Looking for crispy dippers the whole family will love? These air fryer chicken tenders with flour are irresistibly delicious and perfect to serve with all your favorite sauces!
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While I love breaded and fried chicken tenders, I don’t always want to deal with the mess of breadcrumbs.
When I’m in the mood for something a little easier that my whole family will still go crazy for, these air fryer chicken tenders with flour hit the spot!
Just dip the tenders in egg, toss them in a mixture of flour and seasoning, and let the air fryer work its magic. You won’t believe how crispy they are! Even better if you have a little extra time to marinate the tenders in buttermilk first.
Here’s what I’m going to teach you in this post:
- The best way to make crispy air fryer chicken tenders with seasoned flour
- How long it takes to cook chicken tenders in the air fryer
- What to serve with these crispy dippers
- How to reheat chicken tenders in the air fryer
This is the kind of meal your whole family will go crazy for. Best of all, everyone gets to pick their favorite dipping sauces!
Once you try these amazing air fryer chicken tenders with flour and no breadcrumbs, they’ll be an instant staple in your weekly menu.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Flour
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
STEP ONE: To marinate (optional), place the chicken tenders in a plastic zipper bag with the buttermilk. Allow it to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
STEP TWO: Prior to cooking, remove the chicken from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
STEP THREE: Meanwhile, whisk together the egg and water in a large bowl until well combined. Transfer the chicken tenders to the bowl, then discard the marinade (if used) and bag.
STEP FOUR: Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F. Spray the bottom of the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.
STEP FIVE: In a clean plastic zipper bag, add the flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and baking powder. Seal and shake well to combine.
STEP SIX: Working in batches of 3 to 4 at a time, remove the tenders from the egg, allowing excess to drop off, then place them in the bag with the flour. Seal and shake the bag to evenly coat the chicken. Transfer the tenders to a plate, shaking off any excess flour, and repeat with the remaining pieces.
STEP SEVEN: Place the tenders in an even layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary to avoid crowding the basket. Generously spray the tenders with cooking spray until the flour appears damp.
STEP EIGHT: Air fry the tenders for 8-10 minutes, then flip and spritz them again with cooking spray.
STEP NINE: Cook for another 7-10 minutes until the tenders are golden and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.
Can You Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Flour and No Breadcrumbs?
You bet! The flour coating gets amazingly crispy in the air fryer, so you get that satisfying crunch without the hassle of breadcrumbs. And the meat inside stays so wonderfully juicy and tender!
Trust me; these no-breadcrumb tenders will have everyone reaching for seconds.
Do You Need To Marinate Air Fryer Chicken Tenders?
This step is optional, but if you have the time, I always recommend it. The acidity of buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken for super juicy pieces. Seriously, it’s so good.
And all you have to do is throw the tenders in a bag with buttermilk and let them sit for at least half an hour! Unless you’re short on time, it’s definitely worth it.
How Long Does it Take to Cook Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Flour and Egg?
The exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of your tenders as well as the size and brand of your air fryer.
For me, 15-20 minutes is the perfect cooking time, which includes flipping the tenders halfway through.
The key is to cook them until the tenders are golden and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F. An Instant Read Thermometer is the best way to know when they’re fully cooked!
What to Serve with Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- 2 Ingredient BBQ Sauce
- Avocado Lime Crema
- Blue Cheese Dressing
- Homemade Buffalo Sauce
- Honey Buffalo Sauce
- Honey Mustard
- Honey Sriracha Sauce
- Ketchup
- Ranch Dressing
How to Reheat Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F.
- Place the leftover chicken tenders in the air fryer basket.
- Cook for 7 minutes until heated through.
Other Family-Friendly Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You’ll Love:
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with No Breading
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Frozen Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
- Popcorn Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Orange Chicken
- Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders With Flour
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- ½ cup buttermilk optional, for marinating
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon water
Instructions
- Marinating (optional): Place chicken tenders in a plastic zipper bag with the buttermilk and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, up to 2 hours.
- When ready to cook, remove the chicken from the fridge and allow it to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.Â
- Meanwhile, whisk together the egg and water in a large bowl until well combined. Transfer the chicken tenders to the bowl, then discard the marinade and bag.
- Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F.
- In a clean plastic zipper bag, add the flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and baking powder. Seal and shake well to combine.Â
- Working in batches of 3 to 4 at a time, remove the tenders from the egg, allowing excess to drop off, then place them in the bag with the flour. Seal and shake the bag to evenly coat the chicken. Remove the tenders to a plate, shaking off any excess flour, and repeat with the remaining pieces.
- Lay the tenders in an even layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches as needed, so you don’t overcrowd them. Generously spray the tenders with cooking spray until the flour appears damp.Â
- Air fry the tenders for 15-20 minutes, flipping them once halfway through and spritzing them again with cooking spray. Continue cooking until the tenders are golden and 165 degrees F internally. (Exact cooking time will vary depending on the size of your tenders, your air fryer, etc.).
Notes
How to reheat chicken tenders:
1. Preheat your air fryer to 370 degrees F. 2. Air fry chicken tenders for 7-10 minutes or until hot.Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
This recipe was amazing! Thank you for a recipe that actually crisps the skin with flour instead of breadcrumbs. My husband really enjoyed these in his chicken salad
You are so welcome! I’m so glad to hear that you and your husband enjoyed this air fryer chicken recipe. It’s one that I cook often myself. Thank you for your feedback!
This is quite possibly the best tasting chicken tenders I have ever had! It’s not only my first time making fried chicken, but also my first time making it in the fryer. I think I will keep using this recipe and thank you for making it public 😀
You are welcome, I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe and it was a success for you!