No Breading Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are easy, quick, and full of flavor! This low-carb, healthy chicken tender recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight meal or meal prep. Juicy and tender with simple seasonings, and they're ready in only 20 minutes!
Want this recipe sent to you?
I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! (Check your spam if you have Gmail!)
One reader Sandra commented: "Both my husband and I loved them. ★★★★★"
This post may contain paid links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. For more information, please read my disclaimer.
Lyndsey's Favorite Things About No Breading Chicken Tenders
- An easy meal that is great for busy weeknight dinners.
- Gluten-free, Paleo, eggless, dairy-free, low carb, and keto.
- A great base protein recipe for salads, wraps, protein chicken salad, quesadillas, or as a main dish!
- Simple ingredients.
- More tender and juicy than grilled, baked, or blackened versions.
- Perfect for meal prep and make-ahead recipes.
- Quick and easy recipe.
- Your whole family will love this kid-friendly, picky eater recipe.
- Cook straight from frozen!
- No eggs, no flour, no breadcrumbs - easy cleanup!
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.
- Boneless, Skinless Chicken Tenders. Use fresh, unseasoned chicken tenderloins that are hand-trimmed if possible. This makes prep super quick and easy.
- Seasoning Blend. A blend of garlic, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and onion powder is my favorite chicken seasoning.
- Salt and Black Pepper. Add salt and pepper to the seasoning mix if it does not already have it.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders without Breading
Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe with the best results. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.
Step 1: Mix the Seasoning
Mix the garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare the Chicken Tenders
Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
Step 3: Season the Chicken
Lay the tenderloins on a plate or paper towels and sprinkle half the seasoning mix over the tenderloins. Rub in and flip. Season the other side and rub the seasoning in.
Step 4: Spray the Chicken Tenders
Spray the tenders with cooking spray or a spritz of olive oil.
Step 5: Air Fry
Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket with a small space between each, cooking in batches if necessary.
Step 6: Flip and Continue Cooking
Air fry at 360°F for 6 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 6 minutes (10-12 minutes total). Use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the chicken to 165°F.
Recipe Variations
- Spicy: Add a pinch of cayenne pepper for a spicy flavor.
- Other Flavors: Try another spice blend. Taco, Greek, Ranch, Parmesan, and Italian seasoning would also work well.
- For garlic parmesan flavor, try our garlic parmesan chicken strips.
- For a buffalo sauce flavor, try out unbreaded buffalo chicken tenders.
- For a chicken fingers with breading recipe, try our crispy breaded air fryer chicken tenders.
Oven Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Follow the preparation as written in the recipe card.
- Place the chicken tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown.
Tips for Making No Breading Chicken Tenders
- Cook in batches. If using a smaller air fryer, cook the recipe in batches. Provide space between each piece to ensure even cooking.
- Preheat the air fryer for 3-5 minutes before cooking.
- Experiment with Flavor. For a different flavor, try a homemade seasoning mix, marinade, or a store-bought seasoning blend.
- Monitor time and temp. Note that every air fryer model works differently. Cooking time and temperature will vary depending on the model you use.
- Use a different cut of meat. You can also make these air fryer chicken tenderloins by cutting up boneless skinless chicken breasts into strips.
Make Ahead
Make ahead by seasoning tenderloins and storing them in the refrigerator for up to a day before air frying.
How to Store Leftovers
Refrigerate leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Freezing
To freeze, store seasoned, unbreaded chicken tenders in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Reheating
No breading chicken tenders can be reheated by air frying again for about 3-5 minutes at 360F until the internal temperature is 165°F.
What to Serve with Unbreaded Chicken Tenders
- Main dish. Serve as a main dish with vegetable side dishes like zucchini, broccoli, or potato wedges.
- Meal Prep Protein. Use in a wrap, bowl, or salad.
- Appetizer or Snack. Serve as an appetizer with your favorite dipping sauce like ketchup, ranch dressing, BBQ sauce, or buffalo sauce.
- Use in Chicken Salad. Chop up cooked tenders for chicken salad, pesto chicken salad, or rotisserie chicken recipes.
Recipe FAQS
Cook unbreaded chicken tenderloins at 360°F for 6 minutes per side or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F when measured by an instant-read thermometer.
The time and temp for cooking raw chicken tenderloins will vary depending on how thick your tenders are and which air fryer you have.
You do not need breading to make these chicken tenders. If you want a breaded recipe, try these breaded chicken tenders.
Generally, no-breading air fryer chicken tenders do not have an issue with being soggy, since they do not have breading.
Follow this recipe for breaded chicken tenders and use Panko breadcrumbs for crispy air-fried chicken tenderloins, especially if your chicken is not crispy.
Yes. If making straight from frozen, prep and season them beforehand, and then freeze. This helps the seasoning to coat.
Also, add at least 3-5 minutes per side to cook frozen, unbreaded chicken tenders and temp to 165F internally.
Using an online calculator, we calculated 226 calories per serving (½ pound) of chicken tenders. Refer to the recipe card for further nutritional information.
Other Air Fryer Recipes for Chicken to Try!
No Breading Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- 1 instant read thermometer
- 1 coconut oil spray
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a small bowl, mix together garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, salt and pepper. Set aside1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Pat chicken dry with paper towels. Lay on a plate or paper towels and sprinkle half of the seasoning mix over the tenders. Rub in and flip. Season other side and rub in.2 pounds chicken tenders
Air Fryer Method
- Spray chicken tenders with coconut oil spray. Place tenders in the basket with a small space between each, cooking in batches if necessary.
- Air fry at 360°F for 6 minutes before flipping and cooking for an additional 6 minutes. Use an instant-read thermometer to cook tenders to 165°F.
Oven Method
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Follow the preparation as written in the recipe card.
- Place the chicken tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper in a single layer.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway, or until the chicken is cooked through and golden brown.
Notes
- If using a smaller model, you may need to air fry in batches. Make sure tenderloins are baked with a bit of space between each so you can ensure proper and even cooking.
- Make Ahead: Season tenderloins and store them in the refrigerator for up to a day before air frying.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Freezer: Store seasoned, unbreaded chicken tenders in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating: No breading air fryer chicken tenders can be reheated by air frying for about 3-5 minutes at 360°F until the internal temperature is 165°F.
Want this recipe sent to you?
I'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! (Check your spam if you have Gmail!)
Cissie Stancill says
Very good and very easy. Trying to lose my post chemo and steroids weight! This will be a go to for my salads.
Lyndsey Piccolino says
I'm so glad you liked them!
Sandra N says
We are just beginning to adjust our diet to Low carb, low salt and low fat so when I came upon this recipe I decided to try it. I skipped the salt and it was still delicious.
Both my husband and I loved them.
Lyndsey Piccolino says
Hi Sandra, thanks so much for your review and comments. I'm glad you loved it!