Description

These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are a delicious low-carb and gluten-free meal option, featuring crispy almond flour coating and a flavorful homemade hot sauce glaze. Perfect for a quick, healthy snack or dinner, they are easy to prepare and cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken Tenders and Coating

2 large eggs
1 cup blanched almond flour
1 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon dried parsley
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
12 chicken tenders (about 1.5 lbs)
Olive oil cooking spray

Sauce

2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup hot sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

Dredge the chicken: Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and season them with salt and pepper. In a separate shallow bowl, combine the almond flour with garlic powder, parsley, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly with the almond flour mixture. Set the coated tenders aside on a clean plate.
Cook: Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C) and spray the basket with olive oil cooking spray. Arrange a layer of chicken tenders evenly in the basket and spray the top of the chicken with more olive oil spray. Cook for 7 minutes, then flip each tender over, spray the other side with olive oil spray, and continue cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes until the tenders are golden, crispy, and cooked through. Cook any remaining chicken in additional batches as needed.
Mix up the sauce: In a small pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Once melted, add the hot sauce, honey, tomato paste, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. Whisk the sauce ingredients together and let it simmer gently for 2-3 minutes on low heat to meld the flavors. Remove from heat and set aside.
Top and serve: After all the chicken tenders have been cooked, transfer them to a serving platter or plate. Generously brush or drizzle the hot sauce mixture over the chicken tenders. Serve immediately while warm for the best flavor and texture. Enjoy your crispy, flavorful, and healthy air fryer chicken tenders!

Notes

For a spicier kick, increase the amount of hot sauce in the sauce mixture.
Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
Leftover chicken tenders can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer to retain crispness.
Use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken tenders have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) for safe consumption.
For a dairy-free option, substitute the butter in the sauce with coconut oil or a vegan butter alternative.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Category: Main Course, Snack
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 3 tenders with sauce (approximately 180 grams)
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 4 g
Sodium: 620 mg
Fat: 22 g
Saturated Fat: 7 g
Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 8 g
Fiber: 3 g
Protein: 30 g
Cholesterol: 130 mg

Keywords: Air fryer chicken tenders, low-carb chicken recipe, gluten-free chicken, healthy chicken tenders, crispy chicken tenders, easy chicken recipes