Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins ( No Breading! )

Name: Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins ( No Breading! )
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 13 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: 2 lbs chicken tenderloins (fresh or frozen); avocado oil spray (for the basket); 1/3 cup olive oil (or preferred cooking oil); 3 tbsp coconut aminos; 2 cloves minced garlic (garlic powder works in a pinch); 1 tsp onion powder; 1 tsp salt; 1 tbsp hot sauce (Frank's Red Hot recommended); 1 tbsp dijon mustard; 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper (optional); 2 tsp cornstarch; 1 tsp paprika

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Every time, these air-fried chicken tenderloins are succulent, juicy, and expertly seasoned! Air fryer chicken tenderloins are one of my favorite quick and easy ways to get juicy, flavorful chicken on the table fast, with no breading required.

Air fryer chicken tenderloins served with mayo and dijon mustard on a brown plate

You're Going to Love These Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins

Tender and juicy, never overcooked: The air fryer makes these tenderloins juicy and perfectly cooked every time.
Full of flavor and super versatile: The seasoning works with just about anything. Serve them for dinner with a couple of sides, or chop them up for soups, casseroles, and salads.
Quick and easy: Air frying means dinner is ready extra fast! These cook up in just 10 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights or quick lunches.
Simple ingredients: Chicken oil and spices, can't get much more simple than that!
No breading needed: You won't miss traditional breaded chicken tenders at all. I use cornstarch to help seal the chicken and help the spices stick super well. Bonus: this recipe is high protein, low carb, and gluten free!

What Are Chicken Tenderloins?

A tiny portion of chicken from the underside of the chicken breast is called a chicken tenderloin or tenders. It's a particularly soft slice of beef, as the name implies. Some stores use "Chicken Tenderloin" and "Chicken Tenders" interchangeably, it refers to a small piece of meat that is attached to the chicken breast. If you can't find chicken tenderloin at your store, you can always use a meat tenderizer to pound chicken breasts into even thickness and trim them lengthwise into strips.

side view shot of an Air fryer chicken tenderloins served with mayo and dijon mustard on a brown plate

Ingredients You'll Need

ingredient for the air fryer chicken tenderloins recipe on a white surface

Chicken tenderloins: Use fresh or frozen. They're quick-cooking and perfect for the air fryer.
Olive oil: Or your preferred cooking oil. Helps lock in moisture.
Coconut aminos: Adds a salty-sweet depth of flavor and keeps it gluten-free.
Minced garlic: Adds a fresh bite. Garlic powder works in a pinch.
Onion powder & salt: Basic seasoning essentials.
Hot sauce: I love Frank's Red Hot, but use your favorite. Adds a mild heat.
Dijon mustard: Brings tang and depth to the marinade.
Crushed red pepper: Optional, but great if you want to turn up the heat.
Cornstarch: Cornstarch actually helps keep the chicken juicy while giving the outside a light texture and helping the seasoning stick, all without breading.
Paprika: Adds flavor and color to the outside of the chicken.

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins

Preheat the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for a few minutes. Lightly spray the basket with avocado oil spray.
Pat and prep the chicken. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels. Add the chicken tenderloins, spices, cornstarch, and olive oil to a bowl. Toss well until the chicken is evenly coated completely (hands work best!).
Make the marinade. In a large bowl, add olive oil, coconut aminos, garlic, onion powder, salt, hot sauce, Dijon mustard, and crushed red pepper, then whisk those ingredients together to form a marinade.

Marinate the chicken. Add the chicken tenderloins to the marinade and let them sit for at least 15 minutes, or up to overnight for extra flavor.
Arrange in the basket. Place marinated chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, do not crowd the chicken; if you're making the full 2 pounds, you'll likely need to cook the chicken in batches.
Air fry the chicken. Air fry for 10 to 13 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chicken tenderloins you're using, flipping halfway through until golden and cooked to an internal temp of 165°F.
Check for doneness. You'll know your chicken is done when it's browned around the edges and it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F on your instant-read thermometer, we recommend checking at 6 minutes and then cooking for a minute or two as needed.
Rest and serve. Remove the chicken and let rest for a few minutes before serving. Top with chopped parsley if desired.

Expert Tips & Variations

Brine for extra flavor: While they're already wonderfully tender, you can do a quick wet brine of just 20 minutes for even better flavor, or season them without the oil and let them dry brine in the fridge for an hour, then add the oil before you air fry.
Don't flip (simple seasoning method): Since they cook quickly in about 10 minutes, they don't need to be flipped partway through, air fry them with the nicer side up the whole cook time so the side that faces up when you serve them won't have any indentations from the air fryer basket or tray.
Test for doneness: Note that because tenderloins are so thin, it can be hard to get a good internal temperature reading, it's therefore easier to do a test by sight to see if they're done by cutting into one at the thickest part and checking that it's no longer pink inside.
Garlic Parmesan: Add about ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan, extra garlic powder (or freshly minced garlic), and a pinch of Italian seasoning to the seasoning mix. Garnish with a little parsley.
BBQ Style: Season the same but then brush with your favorite BBQ sauce when you go to flip the tenders halfway through the cooking time.
Buffalo: Toss the cooked tenderloins in buffalo sauce after they are done cooking and serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing.
Lemon Pepper: Add salt-free lemon pepper seasoning and finish with fresh lemon juice for a bright, simple flavor.
Skip the marinade: Skip the marinade and sprinkle each chicken tender with Ranch or Italian seasoning, your favorite spices, or even just salt and pepper, then spray them with an oil mister or cooking spray and add to the air fryer and cook as directed.
Frozen tenderloins: Pre-cook frozen tenderloins in an air fryer for 5 minutes, then marinate and cook as directed.
Oven Method: For best results, I do recommend using the air fryer, but if you want to use the oven you can, place on a prepared baking sheet and cook at 375 degrees F for 12-15 minutes.
Double the recipe: Easily double the recipe, just need to cook in multiple batches.

How to Store and Reheat

Cooked chicken can be kept in the fridge for up to four days in an airtight container. You can reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until heated through (be careful not to overcook), in a skillet on the stove top, or in the microwave. For approximately three months, you can freeze in a freezer-safe container or baggie; thaw overnight before reheating.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins

These air fryer chicken tenders are a very adaptable protein for hectic weeknights, fast lunches, and meal preparation because they go with almost anything. The tenderloins only need to be seasoned for a few minutes before the air fryer takes care of the rest. The end product is tasty, succulent chicken with golden edges that pairs well with almost everything. This recipe is typically served with rice, baked potatoes, cheesy hashbrown casserole, au gratin potatoes, and a tossed salad or steamed vegetables.

FAQs

How long does it take to cook chicken tenderloins in the air fryer?

The cooking time may change based on the size of the chicken tenders. Using a meat thermometer, they should take 10 to 12 minutes to attain an internal temperature of 165 degrees at 380 degrees.

Are chicken tenders in the air fryer healthy?

Indeed! They are healthy as well as low carb, keto, south beach diet compliant, paleo, sugar free, gluten free, and dairy free! Each tender contains 74 calories, 2 grams fat, 1 gram carbohydrates, and 13 grams of protein.

Do I need to flip the chicken tenderloins while air frying?

Since they cook quickly in about 10 minutes, they don't need to be flipped partway through, air fry them with the nicer side up the whole cook time so the side that faces up when you serve them won't have any indentations from the air fryer basket or tray.

Can I cook frozen chicken tenderloins in the air fryer?

Indeed! Preheat your air fryer, cook frozen tenderloins for 5 minutes, marinate, then return to the air fryer for 7-8 more minutes.

Do I need oil to keep the chicken from sticking?

The marinade's oil is sufficient to prevent the chicken from adhering to the crisper plate if you use it.

Can I double the recipe?

The recipe can be doubled, but cooking it in stages is unavoidable. If you want to halve the recipe, I still recommend making the original amount of marinade, if there's too little marinade, it's hard to coat the chicken.

If you tried this air-fried chicken tenderloins or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. And remember to tag me on Instagram!