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Air Fryer Chicken Tenders: Easy Crispy Recipe with Homemade Sweet N Sour Sauce

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These air fryer chicken tenders are ultra-crispy, juicy, and easy to make, paired with a tangy homemade sweet n sour sauce. Perfect for family dinners, parties, or a quick protein-packed meal, they’re healthier than deep-fried and ready in under 30 minutes.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (about 450g) chicken tenders, raw, trimmed (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup milk + 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar, let sit 5 minutes)
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Olive oil spray (or any neutral oil spray)
  • For the Homemade Sweet N Sour Sauce:
  • 1/2 cup pineapple juice (unsweetened preferred)
  • 1/4 cup rice vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)
  • 3 tablespoons ketchup
  • 3 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons soy sauce (or tamari for gluten-free)
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (mixed with 2 tablespoons water)
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine buttermilk and a pinch of salt. Add chicken tenders, toss to coat, and let sit for 10-15 minutes (or up to 1 hour in the fridge).
  3. Set up three shallow bowls: In the first, whisk together flour, half the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. In the second, beat the eggs. In the third, mix panko with the remaining spices.
  4. Remove tenders from marinade (let excess drip off). Dredge each piece in flour, then dip in egg, then coat in the panko mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Place breaded tenders on a plate or baking sheet.
  5. Preheat air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3-5 minutes.
  6. Arrange breaded tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket (work in batches if needed). Lightly mist both sides with olive oil spray.
  7. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway, until coating is deep golden and chicken reaches 165°F (74°C) inside.
  8. While tenders cook, make the sauce: Combine pineapple juice, rice vinegar, ketchup, brown sugar, soy sauce, and optional red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring. Whisk cornstarch and water in a small bowl, then add to the simmering sauce. Cook, stirring, until thickened (about 2-3 minutes). Remove from heat.
  9. Let chicken rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. Serve with warm sweet n sour sauce for dipping.

Notes

For gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and panko. For dairy-free, use almond or oat milk with lemon juice instead of buttermilk. Don’t overcrowd the air fryer; cook in batches for best crispiness. Breaded, uncooked tenders can be refrigerated up to 24 hours or frozen for later. Leftovers reheat best in the air fryer. Sauce can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for up to a week.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, sweet n sour sauce, easy chicken recipe, healthy chicken tenders, kid friendly, party food, gluten free option, dairy free option, homemade sauce

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/air-fryer-chicken-tenders-easy-crispy-recipe-with-homemade-sweet-n-sour-sauce/