Grilled Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer (No Breading)
Air fryer grilled chicken tenders are one of the easiest ways to get chicken on the table fast. They cook in about 10 minutes with minimal prep and come out juicy and flavorful, just like grilled chicken tenders. Perfect for a quick dinner or for adding to salads, wraps, tacos and grain bowls throughout the week.
We are gluten free, so finding breaded chicken tenders with ingredients that I love can be difficult. Because of this, I started making unbreaded chicken tenders in the air fryer and I actually love how little work they require. There’s no dealing with breading. I just remove the tendon, add a few simple seasonings and let the air fryer do the work. The biggest thing I’ve learned is to check them early because chicken tenders cook quickly and can dry out if you leave them in too long.
If you love quick air fryer chicken recipes, try my air fryer chicken bites next. They’re another favorite when I need chicken on the table fast. For something with a little more flavor, try my air fryer Greek chicken, air fryer buffalo chicken or air fryer chicken tacos. All easy options for busy weeknights when you don’t want to spend a lot of time making dinner.
Ingredient spotlight
This is not a full list of ingredients, but a quick spotlight on a few key ingredients. Find the full recipe below.
- Chicken tenders: I love using chicken tenderloins because they’re already the perfect size for the air fryer, so there’s no need to cut up chicken breasts. I do recommend removing the tendon before cooking for the best texture.
- Vinegar: A little vinegar helps brighten up the flavor of the chicken without making it taste sour. I usually use apple cider vinegar, but red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar work just as well.
Step by step
Remove the tenders from the chicken and add them to a bowl. Add the oil, vinegar and spices. Stir well to ensure the chicken is well coated. Add chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook for 6 minutes at 375F then pause to flip the chicken. Cook an additional 2 minutes then let rest 2 minutes before enjoying.
Tips for success
- You can use chicken breasts instead. If you don’t have chicken tenderloins, cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips about 1–1½ inches wide. Try to keep them similar in size so they cook evenly.
- Get to know your air fryer. I’ve tested this recipe multiple times in my Ninja Air Fryer with consistent results, but other models may cook faster or slower. Once you know how long your air fryer takes, this becomes such an easy recipe to make on repeat.
Air Fryer Grilled Chicken Tenders Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 Teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder - or 1 tablespoon dried chives
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
- Prep the chicken by removing the white tendons from the chicken tenderloins. Use a knife or fork and paper towel method (see below).1.5 pounds chicken tenders
- Add chicken to bowl with olive oil, apple cider vinegar and spices. Stir well until all the chicken is well coated.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, 1 Teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket (try not to overlap the chicken).
- Cook in air fryer at 375F for 6 minutes, then pause the air fryer and flip the chicken. Cook an additional 2 minutes.
- Turn off the air fryer but don't open the air fryer basket. Let the chicken rest for 2 minutes in the hot air fryer basket to continue to cook. This helps ensure the chicken is cooked without overcooking it).
- Check the chicken to ensure it's fully cooked (should read 165F in the thickest part. If it needs more time, cook 1-2 more minutes at 375F.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer without overlapping so they cook evenly.
- Check the chicken early. Cooking time depends on the thickness of the tenders and your air fryer model. Start checking at the shorter cooking time and use a meat thermometer to check for 165°F. Remove tenders as they reach temperature so they don’t dry out.
Nutrition Information
Easy ways to change up the flavors
One of my favorite things about these air fryer chicken tenders is how easy they are to customize. I usually keep the seasonings pretty simple so the chicken works with whatever I’m making for dinner, but sometimes I’ll change things up depending on what I’m craving.
Here are a few other seasoning combinations you can try:
- Mexican: Skip the thyme, reduce the paprika to ½ teaspoon and add 1 teaspoon chili powder and ½ teaspoon cumin. Great for tacos, burrito bowls or salads.
- Italian: Skip the thyme, reduce the paprika to ¼ teaspoon and add 1½ teaspoons Italian seasoning. Perfect with pasta or roasted vegetables.
- Greek: Replace the vinegar with lemon juice, skip the thyme and reduce the paprika to ¼ teaspoon. Add 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and ½ teaspoon dried oregano.
- Ranch: Skip the paprika and thyme. Use 1 tablespoon dried chives, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, ½ teaspoon dried dill and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Smoky: Reduce the paprika to ½ teaspoon and add ½ teaspoon smoked paprika and ¼ teaspoon cumin. For a little heat, add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes.
Common questions
How to remove the tendon from chicken tenders
The easiest method I’ve found is using a fork and paper towel. Grab the exposed end of the white tendon with a paper towel, then position the fork around the tendon and pull the fork down while holding the tendon firmly. This helps remove the tendon without cutting away much of the chicken.
You can also use a sharp knife to carefully cut it out if you prefer.
Can I use frozen chicken?
For this recipe, I recommend using thawed chicken tenders. Frozen chicken is harder to coat evenly with the oil, vinegar and seasonings, and the cooking time will be different. Thaw the chicken in the refrigerator before making this recipe.
