Air Fried Chicken Tenders
There are some recipes I see a recipe on Instagram, or a blog, or Pinterest, that it looks so good it goes to the top of the list of things to make. My friend Erica (here is a link to her blog – awesome WW recipes!) made these everything seasoned cracker crusted air fried chicken tenders and I knew I had to make them asap. (She’s everythingerica on Instagram). Love that this recipe is Weight Watchers friendly too.
I’ve actually never heard of Simple Mills crackers before (which are gluten free!), but could only find the original. But, because I am a pantry whore, I had everything but the bagel seasoning so added that. Because I was only making one serving, I’ll post Erica’s recipe below to serve one. I know there are other people out there who only cook for one, or cook yourself something different for the rest of your family.
I used 6 crackers to coat 3 chicken tenders. Just put the crackers and 2 teaspoons of the seasoning in a ziplock bag and used a rolling pin to crush them up. All six crackers are only 2 Weight Watchers points!
Just a quick dip in a scrambled egg + a tablespoon water, then into the cracker mixture. I’ve been using Chosen Foods avocado spray and I am in love. My friend Lauren told me about all the different flavors they have – I had no idea and now I want them all!
How gorgeous do these look?! I served them with Safe + Fair kettle chips.
Air Fried Chicken Tenders for One
These air fried chicken tenders are crispy on the outside, yet juicy on the inside.
Ingredients
- 3 chicken tenders (about 5 ounces)
- 6 simple mills crackers
- 2 teaspoons everything but the bagel seasoning
- 1 egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- avocado oil spray
Instructions
Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F and preheat for 5 minutes.
Prepare the coating:
Place the Simple Mills crackers in a small resealable bag and crush them into fine crumbs using a rolling pin or your hands. Transfer the crumbs to a shallow dish and mix in the Everything But the Bagel seasoning.
In a separate shallow dish, whisk the egg and water together to create an egg wash.
Bread the chicken tenders:
Pat the chicken tenders dry with a paper towel.
Dip each tender into the egg wash, allowing any excess to drip off.
Coat the tenders in the cracker and seasoning mixture, pressing gently to ensure the crumbs adhere evenly.
Air fry the tenders:
Lightly spray the air fryer basket with avocado oil spray to prevent sticking.
Place the breaded tenders in a single layer in the basket. Lightly spray the tops of the tenders with avocado oil to help them crisp up.
Cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the tenders are golden brown and reach an internal temperature of 165°F.
Serve and enjoy:
Remove the tenders from the air fryer and let them rest for 1–2 minutes before serving. Pair with your favorite dipping sauce or a side of veggies for a complete meal!
Notes
As of the date of this publication, this serving is 2 WW points.
Here are three tips for making delicious air-fried chicken tenders:
Double-Coat for Extra Crispiness if using flour
Dip your chicken tenders in a seasoned flour mixture, then an egg wash, and back into the flour mixture. This double coating creates a crunchy, golden crust that mimics deep-fried chicken without the extra oil.
Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer in your air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece for even air circulation. If needed, cook in batches to ensure each tender gets evenly crispy.
Spritz with Oil for a Golden Finish
Lightly spray the coated chicken tenders with cooking oil before air frying. This helps create a golden, crispy coating while keeping the tenders moist inside. Be sure to flip halfway through cooking and spritz the other side for even browning.
