This recipe for air fryer BBQ chicken tenders is an easy way to make a quick, family-friendly meal without turning on the oven.
Made with corn flakes, flour, BBQ sauce, spices, and honey, this air fryer recipe cooks fast and works well for an easy lunch or dinner.
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Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 15 min | Air Fry: 20 min | Difficulty: Easy | Servings: 4
Main Ingredients: chicken tenders, corn flakes, BBQ sauce, honey, spices
Best For: Easy weeknight dinners or a simple family meal
Make Ahead: You can bread the chicken a few hours ahead and keep it refrigerated until ready to cook
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days
👉Click HERE for my Air Fryer Recipes for Beginners eBook.
Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Why You’ll Love Making Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Air Fryer Instructions
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Recipe FAQ's
- How to Store & Serving Tips
- More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You'll Love!
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 🗒️Shopping List
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Why You’ll Love Making Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer
The air fryer makes it easy to cook chicken tenders that are tender on the inside with a crispy coating on the outside.
It also cooks faster than the oven and keeps cleanup simple, which makes it great for busy days.
Looking for more Family Dinner Ideas? Try my Air Fryer Chicken and Potatoes, BBQ Chicken Wrapped in Bacon, and even my Air Fryer Chicken Skewers. Yum!
Main Ingredients Needed
Here’s a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. For exact amounts and an easy way to shop, use the Instacart button in the recipe card below to add everything to your cart.
Substitutions and Variations
Want a different coating? Use crushed panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers instead of corn flakes.
Prefer a different flavor? Swap in your favorite BBQ sauce or try my Homemade BBQ Sauce recipe.
Want more smoky flavor? Add a little smoked paprika or extra garlic powder to the seasoning. You can also try my Homemade BBQ Seasoning Mix.
Like it sweeter? Add a bit more honey. Prefer it less sweet? Use a little less and let the BBQ sauce shine.
No chicken tenders on hand? Slice chicken breasts into strips and use those instead.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
Step-by-Step Instructions
This section provides step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
Step 1: Season the chicken tenders then dredge them through the seasoned flour, the egg wash. Then the seasoned crushed corn flakes.
Step 2: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Add the tenders in a single layer, and spray them lightly with the cooking spray.
Air Fryer Instructions
Step 3: Air fry at 400°F for 5-6 minutes, flip the tenders, spray with cooking spray again. Then cook for 7-10 minutes until golden and fully cooked through.
Step 4: Mix up the honey bbq sauce by combining the bbq sauce, honey, garlic powder, and onion powder while the tenders are cooking.
Step 5: Toss the air fried chicken tenders in the honey bbq sauce until evenly coated. Enjoy warm!
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO crush the corn flakes into small, even pieces so the coating sticks better and cooks evenly.
❌ DO NOT stack or overcrowd the chicken tenders in the air fryer, or they won’t get crispy.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
The best way to reheat leftover chicken and keep it crispy is in the air fryer or oven, not the microwave. Heat it in a single layer so hot air can circulate around each piece, and cook just until warmed through and crisp on the outside. This helps bring back the texture without drying out the chicken.
Yes, flipping the chicken tenders halfway through cooking helps them brown more evenly on both sides. This also helps the coating crisp up all around instead of just on one side.
For best results, it’s better to use thawed chicken tenders so the coating sticks properly and cooks evenly. Frozen tenders can release extra moisture as they cook, which can make the coating less crisp and cause it to slide off.
How to Store & Serving Tips
Refrigerate: Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Freeze cooked tenders in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months and reheat in the air fryer to warm through.
Serving Tips: Serve with extra BBQ sauce for dipping and add a simple salad or veggies to round out the meal. You might also like my homemade dipping sauce!
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes You'll Love!
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📖 Recipe Card
How to make Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds chicken tenders
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder, divided
- 3 teaspoons onion powder, divided
- 3 teaspoons smoked paprika, divided
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
- 2 cups corn flakes, crushed
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- cooking spray
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
Equipment
- Silicone Brush
Method
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with a paper towel. Season both sides with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- In a shallow bowl, combine flour with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. In a second bowl, season crushed cornflakes with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and 1 teaspoon paprika. In a third bowl, whisk the eggs.
- Dredge each chicken tender in the seasoned flour, then dip in the whisked eggs. Press into the seasoned cornflakes, coating well on all sides.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F and spray the basket with cooking spray. Arrange tenders in the basket in a single layer and spray lightly with cooking spray. (Do not overcrowd the basket; cook in batches if needed)
- Air fry for 5 to 6 minutes, flip, spray again, and cook another 7 to 10 minutes, or until golden and fully cooked through. (Time may vary based on thickness.)
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce, honey, and ½ teaspoon garlic powder and ½ teaspoon onion powder.
- Toss the cooked tenders in the honey BBQ sauce until evenly coated. Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
Tips:
- Crush the corn flakes into small, even pieces so the coating sticks well and cooks evenly.
- Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket so they cook and crisp properly.
- Use a BBQ sauce you already like, since the flavor comes through in the finished dish.
Storage and Make Ahead:
- Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can prepare the coated chicken a few hours ahead and keep it chilled until ready to cook.
- Reheat in the air fryer or oven to warm through and help bring back the crispy coating.
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Air Frying Food Safety Tips
- Ensure foods reach a minimum internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safety.
- Avoid cross-contamination by using separate utensils for raw and cooked food.
- Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw ingredients, especially meat.
- Do not leave food at room temperature for extended periods.
- Monitor your air fryer while in use to prevent accidents.
- If the recipe calls for it, use oils with a high smoking point to avoid the release of harmful compounds.
- Keep your cooking area well-ventilated for optimal air circulation.
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