Description
Crispy, golden-brown chicken tenders cooked in an air fryer for a fast, cheap, and kid-approved family dinner, served with a homemade honey mustard dip.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 large chicken breasts (about 600g), sliced into 1-inch strips
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Slice chicken breasts into 1-inch strips and pat them dry with paper towels to remove moisture.
- Set up a dredging station with three shallow bowls: Bowl 1 contains flour mixed with half the spices; Bowl 2 contains whisked eggs with remaining spices and a splash of water; Bowl 3 contains panko mixed with paprika.
- Dredge each chicken strip in the flour mixture, shaking off excess. Dip into the egg wash, letting excess drip off, then press firmly into the panko breadcrumbs to ensure a thick coating.
- Preheat the air fryer to 380°F (190°C) for 5 minutes. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil.
- Arrange the coated tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Lightly spray the tops of the chicken with oil.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then flip the tenders and spray the other side with oil. Cook for another 5-7 minutes until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- While chicken cooks, whisk together mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, honey, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to make the honey mustard dip.
- Let the cooked tenders rest on a wire rack for 2-3 minutes before serving to maintain crispiness.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if necessary. Pat chicken dry before breading to ensure crispiness. Let tenders rest on a wire rack after cooking to keep the crust crisp. Can be frozen raw before cooking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 tenders per servin
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 12
- Saturated Fat: 2
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 28
Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, honey mustard dip, easy dinner, family meals, cheap dinner, crispy chicken, quick recipes, kid-friendly food