Sometime life gets so busy that you need to turn to a bag of frozen chicken just to get dinner on the table fast. This recipe for Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders results in perfectly cooked chicken that can be served plain or with ketchup for an easy dinner.

Dipping a chicken tender in ketchup

With frozen breaded chicken tenders that you buy at the store, there’s no prep work and very little cooking. Busy moms everywhere rejoice!

It’s also much more cost effective than take-out and a healthier option too. You don’t need any oil for this recipe – just frozen chicken tenders and an air fryer. It’s just that simple.

I hope you agree that this recipe and method is the best way for a quick dinner.

Contents hide
1 Why You Need This Recipe
2 Key Ingredients
3 Recipe Steps
4 Recipe Tips & Substitutions
5 FAQs
6 Other Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You Might Like
7 Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Tenders

Why You Need This Recipe

  • You get all the crispiness of fried chicken from your favorite fast food restaurant with much less oil. You can skip the deep fried chicken fingers with this healthy air fryer chicken tenders.
  • It’s quick and easy and takes less time than deep frying. There’s absolutely no prep with the exception of taking the tenders out of the bag.
  • Gluten-free tenders work too. If you have Celiac disease or gluten intolerance, there are several gluten free versions in the frozen foods aisle. Simply swap the regular ones out for them.

Key Ingredients

Frozen breaded chicken tenders is all you need for crispy chicken tenders. Quality brands are usually made with boneless skinless chicken breasts that have been breaded for you.

Frozen breaded chicken tenders on a plate

Recipe Steps

Step One

Lay the chicken tenders inside the air fryer basket in a single layer without overlapping them.

Step Two

Set the temperature to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and set the cooking time to 10 minutes.

how to air fry chicken tenders

Step Three

After the 10 minutes is up, flip the tenders over and set the cook time for 2 more minutes.

Step Four

Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the chicken has reached an internal temp of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step Five

Let the chicken tenders cool for a few minutes before serving hot with your favorite dipping sauce (see my list of the best gluten-free sauces). These air fryer chicken strips also go great with sweet potato fries!

air fryer chicken tenders on a plate with ketchup and a fork

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • Some air fryers need to be preheated. Check the manufacturer instructions for your air fryer to be sure.
  • If you want to double this recipe, you may need to cook the chicken tenders in two batches so that they don’t overlap.
  • Serve with a side salad, steam-in-the-bag vegetables, or French fries for a quick and easy side.

FAQs

Is it okay if the chicken tenders are different sizes?

Most bags of frozen chicken tenders will vary in size a bit. This is to be expected. It just means the smaller ones will be crispier and hotter.

Can I stack the chicken tenders to fit more in?

Do not stack the chicken tenders or they will not cook right. You want the hot air to circulate all around the chicken tenders so they will get crispy and cook all the way through.

How do I know if my chicken tenders are fully cooked?

Chicken is fully cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. You can use an instant-read thermometer to check if you’re unsure whether it’s done.

cooked breaded chicken tenders inside air fryer basket

Other Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You Might Like

Or, check out my entire index of gluten-free air fryer recipes.

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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air fryer chicken tenders

Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Tenders

★★★★★

5 from 1 reviews
Print Recipe

Sometime life gets so busy that you need to turn to a bag of frozen chicken just to get dinner on the table fast. This recipe for Air Fryer Frozen Breaded Chicken Tenders results in perfectly cooked chicken that can be served plain or with ketchup for an easy dinner.

  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 2 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 frozen breaded chicken tenders, about an 8 ounce package (be sure to purchase a gluten-free version for gluten-free diets)

Instructions

  1. Lay the frozen chicken tenders inside the basket. Try not to let them overlap too much.
  2. Set the temperature to 400°F and the time to 10 minutes.
  3. After the 10 minutes is up, use tongs to flip the chicken tenders over and cook them for another 2 minutes.
  4. If you want to make sure the chicken is hot enough, use an instant-read thermometer to make sure the chicken has reached at least 165°F.
  5. Let the chicken tenders cool for a couple of minutes before serving hot.

Equipment

Notes

  1. Some air fryers need to be preheated. Check the manufacturer instructions for your air fryer to be sure.
  2. If you want to double this recipe, you may need to cook the chicken tenders in two batches so that they don’t overlap.

Keywords: chicken tenders in air fryer, how to cook frozen chicken tenders

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