Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Chicken Tenders coated in a seasoned almond flour mixture, cooked to perfection in the air fryer, and topped with a sweet and spicy buttery sauce. This healthy, low-carb recipe offers a delicious alternative to traditional fried chicken tenders, perfect for a quick dinner or snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 11-12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 12 chicken tenders (4 servings) 1x
- Category: Healthy dinner ideas
- Method: Air fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Carb
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Tenders
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup blanched almond flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 12 chicken tenders (about 1.5 lbs)
- Olive oil cooking spray
For the Sweet and Spicy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Dredge the chicken: Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and season them with salt and pepper. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the almond flour, garlic powder, dried parsley, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Dip each chicken tender first into the egg mixture, then coat completely with the almond flour mixture. Set the coated tenders aside on a clean plate. Continue until all chicken tenders are evenly coated.
- Cook: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F (199°C) and spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray. Lay some of the coated chicken tenders in a single even layer in the basket. Spray the tenders lightly with olive oil spray. Close the air fryer and cook for 7 minutes. Flip the tenders, spray the other side with olive oil spray, then continue cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes, until the chicken is crispy and cooked through. Cook in batches if necessary.
- Mix up the sauce: Melt the butter in a small pot over medium heat on the stovetop. Once the butter is fully melted, add hot sauce, honey, tomato paste, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Whisk together thoroughly and cook on low heat for 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Top and serve: Transfer the cooked chicken tenders to a serving platter or clean plate. Pour the prepared sweet and spicy sauce evenly over the tenders. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Breadcrumbs can replace almond flour for a nut-free option, though the flavor will slightly differ.
- BBQ sauce can be used instead of hot sauce if you prefer a milder, smoky flavor.
- Store cooked chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 360°F (182°C) until warmed through.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3 chicken tenders with sauce
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, healthy chicken tenders, low carb chicken recipe, easy dinner, sweet and spicy chicken tenders
Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/air-fryer-chicken-tenders-recipe/
