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Frozen Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

Discover crispy perfection with frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer – the best way to make a quick and easy meal your whole family will love!

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Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders on a rectangular platter and a circular plate with a little bowl of ketchup next to an air fryer

Who doesn’t love hot and super crispy breaded chicken strips? No need to venture out to restaurants or fast-food joints — with air frying, you can grab a bag from the freezer section and enjoy them right from the comfort of your home! The magic of air frying makes sure they’re oh-so-crispy on the outside, and perfectly juicy inside.

The process is quick and easy, sparing you the hassle of dealing with raw chicken. With less time spent cooking, you’ll have perfect frozen chicken strips in the air fryer in no time.

The air fryer is like magic! It can cook frozen chicken strips perfectly without the need for lots of oil, so they’re healthier too, just like grilled chicken strips. Whether you use Trader Joe’s or Tyson chicken tenders in the air fryer, it all tastes amazing when air fried. 

Get ready to enjoy the best air fryer chicken tenders that strike the perfect balance between crispy and juicy, creating a taste sensation you won’t be able to resist.

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Air Fryer I recommend: Large, easy to clean, square basket, burner on top and bottom. Click to see it.
Frozen chicken tenders in front of an air fryer

How to Cook Frozen Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

STEP ONE: Turn on the air fryer and set it to 360 degrees F to preheat.

STEP TWO: Arrange the pre cooked frozen chicken tenders in a single layer in the preheated air fryer. Make sure to give them space for air circulation, but it’s completely fine if they touch slightly.

STEP THREE: Air fry frozen chicken tenders for around 12 minutes, flipping halfway through to make sure the cooking times are equal.

STEP FOUR: Remove the air fryer chicken strips and serve them with your favorite sauce! 

Cooked Frozen Chicken Tenders in the air fryer basket with a side of ketchup up top

Tips to Make the Best Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders

  • If you’re cooking larger pieces of frozen chicken tenderloin in air fryer, adjust the cooking time accordingly. Consider using a meat thermometer to make sure the air fryer frozen chicken strips are thoroughly cooked (165 degrees F).
  • Allow the air fryer frozen chicken tenders to sit for a minute or two after cooking to lock in the juices.
  • Shake the basket a couple of times as you air fry to make the best, most evenly crispy frozen chicken tenderloin in air fryer.
  • I like to use Tyson chicken tenders in the air fryer, but you can make air fried chicken with brands like Perdue, Pilgrims, Foster Farms, or any generic store brand.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Strips

Closeup of chicken tenders in a wire basket with parchment paper

Sauce Ideas for Chicken Strips

Can I Air Fry Uncooked Frozen Breaded Chicken Tenderloins?

Absolutely! Keep in mind that uncooked frozen chicken fingers will need a different cooking process, time, and temperature compared to the pre cooked ones. 

You’ll find several recipes for uncooked chicken strips below, but the general rule is to air fry for about 10 minutes at 400 degrees F, carefully flipping halfway.

If the breading seems delicate or crumbly, you can use a parchment liner for easier cleanup.

Chicken tenders on a white plate with ketchup in a small bowl to the side

More Air Fryer Chicken Tender Recipes

How Long to Cook Frozen Chicken Tender in the Air Fryer

To make your chicken tenders super crispy, spread them out evenly and cook for about 12 minutes. Flip the frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer once halfway through. 

If you stack them, they’ll take a bit longer to get crispy, so be patient and keep an eye on them!

Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders stacked on a white plate with a serving plate of them in the background

How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

To reheat leftover chicken tenders in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees, then place the refrigerated or frozen chicken strips in the air fryer basket, and cook for about 5 minutes until they are heated through. You may need to increase the time for frozen.

After you air fry frozen chicken tenders the first time, allow them to cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. For longer storage, you can freeze for up to 3 months.

Frozen chicken fingers in a wired serving basket with parchment paper in front of an air fryer

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Cooked Frozen Chicken Tenders in the air fryer basket with a side of ketchup up top

Frozen Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

Samantha Erb
You won’t believe how easy it is to cook frozen chicken tenders in the Air Fryer! The chicken turns out hot and crispy for a dinner the whole family will devour.
5 from 9 votes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 12 minutes
Course Air Fryer Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings
Calories 480 kcal

Ingredients

  • 8 frozen chicken tenders

Optional

  • Dipping sauce of choice

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees.
  • Place the frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer in one layer. They can touch, but should not be fully stacked.
  • Cook them for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  • Remove the chicken strips from the air fryer then enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce.

Notes

How to Reheat Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer:

1. Preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees.
2. Cook the leftover chicken tenders in the air fryer and cook for about 4 to 5 minutes, until heated thoroughly.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 480kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 29gFat: 26gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 69mgSodium: 1472mgFiber: 3gSugar: 4g

This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!


samantha

About Samantha

I’ve always had a love of cooking and creating new recipes, so it only made sense to create a food blog so I could share those recipes with you. This site is designed to provide easy and flavorful recipes with as little ingredients as possible. That means you still get great flavor combinations without all that extra time and effort. Read more...

6 thoughts on “Frozen Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer”

  1. Hi Samantha! At one point you say to preheat the air fryer to 350, and later you say to cook the chicken tenders at 360. Which temperature is correct? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Hi Leah, the frozen chicken tenders cook at 360 degrees F, but if you are reheating them from refrigeration with leftovers, you will reheat them at 350 degrees.

5 from 9 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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