumb mixture and use your fingers to rub it in until evenly coated.
  3. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  4. Bread the chicken: Working one piece at a time, dip each chicken tender into the egg wash, letting excess drip off. Transfer to the breadcrumb mixture and press gently to coat all sides. Place on a wire rack or plate while finishing the rest.
  5. Arrange breaded tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece. Work in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.
  6. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes, then flip each tender with tongs and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until coating is deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  7. Remove tenders from air fryer and let rest on a wire rack for 2-3 minutes to keep the coating crispy.
  8. Serve immediately with dipping sauces of choice. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Mix oil into breadcrumbs for even browning. Pat chicken dry to help breading stick. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Let tenders rest on a wire rack after cooking to maintain crispiness. For oven method: bake at 425°F for 12-15 minutes on a wire rack over a baking sheet, flipping halfway.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, Parmesan chicken, easy chicken recipe, weeknight dinner, air fryer recipe

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/crispy-air-fryer-parmesan-chicken-tenders-easy-20-min-recipe/