Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders

These Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders are golden, crispy and are a lot healthier because they aren’t fried in oil! 

Looking for some more delicious chicken recipes? If you’re a big fan of breaded chicken and you like a bit of spice, then try my Wingers Sticky Fingers! 

I also have a Crispy Baked Chicken Drumsticks which is an easy chicken recipe that kids love!

Why This Recipe Works

• Healthy crispy chicken tenders.  Who knew there would be a healthy way to enjoy chicken tenders! I love the air fryer because it gets that nice crispy exterior without having to fry the tenders in tons of oil! 
• Easy dinner recipe. This dinner will take less than 15 minutes to put together! Those can be so helpful on busy weeknights! 
• Size up the portions to what you need. The beauty of this recipe is you can really make as many tenders you need! You can make a ton for a big group or you can make a few for your kiddos.

Ingredient Notes

• Frozen Chicken Tenders: Depending on how big your air fryer is, you can make more or less.
• Olive Oil Spray: Do you love a really crispy chicken tender? If so, you can add a spritz of olive oil spray or avocado spray to the tops of the tenders before sticking them in the air fryer to get a more golden color and crispy top. This isn’t necessary. They are still crispy and delicious with out it too!

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer. Make sure your air fryer is preheated to 400°F. 
2. Add the tenders to the basket. Place the frozen chicken tenders in the basket, leaving some space between each. Spray the tops with olive oil spray.

3. Air fry the tenders. Air fry for 7 minutes, then flip the tenders (or shake the basket) over and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes or until crispy and cooked through.

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Recipe Tips

You don’t have to spray with olive oil spray. It’s not necessary, but it will help give it a slightly crunchier exterior that mimics a deep fried chicken tender.

I will usually ask for extra Chick-fil-A sauce when we go so I love pulling out an extra packet and using that as a dip! So yummy!

Don’t overcrowd the basket. You want all sides of the tenders to be crisp, and overcrowding will make that hard. 

Cook time may vary due to thickness of the chicken tender, the size, and breading. Serving size will vary depending on the size of your air fryer and how many you put in.

It’s important to remember that these frozen chicken tenders are already cooked so you’re not trying to cook the chicken, you are just trying to thaw and warm up the insides and crispen up the outsides.

What to Serve with Chicken Tenders

Looking for some great sides for chicken tenders? I have some great recommendations! While your air fryer is ready to go, you can whip up some delicious Air Fryer Waffle Fries! You can also try my Crispy Baked Potato Wedges if you’re wanting to make some homemade fries instead. Wanting to add some healthy vegetables to the dinner table? Serve my Buttered Vegetables or Oven Roasted Broccoli. 

Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing

Store in an airtight container or Ziplock bag in the fridge for 3-4 days. 

Reheat in the air fryer to get the crispy exterior every time! 

Instead of refreezing chicken tenders, I would just recommend making what you need. The beauty of using the air fryer is it’s super easy to whip some up in no time at all, as needed. 

FAQs

More Chicken Recipes

• Creamy Tuscan Chicken
• BBQ Chicken Sandwich
• White Chicken Chili Recipe
• Roman Chicken Recipe