Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Tenders
If you’re craving something crispy, saucy, and absolutely finger-licking good, these Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Tenders are about to become your new go-to weeknight dinner. We coat each tender in a perfectly seasoned cornflake crust, air fry them until they’re golden and crunchy, then toss them in a sticky honey BBQ sauce that takes them completely over the top. Seriously, the whole family will be asking for these on repeat!
One of the things we love most about this recipe is how little cleanup there is. Everything gets seasoned and breaded in just three bowls, and the air fryer does all the heavy lifting. No hot oil splashing everywhere, no mess, just perfectly crispy chicken tenders every single time. We usually have dinner on the table in about 35 minutes, which makes this a total winner on busy weeknights.
If you love these as much as we do, you’ll definitely want to check out some of our other favorite chicken tender recipes too! Our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders, our Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders, and our 3-Ingredient Peach Mango Grilled Chicken Tenders are all must-tries!
Table of contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in just 35 minutes: From start to finish, this whole recipe comes together fast, making it a total winner for busy weeknights.
- Crispy without the mess: The air fryer gives you that perfectly golden crunch without deep frying or dealing with hot oil everywhere.
- Kid-approved and family-friendly: That sticky honey BBQ sauce is absolutely irresistible, and even the pickiest eaters at the table won’t be able to say no.
- Easy to customize: Swap the sauce, adjust the seasoning, or kick up the heat a little. This recipe is super flexible and works with whatever you have on hand.
Ingredients
We’ve made this list to help you save time on your next trip to the grocery store. You can find the full amounts needed in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Here’s a quick rundown of what you’ll need for this recipe. We start with chicken tenders seasoned with garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper for tons of flavor. The cornflake coating is what gives them that incredible crunch, and the honey BBQ sauce at the end is what truly makes them special. You’ll also need a couple of eggs and all-purpose flour to help everything stick together perfectly.
Variations
- Spicy BBQ: Add a teaspoon of cayenne pepper or a splash of hot sauce to the honey BBQ sauce for a fiery kick.
- Gluten-free: Swap the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour blend and make sure your cornflakes and BBQ sauce are certified gluten-free.
- Different coating: Try panko breadcrumbs instead of cornflakes if that’s what you have on hand. They’ll still give you a great crunch!
- Sauce swap: Not a BBQ fan? Try buffalo sauce, ranch, or even teriyaki for a totally different flavor profile.
Instructions
This is a quick overview of the steps needed to make this recipe. You can find the full instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Season both sides with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper.
- In a shallow bowl, combine flour with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper. In a second bowl, season crushed cornflakes with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, and 1 tsp onion powder. 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.
- Air fry for 5 to 6 minutes, flip, spray again, and cook another 7 to 10 minutes, or until golden and fully cooked through.
- In a small bowl, mix together BBQ sauce, honey, and the remaining ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp onion powder.
- Toss the cooked tenders in the honey BBQ sauce until evenly coated. Serve warm and enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Pat the chicken dry before seasoning. This helps the coating stick better and gives you a crispier end result.
- Don’t skip the cooking spray. Spraying both the basket and the tenders before and after flipping is the key to getting that golden, crispy crust.
- Cook in batches if needed. Overcrowding the air fryer basket means the tenders will steam instead of crisp up, so give them room to breathe.
- Toss the tenders in the sauce right before serving. This keeps the coating nice and crunchy rather than getting soggy from sitting in the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have questions about this recipe? Here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions.
Absolutely! Just slice the chicken breast into strips of similar thickness and follow the same steps. Keep in mind that cook time may vary slightly depending on the size of your pieces.
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer at 375°F for a few minutes to get them crispy again. We don’t recommend microwaving, as they’ll lose that crunch.
You can bread the chicken tenders ahead of time and keep them in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before air frying. We recommend tossing them in the honey BBQ sauce fresh after cooking so the coating stays crispy.
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📖Recipe
Want to make this recipe? Print the recipe card below, or pin this recipe, so you can find it later.
Air Fryer BBQ Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Shallow bowls
- whisk or fork, tongs
- Paper towels
- measuring spoons/cups
- Small mixing bowl
- Cooking spray
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds uncooked chicken tenders
- 3½ teaspoons garlic powder divided
- 3 teaspoons smoked paprika divided
- 3½ teaspoons onion powder divided
- 1 teaspoon salt divided
- 1 teaspoon black pepper divided
- 2 cups corn flakes crushed
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- Cooking spray
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- Pat chicken dry. Season both sides with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
- In one shallow bowl, mix flour with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. In a second bowl, mix crushed cornflakes with 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and 1 teaspoon onion powder. In a third bowl, whisk eggs.
- Coat each tender in flour, dip in egg, then press into cornflakes until well coated.
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Spray basket with cooking spray. Arrange tenders in a single layer and spray tops lightly.
- Air fry 5 to 6 minutes, flip, spray again, then cook 7 to 10 minutes more, until golden and cooked through.
- Mix BBQ sauce, honey, remaining ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and remaining ½ teaspoon onion powder.
- Toss cooked tenders in honey BBQ sauce. Serve warm.
Disclaimer
Any nutritional data I provide is an approximation and actual dietary information can vary based on ingredients and proportion sizes.
