Are you in search of an easy chicken recipe the whole family will enjoy? Look no further than these Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Tenders! This easy recipe makes a perfect quick dinner and has tons of flavor. All you need are a few simple ingredients, and you can make these Naked Air Fryer Chicken Tenders in under 30 minutes!
Why You'll Love These Naked Grilled Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
You'll love this recipe because it's simple, quick, and tastes just as good leftover. This is one of our favorite Air Fryer recipes because you can pair it with anything, and is a huge hit in any household, even for picky little ones.
In addition, these naked tenders aren't battered or breaded, so you don't need to worry about that extra step! So, grab your Air Fryer and keep reading to see how you can whip up this chicken tenders recipe!
Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- 10 Chicken Tenders
- Ground Black Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Paprika
How to Make Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Tenders
Preheat the Air Fryer to 400ºF for 5 minutes. Prepare the Air Fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray.
Using a cutting board, remove the tendon from the raw chicken tenders and add them to a medium-sized bowl.
Add the olive oil to the chicken tenders and toss them so that they are fully coated.
Add the seasonings to the chicken tenders and coat them.
Place the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400ºF for 10 minutes, flipping the chicken at the 5-minute mark. The chicken strips should be perfectly crispy and golden brown.
Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165º degrees F. If not, cook for additional minutes until ready.
Serve the cooked chicken with your favorite dipping sauces, such as BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or honey mustard sauce.
How Long to Cook Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer?
It doesn't take long to cook these grilled chicken tenders in the air fryer with no breading. You should only need 15 minutes to have the most delicious and flavorful grilled chicken tenders.
FAQs:
Are these Grilled Chicken Tenders Weight Watchers friendly or low carb?
Yes! Since these chicken fingers are grilled, there's no excess oil or batter, making this dish Weight Watchers and low carb friendly!
What sides pair well with these Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders?
You can pair this recipe with Air Fryer French Fries, Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole, Air Fryer Fryer Broccoli, a simple side salad, potato salad, or any other favorite sides you like!
How do I get crispy chicken tenders?
To make your chicken tenders crispy, make sure you only use the recommended amount of oil or cooking spray. Using too much oil can make your chicken tenders greasy, and they won't crisp up.
How long can I store these Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins?
You can store these easy chicken tenders in an airtight container for 3-4 days!
Can I make Air Fryer grilled chicken nuggets using this recipe?
Yes! All you have to do is cut the tenderloins into small, bite-sized pieces and put them in the Air Fryer. However, the chicken pieces may cook faster than the tenders, so you'll need to reduce the cooking time.
How do I prevent the chicken from sticking to the wire rack?
Take a piece of parchment paper and line the rack or baking sheet. The parchment paper prevents the oil and chicken juice from getting all over your Air Fryer, making cleanup a whole lot easier!
How can I jazz up this recipe?
You can add Italian seasoning, chili powder, an egg wash topped with bread crumbs, or lemon juice! In addition, you can skip the oil and use one of your favorite dry rubs on these Air Fryer Naked Chicken Tenders, which gives the chicken so much flavor!
Can I use chicken breasts for this recipe?
Of course! You will need to slice up the chicken into smaller strips, but otherwise, the steps are all the same.
How do I remove the tendon from the chicken tenders?
Pull out the tendon by holding the nub and pressing down on the tenderloin with your fork. The tendon should come right out. If not, cut out the tendon with a sharp knife, trying to keep the tenderloin intact as much as possible.
MORE AIR FRYER RECIPES:
- Air Fryer Chicken Wings
- Whole Chicken
- Air Fryer Chicken Breast
- Air Fryer Tater Tots
- Brussel Sprouts in Air Fryer
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Naked Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 10 chicken tenders
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer to 400ºF for 5 minutes. Prepare the Air Fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray.
- Using a cutting board, remove the tendon from the raw chicken tenders and add them to a medium-sized bowl.
- Add the olive oil to the chicken tenders and toss them so that they are fully coated.
- Add the seasonings to the chicken tenders and coat them.
- Place the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400ºF for 10 minutes, flipping the chicken at the 5-minute mark. The chicken strips should be perfectly crispy and golden brown.
- Use a meat thermometer to make sure the internal temperature reaches 165º degrees F. If not, cook for additional minutes until ready.
- Serve the cooked chicken with your favorite dipping sauces, such as BBQ sauce, buffalo sauce, or honey mustard sauce.
Notes
Nutrition
*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you're using with each recipe.
©AirFryingFoodie 2023
Super easy to make and very tasteful
Thank you! So glad you like them!
I have a new stove that has an air fryer built in, will these instruction work
Yes, and I also have one. I have to adjust the cook time a little in the oven air fryer versus my countertop air fryer. I usually add a little time.
Very tasty and crispy but very dry. What can I do to add moisture without adding too much fat?
You could consider spraying these with avocado oil.