Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

CRISPY AIR FRIED CHICKEN TENDERS😍

It’s that time of year again where my cravings tend to overpower my bikini bod goals, so I love whippin up recipes where I don’t have to choose between healthy or indulgent. Crispy chicken tendies with TWO sauces because that’s just how we roll around here - one creamy flavor packed sauce inspired by the sauce at Raising Cane’s, the other, just might be the best honey mustard dipping sauce you’ll ever have. Because the only tough decision you should be making around dinner time is what sauce to dip your tender in next. You’re gonna love these! And don’t worry if you don’t have an air fryer, oven baked instructions below!

Serves 2.

Ingredients:

For the Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders:

• 1 lb chicken breast, cut into tenders

• 1 egg

• 1 tbsp pickle juice

• 1 tbsp hot sauce

• ⅓ cup flour

• ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Avocado or olive oil spray

• Seasoning Mix: 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ¼ tsp cayenne (optional), salt and pepper to taste

• Serving suggestions: with baked sweet potato fries and a side Caesar salad.

For the Special Sauce:

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• 2 ½ tbsps ketchup

• 1 ½ tsps Worcestershire sauce

• ½ tsp black pepper

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ½ tsp Tony Cachere’s creole seasoning (optional)

For the Honey Mustard:

• ¼ cup mayonnaise

• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard

• 1 tbsp yellow mustard

• 2 tbsps honey

• Salt to taste

Directions:

For the Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders:

• If baking in the oven, preheat your oven to 390 degrees. If using your air fryer, preheat for 5 minutes.

• Set up a dredging station with 3 bowls. In the first bowl, add in your flour and half of the spice mix. In the second bowl, whisk together the egg, hot sauce, and pickle juice. In the 3rd bowl, mix together the panko, olive oil, and the rest of the spice mix.

• Season the chicken tenders with salt, then dredge in the flour mixture. Shake off any excess then coat in the egg wash before transfering to the panko mixture. Coat the tender in the panko and lightly press the breading into the chicken. 

• Transfer to a wire rack or to the base of your air fryer and spray generously with oil. Bake at 390 for 20 minutes, flipping halfway and spraying with more oil OR air fry at 390 degrees for 5 minutes, flip, spray again and cook for 4 minutes more.

• While the chicken is cooking, whisk up your two sauces in two separate bowls, tasting to adjust seasonings.

• Serve the chicken immediately with the dipping sauces, sweet potato fries, and a side salad for a delicious meal!