Main Dish, Recipes

EASY AIR FRYER FROZEN CHICKEN TENDERS

Do you feel like often times the chicken tenders in the freezer sneak up on you and overpower your plans for dinner? I cannot tell you how often I forget to thaw them! Fear no more, parents! With this easy air fryer frozen chicken tenders recipe, mealtime is super convenient…and tasty too. Get ready to have everyone’s favorite protein prepared quickly and without thawing – This recipe will for sure be a game changer for your meal prep!

Easy Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders – Without Breading!

Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time20 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Frozen Chicken Tenders
Servings: 4
Calories: 227kcal

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 Pound Raw Frozen Chicen Tederloins
  • 2 Tbsp Avocado Oil or Olive Oil
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1 tsp Pepper
  • 1 tsp Paprika
  • 1 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1 tsp Onion Powder

Instructions

  • Turn on air fryer to 350 degrees and set timer to 15 mins. Since the chicken is frozen, cooking at 350 will prevent the chicken from drying out.
  • In a small bowl add oil and spices and mix until well combine.
  • Brush the spice mixture over the frozen chicken tenders. Cover the whole tenderloin in the oil mixture, so they don't dry out.
  • Add the frozen chicken tenders to the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 15 mins. Flip them half way through cooking. Cook until the internal temp is 165 degrees. Different air fryers will have different cook times, that why it's important to check the temp.
  • Once the chicken has reach 165 degrees, remove from the oven and let rest for a few mins.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

Storage – If you have leftovers, store in an air tight container for up to 4 days. 
Reheating – These are amazing reheated, just simply turn your air fryer on to 365 degrees and heat for 1-2 mins. 

Frozen Chicken Tenderloins In The Air Fryer:

When it comes to fast and easy dinners, nothing beats having a bag of frozen chicken tenders in my freezer. I can make a delicious meal in no time at all without the hassle of thawing them out beforehand. As a busy mom with a pretty poor memory when it comes to remembering to take things out of the freezer to thaw, this is a lifesaver!

I love the convenience, but what I love even more is that I can get crispy, delicious tenders in the air fryer quickly and easily. Not only does it give you restaurant-quality food in minutes, but you also don’t have to worry about unhealthy oils from deep-frying them. The result is always juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside, so tasty!

You can switch up your frozen chicken tenderloin meals-

  • Marinate them in your favorite seasoning or sauce before cooking for extra flavor
  • Serve them with different kinds of sides depending on what you’re feeling.
  • Throw them on a quick salad for a healthy and delicious meal!

Best of all, they’re so simple and quick that even novice cooks can make a tasty meal without stress. So next time you’re looking for an easy dinner solution with amazing results – grab those trusty frozen chicken tenderloins, I get mine in the frozen section at Costco, just make sure they don’t have breading.

Step by Step Instructions:

  1. Turn on air fryer to 350 degrees and set timer to 15 mins. Since the chicken is frozen, cooking at 350 will prevent the chicken from drying out.
  2. In a small bowl add oil and spices and mix until well combine.
  3. Brush the spice mixture over the frozen chicken tenders. Cover the whole tenderloin in the oil mixture, so they don’t dry out.
  4. Add the frozen chicken tenders to the air fryer in a single layer and cook for 15 mins. Flip them half way through cooking. Cook until the internal temp is 165 degrees. Different air fryers will have different cook times, that why it’s important to check the temp.
  5. Once the chicken has reach 165 degrees, remove from the oven and let rest for a few mins.

There you have it, it truly is as simple as it sounds! I love to dip these in our copycat chick-fil-a sauce or Red Robin Ranch I make, they defiantly are better than the store bought stuff and level up dinner!

I use my Ninja Air Fryer I got from amazon and I cannot recommend it enough! It cooked mine in 15 mins, But I used to have the instant vortex and it would take close to 20 mins! I’m so happy I switch to the ninja, this one have two baskets so you can cook your sides as well, like our parmesan zucchini fries!

Photo of unbranded chicken tenders on a wood cutting board.

FAQ

How long to cook frozen chicken tenderloins in the oven?

Preheat oven to 375°F. 2. Bake frozen tenderloins 30 to 35 minutes or until internal temperature on instant read thermometer reaches 170°F. (Bake thawed tenderloins 18 to 22 minutes.)

What temperature should chicken tenderloins be cooked at?

165˚F IS THE MINIMUM TEMPERATURE BONELESS, SKINLESS CHICKEN MUST REACH TO BE SAFE TO EAT.

Why are my chicken tenderloins tough?

According to a 2020 study, woody chicken breast has higher amounts of connective tissue than normal breast meat, which can make the meat tough. The increased growth rate of chickens may be the cause of both this and white striping

Final Thoughts

You’re now officially armed with the knowledge of how to make crisp, delicious air fryer chicken tenders. What are you waiting for? Gather your ingredients and get cooking! Your family will be so impressed with this dish, they’ll be asking you when you’re going to make it again. And if you sever our Texas Roadhouse Mashed Potatoes and a salad with some Red Robin Ranch with it, your family is going to be so impressed!

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