These Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Tenders are crispy, golden, and packed with flavor—without the extra oil! Coated in a delicious blend of Parmesan cheese, crispy breadcrumbs, and savory seasonings, they cook up perfectly juicy on the inside with a crunchy, cheesy crust. Ready in under 20 minutes, they make an easy weeknight dinner, kid-friendly meal, or game-day snack. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce for a crowd-pleasing dish everyone will love!
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There’s really nothing better than fried chicken! I can eat it in all forms. These parmesan breaded chicken tenders are no exception. What I love most is they are so quick and easy to make!
Can You Air Fry Chicken?
Absolutely! Air fryer chicken is amazing because it produces crispy chicken with little to no oil. Check out my Air Fryer Buttermilk Fried Chicken Wings, Air Fryer Buffalo Wings, and Thai Chili Chicken Wings.
Why This Recipe Works
- Ultra Crispy Without Deep Frying – The air fryer circulates hot air, creating a perfectly golden, crunchy crust with way less oil.
- Flavor-Packed Coating – A mix of Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and seasonings gives these tenders a savory, cheesy crunch in every bite.
- Juicy & Tender Chicken – The air fryer locks in moisture, ensuring the chicken stays juicy while the outside gets crispy.
What Type of Chicken to Use
I like to use actual chicken tenderloins, but chicken breasts will also work. Tenderloins are far smaller than a chicken breast, and much thinner too. Tenderloins are half the size of a chicken breast. The chicken tenderloin is a strip of muscle distinct from but lying alongside the inner breast of the chicken closest to the bone.
Many people like tenderloins as they’re more tender than any other part of the chicken. This is because it’s a muscle that the chicken doesn’t used very often in comparison to its breast muscle.
If you use breasts, slice them into strips. You can read more about The Difference Between Breasts and Tenderloins here.
How to Make Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Tenders
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Place breadcrumbs, eggs, and flour in separate bowls.
- Add grated parmesan, Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper to taste to the bowl with the breadcrumbs. Stir.
- Dredge the chicken.
- Add the chicken tenders to the air fryer basket.
- Air fry.
Cook Time/How Long to Cook
I cook mine for 15 minutes, about 7 or 8 minutes each side.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQs
I hardly ever preheat my air fryer because it gets hot fast. Always read your manual for what works best for your air fryer, along with your personal experience and judgment. If you have better experiences with preheating, then go for it.
Frozen tenders will need anywhere from 12–18 minutes to cook. You will also have to stop (once the chicken has melted) to bread them. I find it easier to thaw them first.
After breading, place the tenders on a plate or baking sheet and let them sit for 5–10 minutes. This helps the coating adhere better before air frying. Cook in a single layer with space between tenders so air circulates evenly.
Yes, it’s a good idea to remove the tendon from chicken tenders for a better texture and easier eating. While it’s edible, the white tendon running through the tender can be chewy and tough when cooked. Locate the white tendon at one end of the tender. Hold the tendon firmly with a paper towel (so it doesn’t slip). Use a sharp knife to carefully trim it away while holding the tender steady.
Moisture is the enemy of crispiness! Pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels before breading. Use the Right Breading Order Flour → Egg → Parmesan + Breadcrumbs (press firmly to help it stick).
The air fryer relies on hot air, but a little oil spray helps with browning. Lightly spray the breaded tenders with cooking oil before air frying. I like to spritz these with a little olive oil. That will get them crunchy as well.
Avoid over-spraying, which can make them greasy instead of crispy. Too many tenders at once blocks airflow, preventing even browning. Arrange tenders in a single layer with space between them. Cook in batches if needed.
How to Store
Store leftovers tightly covered and sealed for 3-4 days.
How to Reheat
Reheat these in the air fryer on 350 degrees for a few minutes until warm.
Freezer Tips
You can freeze these tightly sealed for up to a few months. Defrost in the fridge overnight and reheat using the air fryer. Follow the tips above to cook from frozen.
What to Pair with the Tenders
Air Fryer French Fries
Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries
Air Fryer Onion Rings
Air Fryer Tortilla Chips
Roasted Ranch Potatoes
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Crispy Fried Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air Fryer Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwiches
Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Wings
Air Fryer Turkey Wings
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Air Fryer Spatchcock Chicken
Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
Click here for a full list of Air Fryer Recipes.
Air Fryer Parmesan Chicken Tenders (Strips)
Ingredients
- 1 pound skinless, chicken tenderloins or breast sliced/ cut into strips
- 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese I used freshly grated.
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs You can use any breadcrumbs (Italian Seasoned, panko, etc.)
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking oil spray I used olive oil
Instructions
- Place the breadcrumbs, eggs, and flour in separate bowls.
- Add the grated parmesan, Italian Seasoning, salt and pepper to taste to the bowl with the breadcrumbs. Stir.
- Coat the sliced chicken breasts in flour, then egg, and then the breadcrumbs.
- Spray both sides of the chicken tenders with cooking oil.
- Add the chicken tenders to the air fryer basket. Do not stack the tenders. Cook in batches if needed. Cook for 8 minutes on 400 degrees.
- Open the basket and flip the tenders. Cook for an additional 6 to 8 minutes or until the chicken tenders are crisp. Exact cook time will vary based on the air fryer brand that you use. Check in on the tenders to monitor the appropriate cook time necessary.
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees. Use a meat thermometer.
- Serve!
Video
Notes
- If you don’t want parmesan flavor, omit the cheese.
- To make keto chicken tenders omit the breadcrumbs or substitute almond meal (different from almond flour)
Karen
Friday 19th of July 2024
The flavor is good, the texture is good, but don’t cook them for 7-8 minutes on each side way to dry. The recipe says check your air fryer book, which I suggest, but in the chefs comments it says to cook for 7-8 minutes each side. 😊
KyLynn
Monday 11th of March 2024
Wow! These were so tender and tasty. I've made other chicken tenders in the air fryer, but never thought about spraying olive oil on them to brown. Loved that tip!
Made some homemade honey BBQ sauce to go with them. Even my picky, elderly father loved them! He gave 2 thumbs up!
staysnatched
Tuesday 12th of March 2024
That sounds so good!
Nancy
Thursday 21st of December 2023
Perfect! These were so easy and delicious! To keep the mess down, I used tongs. 😀 Also whipped up the egg and water in a bowl with a seal, placed the tenders in the bowl and gently tossed them. I put the crumbs and seasoning in a gallon size plastic bag and using the tongs placed three or four at a time in the bag and shook to coat them. I dipped them individually for the second coating, but really kept the mess down and went quickly. I will definitely be making these often! Thank you so much!
staysnatched
Tuesday 2nd of January 2024
You're welcome.
Randy Carlson
Sunday 9th of July 2023
So, does the almond meal replace the flour or the bread crumbs? Or both?
Noreen Cunningham
Wednesday 15th of November 2023
@staysnatched, hi great recipe do y happen to have recipe for the sauce used to dunk chic finger in!
staysnatched
Sunday 9th of July 2023
Both
Linda
Monday 30th of January 2023
I don't have an air fryer. Can I fry them in oil?
staysnatched
Monday 30th of January 2023
Yup!