Air Fryer Naked Chicken Tenders

Naked chicken tenders garnished with parsley.

4.72 from 7 votes

Naked chicken tenders are a crispy, flavorful delight, ready in just 20 minutes! Infused with aromatic herbs and cooked to golden perfection, they’re a hit at any family dinner.

Prep Time5

Cook Time10

Total Time15

Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Air Fryer Naked Chicken Tenders

Servings: servings

Author: Caytlin McCleery

Ingredients

1½ pounds chicken tenders
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Heat air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) for at least 5 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine 1½ pounds chicken tenders and 2 tablespoons olive oil. Toss to coat.
In a small mixing bowl, stir together 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon dried basil, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.½ teaspoon salt
Sprinkle the seasoning mixture over the chicken tenders and toss until evenly coated.
Place chicken tenders in the preheated air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius) for 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 degrees Celsius).
Serve hot.

Notes

Optional Sauce and Seasoning Variations

Teriyaki Sauce (for Marinating)

Makes enough for up to 1½ pounds of chicken

Ingredients:

⅓ cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
½ teaspoon ground ginger
1 cup water
¼ cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 clove garlic, minced

Instructions:

In a medium bowl, whisk together ⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, and ½ teaspoon ground ginger. Stir in 1 cup water, ¼ cup soy sauce, 1 tablespoon honey, and 1 minced garlic clove.

Add chicken tenders to marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours. Remove from marinade and cook in air fryer as instructed above.

Simple Barbecue Sauce (for Basting)

Ingredients:

1 cup ketchup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons liquid hickory smoke
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard or 2 teaspoons yellow mustard

Instructions:

In a bowl, combine the ketchup, brown sugar, Worcestershire sauce, liquid smoke, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, red chili pepper flakes, and dry ground mustard or wet mustard.

Stir the mixture until all the ingredients are well combined.

Lightly season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Baste with barbecue sauce before air frying, and again halfway through cooking.

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