Easy Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins (No Breading)
Air fryer chicken tenderloins are one of my favorite quick and easy ways to get juicy, flavorful chicken on the table fast, with no breading required. This gluten-free chicken tenderloin recipe is marinated in a bold mix of coconut aminos, Dijon mustard, hot sauce, and garlic, then air fried to crispy, golden perfection. They’re high in protein, kid-friendly, and perfect for busy weeknights, school lunches, or meal prep.
Servings: 4 people
Equipment
- Air Fryer alternative oven baked method below!
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 3 tbsp coconut aminos
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp hot sauce I like Frank's Red Hot
- 1 tbsp dijon mustard
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Add marinade ingredients to a large bowl and whisk well to combine.
- Add chicken tenderloins and let them sit for minimum 15 minutes up to overnight.
- Spray the air fryer basket and preheat to 390 degrees.
- Remove chicken tenderloins from marinade and add them in a single layer in the basket (in batches if needed). Cook for 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce! This Copycat Chick Fil A sauce is great!
Notes
- Oven Method: To bake chicken tenderloins in the oven, preheat the oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Lay the marinated chicken tenderloins out in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes.
- Frozen Chicken Tenders: To make frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 390. Spray the basket with oil. Add frozen chicken tenderloins to the basket and cook for 5 minutes. Remove the tenderloins and place them in the marinade for a few minutes. Place them back into the air fryer basket and cook for an additional 7-8 minutes, flipping halfway through until they are crispy chicken tenders.
- Chicken Breasts: You can also cut boneless skinless chicken breasts into strips instead of using chicken tenderloins.
- Cooking Time: The cook time will vary a bit depending on the thickness of your chicken tenders. Cook to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F and check with an instant-read meat thermometer.
Nutrition
Calories: 372kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1165mg | Potassium: 656mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 133IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg