There is something so comforting about crispy chicken tenders. As a kid, I loved chicken tenders. To this day, I still get made fun of for only wanting chicken tenders to eat when I was younger! As an adult, I still love chicken tenders, but fast food or frozen chicken tenders are not as good as I remember from my childhood. These homemade chicken tenders, however, are delicious and worth making over and over again!
Chicken tenders often get a bad reputation for being unhealthy due to the fried, heavy breading. These homemade tenders skip the frying and have a lighter breading which removes the unhealthiness, but keeps the crispiness and flavor.
Cooking chicken can sometimes be tricky. Undercooked chicken can make you very sick, but overcooked chicken is dry , lacks flavor, and is hard to chew. For perfectly cooked chicken, every time, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature often. We use a digital one and begin checking the temperature well before we think it will be done. You want the temperature to read 165 degrees Fahrenheit when inserted into the thickest part of the chicken. This temperature will make sure the chicken is fully cooked, but still tender and juicy!
These tenders can be made in the air fryer or the oven. Instructions for both options are listed below. After cooking, they will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To reheat, simply spray with cooking spray and heat in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Pair these chicken tenders with a salad or vegetable for nice a meal.
