Here’s a crispy, golden Parmesan-Crusted Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe — crunchy outside, juicy inside 🍗🧀
🍗 Parmesan-Crusted Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Serves: 4
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- Cooking spray or a little olive oil
Optional:
- Fresh parsley for garnish
- Dipping sauce: ranch, honey mustard, or marinara
Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Coating
- In a shallow bowl, mix Parmesan, panko, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs with water.
2️⃣ Coat the Chicken
- Dip each chicken tender in the egg mixture, letting excess drip off.
- Press into the Parmesan-panko mixture, coating all sides.
3️⃣ Air Fry
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
- Spray the basket lightly with cooking spray.
- Place chicken tenders in a single layer (do not overcrowd).
- Spray tops lightly with oil.
- Cook 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
4️⃣ Serve
- Garnish with parsley.
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauces.
🔥 Tips for Extra Crispiness
- Use panko instead of regular breadcrumbs for a lighter, crunchier coating.
- Don’t skip the egg wash — it helps the Parmesan stick.
- For a thicker crust, double-dip: egg → Parmesan mixture → egg → Parmesan mixture.
If you want, I can also give you a garlic-herb Parmesan version or a spicy buffalo Parmesan version for a flavor twist.
Do you want me to provide one of those?