Healthy Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Popcorners Crust - Easy, Family-Friendly Recipe
If you're looking for a healthier take on crispy chicken tenders, this air fryer recipe with a spicy Popcorners crust could become your new favorite weeknight meal. Skip the frying pan and make this delicious, crunchy chicken without the guilt – perfect for the whole family!
This crispy air fryer chicken tenders recipe is perfect for anyone looking to make healthier meals with less oil. It’s quick, easy, and full of flavor!
• Total cook time: Less than 15 minutes
• Family friendly: YES! My 13 year old loved the crunch!
• Difficulty level: Easy/Intermediate
• Serving size: 3-4
• Serving suggestions: We served our crispy tenders with a side of roasted asparagus, a creamy homemade ranch dip, and a tangy *Sugar-free BBQ sauce for dipping. Feel free to swap in your favorite sides!
Although you can use any chip that you prefer, we enjoyed the flavor and texture of PopCorners.
It took me a while to get past some past chicken mishaps – overcooked, dry pieces that left me reluctant to cook chicken often. But after trying this air fryer recipe, I’m officially back in the chicken-lovers' club! The crispiness and juicy interior have made chicken a regular on our dinner table again.
This is the first week in probably four weeks that I'm not constantly busy. I needed a break for sure - it seems like even my weekends were just as busy as weekdays for awhile and I was more in the busy mode vs the enjoying myself mode. On a positive note, Halloween is in two days, we went to a pumpkin farm last Saturday and did trunk or treat on Sunday.
I've been working part-time to full-time so that's been keeping me busy during the day. I've also been doing a lot of blog work so that's been keeping me busy as well.
If you like this air fryer chicken tenders recipe, you may also want to try my Shredded Ranch Chicken, Easy Chipotle Chicken Tacos, or my Easy Chicken and Waffles Recipe.
Recipe inspiration: Simply Recipes
Ingredients for Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders:
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• 1/2 cup light sour cream
• 1oz ranch dip seasoning packet
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup flour
• 1/4 cup cornstarch
• 1 tbsp smoked paprika
• 1 tbsp garlic powder
• *1 cup crushed Popcorners, Spicy Queso
• 3 boneless, skinless, chicken breasts - cut into tenders
• Pepper to taste
• PAM cooking spray
*As a side note, the sour cream and ranch dip seasoning packet form together to make a ranch dipping sauce. This is optional. If you don't want to dip your chicken tenders in ranch, you can skip. You will use 1/4 of the ranch packet for the chicken.
Directions for Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders:
Step #1: Spray and preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees for 10 minutes.
Step #2: If you would like to make the ranch dip, combine the light sour cream and 3/4 of the ranch dip seasoning packet, cover and refrigerate until you are ready to serve the tenders.
Step #3 In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs. In another bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, smoked paprika, garlic powder, pepper and the 1/4 remaining ranch dip seasoning.
In the third bowl, add the crushed Popcorners or chips of your choosing.
Step #4 Working one tender at a time, dip the tender in the flour mixture, egg mixture, and then breadcrumb mixture, tapping off any excess. Make sure all sides are coated and transfer to the Air Fryer.
Step #5: Cook for 5 minutes, flip, and cook for 6 more minutes.
Store leftover air fryer chicken tenders in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or air fryer for best results.
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