Air fryer chicken tenders - no breading, no problem! These unbreaded chicken tenderloins have a fraction of the fat and calories of the traditional version thanks to their naked coating and flavorful seasoning! Juicy and delicious, these healthy chicken tenders can serve as a family friendly main meal or in a salad or wrap in just under 20 minutes.
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Two things that go perfectly together? Air frying and chicken recipes!
This recipe is 100% straightforward in that way. It's simple, flavorful and versatile.
I give you air fried chicken tenders - no breading needed! Check out all of the reasons below why this recipe is going to the top of your recipe box.
Why You're Going to Love this Recipe
- Chicken tenders without breading and with no breadcrumbs work for so many dietary plans. This healthy recipe is naturally gluten free, made with no egg, low carb, keto, dairy free, paleo and Whole30 compliant. It has less calories than the crispy breaded tenders made with flour.
- It's a great base recipe that is full of flavor. These air fried chicken tenderloins can be used in a ton of different options like a salad, wrap, or even as a main dish or appetizer.
- Great for meal prep and meal planning - Can be made ahead, frozen and cooked straight from the freezer.
- No breading, no problem! Delicious as is or marinated, sprinkled with parmesan or tossed in a buffalo wing sauce. Try the bbq ranch buffalo sauce from my Ninja Foodi wings recipe - it works perfect for these unbreaded tenders.
- Works in any model you have - Cosori, Power XL, Ninja Foodi, Ultrean and more.
- Quick and easy to make - just a few spices from your pantry and some meat and this recipe is on the table in under 20 minutes.
- Kid friendly and versatile! Kids will love dunking these in ketchup, ranch, bbq or your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Chicken tenderloins: purchase the fresh, plain version that is hand-trimmed if possible. This makes prep super quick and easy.
- Seasonings: the seasonings shown are my typical meat seasoning blend but you can have the creative freedom to use whatever seasoning blend you favor. Just be sure it does include salt otherwise you will want to add that in.
How to Make This Recipe
This is a step-by-step walkthrough of how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cook time and temperatures.
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Set aside
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
- Lay on a plate or paper towels and sprinkle half of the seasoning mix over the tenders. Rub in and flip. Season other side and rub in.
- Spray tenders with coconut oil spray. Place tenders in basket with a small space between each, cooking in batches if necessary. Air fry at 360F for 6 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 6 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to cook tenders to 165F.
Make Ahead, Storage, Freezer, Serving & Reheating
- Make Ahead: Season tenderloins and store in the refrigerator for up to a day before air frying.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: Store seasoned unbreaded chicken tenders in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- Serving: Serve as a main dish with a vegetable like broccoli and potato wedges for an easy family friendly meal. Alternatively, use in a wrap, bowl or salad.
- Reheating: No breading chicken tenderloins can be reheated by air frying again for about 3-5 minutes at 360F until the internal temperature is 165F.
Expert Tips
- If using a smaller model you may need to air fry in batches. Make sure tenderloins are baked with a bit of space between each so you can ensure proper and even cooking.
- For deeper flavor try your own blend of seasonings or a pre-made seasoning blend. Taco, Greek and Italian seasoning would all work well.
FAQS
Cook these at 360F for 6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165F. The time and temp varies depending on how thick your tenders are and how your model runs.
Yes, you can make homemade tenderloins or frozen from Tyson or your favorite brand super easy. Air frying tenderloins whether made with no breading or breading is my favorite way to make this super easy meal. No where else can you get the same flavor and crisp without all of the fat and calories.
You do not need it but you can make them with breading if you choose. Follow my recipe for breaded chicken tenders for the traditional crispy version with breading.
Yes, these can be cooked straight from frozen, however you may find the seasoning harder to stay on if cooking straight from the freezer. The best method if you want to cook them from frozen is to prep and season them beforehand and then freeze them with the seasoning on them.
Add at least 3-5 minutes per side to cook frozen unbreaded chicken tenders and temp to 165F internally.
There is no need to pre-cook it before air frying. Air fried chicken can be cooked from raw or reheated just as you would cook it in the oven.
Related Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - No Breading
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Set aside
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Lay on a plate or paper towels and sprinkle half of the seasoning mix over the tenders. Rub in and flip. Season other side and rub in.
- Spray chicken tenders with coconut oil spray. Place tenders in basket with a small space between each, cooking in batches if necessary. Air fry at 360F for 6 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 6 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to cook tenders to 165F.
Notes
- If using a smaller model you may need to air fry in batches. Make sure tenderloins are baked with a bit of space between each so you can ensure proper and even cooking.
- For even deeper flavor try your own blend of seasonings or a pre-made seasoning blend. Taco, Greek and Italian seasoning would all work well.
- Make Ahead: Season tenderloins and store in the refrigerator for up to a day before air frying.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: Store seasoned unbreaded chicken tenders in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: No breading chicken tenderloins can be reheated by air frying for about 3-5 minutes at 360F until the internal temperature is 165F.
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