Air Fryer Jalapeño Cheddar Chicken Tenders
These Air Fryer Jalapeño Cheddar Chicken Tenders are a flavorful twist on a classic favorite. Infused with spicy jalapeños and melty cheddar cheese, they're crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or game day snack, these tenders are made healthier with the air fryer.
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 mixing bowls
- 1 whisk
- 3 shallow dishes for breading station
- 1 cooking spray
- 1 meat mallet or rolling pin
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated cheddar cheese
- ¼ cup diced jalapeños fresh or pickled
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- to taste salt
- to taste pepper
- cooking spray for spraying air fryer basket and tops of chicken tenders
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow dishes: mix flour with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika in the first dish, whisk eggs in the second dish, and combine breadcrumbs, grated cheddar cheese, and diced jalapeños in the third dish.
- Dredge each chicken tender first in the flour mixture, then dip it in the beaten eggs, and finally coat it with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray and arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer without touching each other.
- Lightly spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray.
- Cook the tenders in the air fryer for 10 minutes, then flip them over and cook for an additional 5 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) and are golden brown.
- Once cooked, remove the tenders from the air fryer and let them rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
- For extra spice, consider adding cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
- Serve the tenders with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Notes
For extra spice, you can add cayenne pepper to the breadcrumb mixture.
These tenders pair well with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer for best results.