These Parmesan Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Tenders turn out deliciously golden and crispy outside, and tender and juicy inside every time! They cook up in just minutes, so you can serve with Air Fryer frozen french fries and this 5 Minute Yum Yum Sauce for quick and easy kid-approved lunch, fuss-free dinner, or after-school snack.
Post includes Weight Watchers points.
Chicken tenders are always a family favorite, and in my opinion, there’s nothing better than crispy Parmesan Crusted Air Fryer Chicken Tenders. Friends, this is one of those incredibly easy and simple boneless chicken breasts recipes that you’re going to want to make on the regular.
Table of Contents
Make In The Air Fryer
Making Parmesan Breaded Chicken Tenders in air fryer is so quick, they’re ready to serve in just minutes. Just the thing for those busy weeknights when you need to get dinner on the table fast. You can even whip up a batch and stash them in the fridge or freezer to cook up when needed. Perfect for weekly meal prep. #airfryerforthewin
More chicken tenders you might like include Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders and Delicious Grilled Chicken Tenders especially when dipped in copycat Chick Fil A Sauce, Sriracha Aioli or 5 mins Yum yum Sauce.
Adults and kids alike love how these chicken tenders are incredibly golden and crunchy on the outside and deliciously tender and juicy on the inside. You can’t help but reach for one, then another one, then just one more.
My Top Pick Air Fryer Accessory
Why Make This Recipe
- Simple – You only need 6 pantry staple ingredients to make these.
- Fast – Ready in less than 15 minutes.
- Versatile – serve as easy weeknight dinner, after-school snack, or quick lunch.
Ingredients Notes
- Chicken Tenders – buy tenders at your local store, or cut larger chicken breasts into strips that are of equal length and thickness.
- Parmesan Cheese – I prefer to freshly grate the parmesan myself, but you can use pre-grated to save time.
- Panko Breadcrumbs – Lighter and airier compared to regular breadcrumbs, which means they absorb less oil and end up crispier.
- Italian Seasoning – provides a nice flavor. Feel free to swap in your favorite seasoning blend.
- Oil – I used olive oil, but other light oil or cooking spray also works.
So, are you ready to make these healthy and flavourful chicken tenders in Air Fryer? Grab your ingredients and let me show you……
How To Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F / 180C.
- Spray chicken tenders with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, dried herbs and salt (if using) on a plate.
- Then coat the chicken tenders with the breadcrumb mix, place into the air fryer basket, and cook for 9 – 12 minutes, turning them halfway through.
How To Bake Parmesan Breaded Chicken with Panko
Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.
- Preheat oven to 425F / 220C / fan-assisted 200C / gas 7.
- Spray chicken tenders with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, dried herbs and salt (if using), and coat both sides of the chicken strips. Transfer onto a baking sheet.
- Bake the for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165F / 74C.
How To Make Parmesan Chicken Tenders on Stovetop
- Spray chicken tenders or strips with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian Sesoning and salt (if using) on a plate.
- Then coat both sides of the the chicken tenders with the breadcrumb mix.
- Spray a pan with oil, add the chicken, and fry for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.
Recipe Tips
- Toast the panko breadcrumbs a little bit before adding them to the mixture. This makes sure that you end up with a lovely golden coating. Yes, it is not necessary but it is so, so worth it.
- You can put the breadcrumb mixture in a bag, add in the chicken tenders and shake away. A great way to get the kids to help.
- Make sure to press the crumbs down firmly on the chicken strips before placing in your air fryer. The fan is powerful, and if the coating is too loose and not adhered properly it will blow all that deliciousness right off.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Make sure the chicken tenders are not touching each other to allow for maximum air circulation so that they cook nice and evenly.
- Do not overcook the tenders. Otherwise, they become dry.
- Feel free to soak the tenders in buttermilk for up to 6 hourrs before breading and cooking as this can make them more tender and juicy.
Pro Tip: always remember to check the internal temperature of your chicken breast using a meat thermometer. The chicken is done and safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches at least 165 F / 74C.
Delicious Variations
- Use Different Breadcrumbs – Swap the panko for Italian style breadcrumbs. Crushed crackers or potato chips are also a tasty and fun coating option.
- Swap the Seasoning – add other spices and herbs into your panko breading.
- Make it Low Carb – skip the breadcrumbs and coat the chicken with a combination of mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and herbs.
Check out this video to see how simple it is:
FAQs
Follow these steps to reheat chicken tenders in air fryer:
• Take the chicken tenders out of the fridge 30 minutes before needed and bring up to room temperature.
• Preheat air fryer to 350F / 180C.
• Place chicken in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes until warmed through.
This depends on two things: your air fryer make and model, and the size of the chicken tenders. Since the temperature of air fryers can vary depending on the make and model, this recipe includes a range of cook times. And you will also need to keep in mind that the thicker your pieces of chicken are, the more cook time will be needed.
This recipe recommends a cooking time is between 9 and 12 minutes. You can aim for 10 minutes the first time you make your air fryer chicken tenders, check them for doneness, and then adjust from there.
How long it takes to cook frozen chicken tenders in air fryer depending on the size and thickness of the chicken strips.
I recommend cooking at 400F / 204C for approximately 10-14 minutes, turning and checking for doneness halfway through, and then adjust your timing as needed.
Prep Ahead and Storage
- Prep Ahead – You can prep the breadcrumb coating a day in advance and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Slice the chicken into strips and freeze them in packets that you can defrost and cook later.
- Store – Keep leftovers in airtight container inside the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze – Wrap cooked chicken tenders and freeze for up to 3 months.
Serving Suggestions
- Dip in Chick Fil A Sauce, this Sriracha Aioli or 5 mins Yum yum Sauce.
- Kids love it with Air Fryer Frozen Waffle Fries and Air Fryer Beets and Air Fryer Pierogies.
- Goes great with Mexican Air Fryer Corn On The Cob., Air Fryer Green Beans and Air Fried Okra.
- Also serve with Instant Pot Mac and Cheese and Super Easy Instant Pot Mashed Potato.
More Recipes You May Like
- Lemon Garlic Butter Chicken Tenders.
- Delicious Grilled Chicken Tenders.
- Oven Baked Chicken Tenders.
- Instant Pot Chicken Tenders.
- Golden and Crunchy Air Fryer Chicken Breast.
- Crispy Juicy Air Fried Chicken Thighs.
- Instant Pot Chicken Breast.
- Instant Pot Chicken Thighs.
- Instant Pot Chicken Curry.
Weight Watchers Points
There are 5 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of these.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Tenders Video
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Parmesan Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 8 chicken tenders
- 2 ½ tablespoons olive oil or calorie controlled cooking spray
- ½ cup (75g) panko breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- ¾ teaspoon Herbes de Provence
- salt to taste
Instructions
To Make in Air Fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350F / 180C.
- Add the chicken and olive oil to a bowl, and mix until the chicken is coated with the oil.
- Mix together the panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, herbs, and salt on a rimmed plate.
- Coat each tender on both sides with the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place in the air fryer basket and cook for 9 – 12 minutes, turning halfway through.
To Bake in Oven:
- Preheat oven to 425 F / 220 C / fan-assisted 200 C / gas 7.
- Spray chicken tenders or strips with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, dried herbs and salt (if using) and decant the mixture onto a plate.
- Then coat the chicken tenders with the breadcrumb mix and add breaded chicken to the baking tray.
- Bake the chicken tenders in the hot oven for about 15 minutes, until cooked through and golden.
To Make on Stovetop:
- Spray chicken tenders or strips with low-calorie cooking spray.
- Combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, dried herbs and salt (if using) on a plate. Then coat both sides of the chicken tenders with the breadcrumb mix.
- Spray a pan with oil, add the chicken, and fry for 3-5 minutes on each side until golden and cooked through.
Video
Notes
- Toast the panko breadcrumbs a little bit before adding them to the mixture. This makes sure that you end up with a lovely golden coating. Yes, it is not necessary but it is so, so worth it.
- You can put the breadcrumb mixture in a bag, add in the chicken tenders and shake away. Kids totally love doing this bit.
- Make sure to press the crumbs down firmly on the chicken strips before placing them in your air fryer. The fan is powerful, and if the coating is too loose and not adhered properly it will blow all that deliciousness right off the air fryer chicken strips.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Make sure the chicken tenders are not touching each other to allow for maximum air circulation so that they cook nice and evenly.
- Do not overcook the tenders. Otherwise, they become dry.
- Feel free to soak the tenders in buttermilk for up to 6 hours before breading and cooking as this can make them more tender and juicy.
- Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
- There are 5 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.
It says 8 tenders, but they vary so much. Aproximately how many pounds should the chicken pieces weigh?
I love that these are done in the air fryer – it’s my favorite thing right now! Kids are going to love these!
Made these for dinner last night and they were a huge hit. The recipe is perfect as-is. Thank you!