• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Momma Fit Lyndsey

  • Air Fryer
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

search recipes

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Air Fryer
  • Spring
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Air Fryer
    • Spring
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Momma Fit Lyndsey » Recipes » Air Fryer

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - No Breading

    Published: Feb 22, 2022 by Lyndsey · This post may contain affiliate links

    • Share
    Jump to Recipe

    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.

    bowl of air fryer chicken tenders no breading
    Jump to:
    • Why You're Going to Love this Recipe
    • Ingredients & Substitutions
    • How to Make This Recipe
    • Make Ahead, Storage, Freezer, Serving & Reheating
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQS
    • Related Recipes
    • Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - No Breading

    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.

    ingredients for this recipe
    • 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.

    steps for making this recipe
    1. In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Set aside
    2. Pat chicken dry with paper towels.
    3. 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.
    4. 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

    How long to cook these?

    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.

    Can I make chicken tenders in an air fryer?

    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.

    Do I need breading to air fry these?

    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.

    Can I cook them straight from frozen?

    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.

    Can I put raw chicken right in it?

    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

    • Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan
    • pan of gluten free chicken piccata.
      Gluten Free Chicken Piccata
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Whole30 Mediterranean Chicken
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Ninja Foodi Whole Chicken
    featured image for this recipe.
    Print Pin
    5 from 5 votes

    Air Fryer Chicken Tenders - No Breading

    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.
    Course Appetizer, Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 12 minutes
    Total Time 17 minutes
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 226kcal
    Author Lyndsey

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds chicken tenders
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper

    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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1serving | Calories: 226kcal | Carbohydrates: 1.3g | Protein: 44.3g | Fat: 2.1g
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @MommaFitLyndsey or tag #mommafitlyndsey!

    More Air Fryer

    • close up shot of air fryer sweet potato wedges with ketchup.
      Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Wedges
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Easy Peel Ninja Foodi Hard-Boiled Eggs (5-5-5)
    • close up shot of air fryer halibut on a white plate topped with green onions and seasoning.
      Quick Air Fryer Halibut with Garlic Butter Sauce
    • close up shot of air fryer spaghetti squash in a white casserole dish with a black spoon topped with parsley and pepper.
      Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash (Whole or Boats)

    About Lyndsey

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    headshot of Momma Fit Lyndsey

    Hi I'm Lyndsey! As a mom of two picky eaters, I know how hard it can be to feed your family nutritious meals! I love to create and cook healthy meals that my family actually loves to eat. These recipes are for you to feed your family food they love too!

    More about me →

    banner of featured in resources

    Air Fryer Recipes

    • air fryer argentine red shrimp close up on a plate.
      10 Minute Argentine Red Shrimp in the Air Fryer
    • close up shot of air fryer chicken sausage in a black air fryer basket.
      Easy 10-Minute Air Fryer Chicken Sausage
    • healthy air fryer crab cakes on white parchment paper topped with remoulade sauce and green onions.
      Healthy Air Fryer Crab Cakes (Easy + No Mayo)
    • close up shot of air fryer breakfast potatoes.
      Crispy Air Fryer Breakfast Potatoes
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Air Fryer Salmon Bites
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Bacon Wrapped Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates

    Popular Posts

    • featured image for this recipe.
      Aldi Charcuterie Board
    • featured image for this recipe.
      Protein Blueberry Muffins
    • air fryer argentine red shrimp close up on a plate.
      10 Minute Argentine Red Shrimp in the Air Fryer
    • Air Fryer Sweet Potato

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About me
    • Disclosures
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Collaborations

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2022 Mommy Fit Lyndsey