Air fryer parmesan-crusted tenders

These golden brown and flavorful air fryer parmesan-crusted chicken tenders come together in no time and will make you a dinner-time hero.

The air fryer has made a major resurgence several times since its introduction into the marketplace. Over the past few months, it once again gained popularity with home cooks. I’m super late to the party but I’m so glad that I finally decided to jump on the air fryer bandwagon and try it out. One of the first successful recipes I made in my air fryer were these parmesan-crusted chicken tenders. With simple pantry ingredients, this humble meal packs major flavor and basically blew up my Instagram the day I dropped the how-to video. It makes sense that this recipe was so successful because at the end of the day people just want simple and delicious meals that they can prepare quickly with little fuss.

Here’s how I made these super simple and delicious air fryer parmesan-crusted tenders.

Ingredients you’ll need for the air fryer parmesan-crusted tenders:

6 large chicken tenders
2 eggs
1 tbsp of freshly chopped parsley
1 tbsp of garlic, I used the one from the tube
1 tbsp of good olive oil
2 tbsp of butter, melted
Salt & pepper to taste
1 1/2 cup of store-bought shredded parmesan (not grated)

How to make air fryer parmesan-crusted tenders from scratch

1. To a bowl, beat two eggs and mix in the chopped parsley
2. To a second bowl, add chicken tenders and drizzle with olive oil, melted butter, salt, pepper and garlic (I used the minced garlic from a tube because it’s easier to work with here) Mix everything together until the chicken is fully seasoned
3. To a third bowl, add your store-bought parmesan cheese
4. Dip the chicken tender in the egg wash then into the grated parmesan and place on parchment paper until all tenders are ready for the air fryer
5. Cook tenders in the air fryer on 375 for about 15-20 flipping halfway through. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the tender. For larger tenders, cook about 5 minutes longer.

Pro tip–crank the air fryer to 400 degrees for the last minute of cooking for that extra golden brown color. This is optional. Be careful not to burn the cheese.

Tools you’ll need:

Air fryer

Air fryer parchment paper

Common questions

Can I bake the parmesan-crusted tenders in the oven?
Yes, you can, they might take a little longer than the air fryer but play with the temperature and time until the desired outcome is achieved. I recommend starting at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, flipping half way through.

Do I have to use shredded parmesan cheese?
Yes, I tried this with shaved parmesan cheese and it did not stick to the tenders the same way as regular shredded parmesan cheese from the bag does. Stick with the shredded store-bought stuff for this one and it will work perfectly.

Can you freeze this meal?

Yes, you can freeze the cooked tenders and reheat them in the air fryer at a later date.

More recipes to try:

Crab spinach and artichoke dip

If you make these air fryer parmesan-crusted tenders be sure to tag me at @asiliglamcooks on Instagram so that I can re-post.

Print Pin

Air fryer parmesan-crusted tenders

These golden brown and flavorful air fryer parmesan-crusted chicken tenders come together in no time and will make you a dinner-time hero.

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

• 6 large chicken tenders
• 1 1/2 cup store-bought shredded parmesan (not grated)
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp freshly chopped parsley
• 1 tbsp minced garlic I used the one from the tube
• 1 tbsp good olive oil
• 2 tbsp butter, melted
• salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

• To a bowl, beat two eggs and mix in the chopped parsley
• To a second bowl, add chicken tenders and drizzle with olive oil, melted butter, salt, pepper and garlic (I used the minced garlic from a tube because it's easier to work with here).
• Mix everything together until the chicken is fully seasoned.

  To a third bowl, add your store-bought parmesan cheese.
• Dip the chicken tender in the egg wash then into the grated parmesan and place on parchment paper until all tenders are ready for the air fryer.
• Cook tenders in the air fryer on 375 for about 15-20 flipping halfway through. Cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the tender. For larger tenders, cook about 5 minutes longer.
• Pro tip–crank the air fryer to 400 degrees for the last minute of cooking for that extra golden brown color. This is optional. Be careful not to burn the cheese.