- Preheat the Air Fryer:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare Breading Station:
- In three separate shallow dishes, place the flour in one, beaten eggs in another, and combine the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese (if using), garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper in the third dish.
- Coat the Chicken:
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
- Dredge each chicken tender in the flour, shaking off any excess.
- Dip the floured chicken tender into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess to drip off.
- Press each chicken tender into the breadcrumb mixture, coating evenly and pressing gently to adhere.
- Air Fry the Chicken Tenders:
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or brush with olive oil.
- Place the breaded chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other.
- Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray or olive oil spray to help them crisp up.
- Cook:
- Cook the chicken tenders in the air fryer at 400°F (200°C) for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside and cooked through with an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
- Serve:
- Once cooked, remove the chicken tenders from the air fryer and let them rest for a few minutes before serving.
- Serve the crispy air fryer chicken tenders hot with your favorite dipping sauce, such as barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or ranch dressing.
Enjoy these delicious and crispy air fryer chicken tenders as a quick and easy meal or snack! Adjust the cooking time as needed based on the thickness of the chicken tenders and the specific model of your air fryer.