Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Unbreaded) is the best and easiest way to cook chicken in the air fryer. These unbreaded chicken tenders in the air fryer are perfectly seasoned with herbs and spices and cook in the air fryer in just 10 minutes. Dinner has never been so good!
RECIPE FOR UNBREADED CHICKEN TENDERS IN AIR FRYER
Are you looking for a simple, healthy, protein packed recipe that you can make in the air fryer? Here it is! Unbreaded chicken tenders in the air fryer are low carb, keto-friendly, gluten free, and dairy free. This recipe is also really easy for anyone at any cooking skill level to make.
For more low carb air fryer recipes, try our Air Fryer Asparagus recipe or Keto Air Fryer Zucchini Boats.
A quick seasoning blend using spices you probably already have at home gives these unbreaded chicken tenders so much amazing flavor and makes them a tasty addition to any meal. I love making a batch of these on a Sunday night and then adding them to salads and sandwiches throughout the week for lunch.
INGREDIENTS FOR UNBREADED CHICKEN TENDERS IN AIR FRYER
Chicken Tenderloins - Start with raw chicken tenderloins for this recipe. I can almost always find these at the grocery store, but if you can't, just buy regular chicken breasts and cut them into strips.
Olive Oil - This helps our spices and herbs stick to the chicken and lets them brown up nicely in the air fryer.
Garlic Powder - this warm, sweet spice is great with almost anything, but especially delicious on chicken and other meats.
Kosher Salt - We want our chicken to be well seasoned. Adjust the amount of salt for your own preferences.
Oregano - This warm, earthy herb is delicious with chicken and I add it to most of my spice blends.
Paprika - Ground paprika does double duty here. It adds a warm spiciness and also adds color.
Ground Black Pepper - I like a bit of pepper to give these chicken tenders a kick.
HOW TO MAKE UNBREADED CHICKEN TENDERS IN AIR FRYER
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with a paper towel. Then, add them to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
- Combine the spices in a small bowl and stir until well mixed. Sprinkle over the top of the chicken tenders. Toss the chicken tenders with the oil and spice blend until completely covered.
- Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Work in batches if need be.
- Air Fry as directed in the recipe card below. Flip tenders halfway through cook time and cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
WHAT TO SERVE WITH UNBREADED AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS
These naked chicken tenders are super versatile and delicious with just about any side dishes. You can even use them for weekly meal prepping, or making sandwiches or wraps. Turn these tenders into a Honey Mustard Chicken Salad, or make up your own chicken salad varieties.
My perfect dinner (that my family loves too) is these unbreaded chicken tenders paired with Air Fryer Potato Wedges and some steamed veggies. A side of Air Fryer Balsamic Mushrooms would be delicious too.
I like to dip chicken tenders in my Homemade BBQ Sauce or Homemade BBQ Ranch Sauce. Yum!
ARE UNBREADED CHICKEN TENDERS HEALTHY?
These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders without breading are much healthier than other breaded and fried chicken for a number of reasons. This recipe is low carb, keto, whole30 approved, gluten free, and dairy free. This recipe can absolutely be part of a healthy diet or meal plan.
CAN YOU COOK FROZEN UNBREADED CHICKEN TENDERS IN THE AIR FRYER?
You can! I find that it takes at least 3 additional minutes for the chicken to cook through if I start with frozen chicken. Make sure to check the temperature for doneness with an instant read thermometer. Chicken is done when the reading is at least 165°F.
CAN YOU PUT RAW CHICKEN IN THE AIR FRYER?
While you might be used to cooking frozen foods with your air fryer, raw meats can absolutely be cooked in the air fryer too. Follow this recipe and you'll be very pleased with how raw chicken cooks in your air fryer.
This recipe was made in a Cosori Air Fryer with a Basket. The recipe should work in other air fryers.
Keep in mind that each air fryer runs differently, it is important to check your food often.
If you have a Cuisinart Air Fryer Oven or a Ninja Basket Air Fryer, both of these units seem to run "hotter" than most air fryers. That means you will need to LESSEN the cook time.
MORE AIR FRYER CHICKEN RECIPES
You can cook a Whole Chicken in the air fryer in under an hour and it comes out so juicy and delicious.
If you're looking for Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders you might like this recipe, and Air Fryer Sticky Ginger Chicken is a fun family favorite too.
Have you made this recipe? Please leave a comment AND rating below! It helps other readers!
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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders (Unbreaded)
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb Raw Chicken Tenderloins
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp Oregano
- ½ tsp Paprika
- ¼ tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 380F for 5 minutes.
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Then, add them to a bowl and drizzle with olive oil.
- Combine the spices in a small bowl and stir until mixed. Sprinkle over the top of the chicken tenders.
- Toss the chicken tenders with the oil and spice blend until completely covered.
- Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Work in batches if need be.
- Air fry at 380F for 9-10 mins, flipping halfway through, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F.
Video
Notes
- You can typically find chicken pre-cut into tenderloins at the grocery store. If you can’t, purchase chicken breasts and cut them into long strips yourself.
- The spice blend for this chicken is so delicious, but if you’re looking for something a bit simpler, you can just use ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp ground black pepper for a basic recipe. Change around the spices to your liking!
- Depending on the size of your chicken tenders, they may cook quicker or slower than the times we have listed. Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165F.
- Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the "Air Fry" function.
- Pro Tip: Check your food as it cooks. Each air fryer runs a bit differently. Sometimes airfying is a trial and error process. Check your food as it cooks to learn your air fryer better! When cooking a new recipe or food items be sure to check your food often to help avoid over/under cooking.
Nutrition
Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
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