Crispy Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - The Recipe Critic (2024)

Crispy Parmesan Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are crispy golden outside and tender juicy inside with a hint of garlic and tons of flavor. They are perfect for a quick dinner, lunch or even snack.

These are so easy, and so good, you’re family is going to love these! Serve these scrumptious tenders with a Caesar Salad, Honey Lime Poppy Seed Fruit Salad, and Homemade Air Fryer French Fries for a well rounded satisfying dinner.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe

Cooking chicken tenders in the air fryer is one of the best ways to cook chicken. It’s juicy, tasty, crunchy, and healthy (no more dealing with all that messy oil)! It’s the best of both worlds. The other winning feature of this dish is it’s super fast. I love things that are quick and healthy.

These are so good you will reach for them over and over. Serve this tasty finger food with your favorite dipping sauce. My favorite is The Famous Cane’s Sauce or my classic Fry Sauce. Try something new, try two or three, or just experiment with your favorites! They’re so easy and go with just about everything.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

These ingredients are simple and flavorful and leave you with the same great taste you would get if you deep-fried them! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

• Chicken Tenders: Boneless and skinless chicken breast work best for this recipe.
• White Flour: White flour will adhere best to the chicken
• Salt and Pepper: These enhance the flavors of the chicken.
• Olive Oil or Butter: Either will produce a crisp and wonderful flavor.
• Garlic: You can either use fresh garlic cloves or minced garlic from the jar.
• Basil: I use dried basil so that it can mix well with the other seasonings.
• Paprika:Creates flavor and adds a bit of color.
• Panko:Panko creates a great crunch, but you can use bread crumbs too.
• Parmesan Cheese:Freshly grated parmesan works best for the best seasoning

How Long to Cook Chicken Tenders in an Air Fryer

Cooking up these chicken tenders in the air fryer is so quick and easy! You will be done from start to finish in less than 10 minutes.

1. Trim: If there is any excess fat on the tenders, trim it.
2. Bowls: Set out three bowls. In the first one, fill it with flour and salt, and pepper. In the second bowl, fill with either olive oil or butter and garlic. Then, place the basil, paprika, panko, and parmesan cheese in the third bowl. Stir all of the bowls to mix.
3. Coat: Dip the chicken first in the flour mixture, then the garlic butter, then the panko mixture. Make sure to evenly and thoroughly coat each piece.
4. Cook: Place the tenders in the air fryer and then cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 min. Flip and cook for another 8-9 min or till the internal temp is 165 degrees F.