Go Back
air fryer chicken tenders being dipped into BBQ sauce
Print Recipe
5 from 3

{BBQ} Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Crispy BBQ flavored Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are seasoned, coated in smoky potato chips, and cooked to tender and juicy perfection on the inside. They're a great dinner or lunch option for something quick, delicious, and satisfying!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time8 minutes
Total Time18 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
Servings: 4

Equipment

  • Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken tenderloins , carefully trimmed of excess fat, if necessary and patted dry
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/3 cup BBQ sauce , plus more for dipping
  • 2 cups finely crushed BBQ kettle potato chips (from an 8 ounce bag of chips)
  • fresh chopped parsley for garnish , optional

Instructions

  • Mix together the onion powder, garlic powder, and salt; sprinkle evenly over each piece of chicken until fully coated.
  • Lay the chicken tenders out onto a tray or plate and brush with the BBQ sauce all over.
  • Place the crushed potato chips into a shallow bowl; working in batches, coat the tenders in the crumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
  • If your air fryer requires preheating, do that now. Set to 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
  • Spray the basket with cooking spray and place as many tenders that will comfortably fit without touching. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray.
  • Air fry for 8-9 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F, carefully flipping halfway through and coating with additional spray. Repeat with remaining chicken.
  • Serve with more BBQ sauce or some of the dipping sauces I suggest in the article. Enjoy!
  • NOTE: This recipe was made and tested using a small Phillips model Air Fryer. If you own a different model air fryer, I would suggest doing a test run with just a couple tenders and then adjust the time/temp, if necessary. Air fryers are all similar, but just like ovens, cooking times can vary.

Notes

For helpful recipe tips and storage, please refer to the full article.

Nutrition

Calories: 403kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 726mg | Potassium: 1173mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 87IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg