Crispy Homemade Chicken Tenders for the Air Fryer or the Oven
These crispy homemade chicken tenders are perfect for the air fryer or the oven.
Prep Time30 minutesmins
Cook Time15 minutesmins
Total Time45 minutesmins
Course: Dinner
Ingredients
1lbchicken breasts
1/4cupKosher saltoptional for brining chicken
1 3/4cupPanko Breadcrumbs
Oil sprayI use olive oil spray
2Tbspall-purpose flour
1Tbspmayonnaise
1TbspDijon mustard
1/2TbspYellow mustard
1Tbspapple cider vinegar or lemon juiceoptional but I like the extra zing
1egg
2-3tspItalian seasoning blendunless your kids freak out at the sight of green herbs in their food
1tsppaprika
1/2tspsaltif you didn't brine your chicken
For Dipping Sauce
3/4cupgreek yogurt or mayonnaise
1TbspDijon mustardor mustard of choice
1Tbsplemon juice
2tspdried dill
Instructions
To brine chicken -- add 4 cups of warm water to a large bowl and stir in 1/4 cup kosher salt
Add chicken and soak for 15-30 minutes
While chicken is brining, prepare other ingredients
Preheat oven to 400F
Cover a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper
Spread out Panko breadcrumbs and spray lightly with oil
Bake in the oven for 2-3 minutes, until lightly golden
Remove and allow to cool, then pour into a shallow dish and set aside
In another bowl or shallow dish, prepare batter by mixing together flour, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar/lemon juice, egg, and seasonings
Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels
Cut chicken into strips about 3" long and 1.5" thick
Dip each chicken strip into the batter and coat well
Then dip each strip into the breadcrumb mixture, using your free hand to sprinkle breadcrumbs on any part of the chicken that is not well covered in breadcrumbs
If you are using an Air Fryer...
Place 6-8 battered chicken strips in the bottom of the air fryer and spray generously with olive oil,
To cook more strips at the same time, place an air fryer cooking rack in the air fryer and add a second layer of strips
Set aside any remaining battered strips to cook when the first batch is finished, cooking each batch at 180C for 10-14 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through
If you are cooking in the oven...
Place battered strips on a parchment covered baking sheet or a baking sheet with a rack placed on top so the chicken strips are raised off of the baking sheet
Spray battered chicken strips generously with olive oil cooking spray and bake at 400F for 12-15 minutes, depending on the size of strips
Make Dipping Sauce
Whisk together yogurt/mayonnaise with mustard, lemon juice, and dill, and serve with chicken strips