Air fryer chicken tenderloins

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I absolutely love to use my air fryer when I want to do a little batch cooking. I'll often cook up a batch of air fryer chicken tenderloins as they have so many uses.

A batch of these, usually 650g or so, is great to have in the fridge ready to use in my easy chicken pie, for chicken chow mein, salt and pepper chicken and even just to have on hand for a chicken sandwich or wrap. 

Cooking chicken tenderloins in the air fryer is super simple and takes under 15 minutes from start to finish too - with very minimal effort.

For me the air fryer has been my most transformative kitchen gadget ever. I love that it is just sitting there at worktop height, no bending or lifting required, and it is really easy to clean out after I use it too. I have a Ninja Foodi OL750UK, multi-cooker with air fryer function, and I also have an AF400UK, which is a double air fryer with two baskets.

This is great for cooking different meals for my family and I love using it to make meal prep quick and easy. I'll often use the pressure cooker or slow cooker functions on my multi-cooker while cooking two separate items in the double air fryer.

Cooking a batch of these chicken tenderloins is great as you can use different seasonings and have the basis of different lunches or dinners for days ahead. They keep well in the fridge for 3 days too and can be eaten hot or cold.

I love to use chicken tenderloins in a wrap, made from homemade tortillas or no yeast flatbreads, or serve them with air fryer chips for a tasty and simple dinner. They are great for turning into breaded chicken breasts too or just for a nice protein hit during the day.

I'm a busy working Mum, who loves eating a hot lunch, and these are great as part of my meal planning. This is one of my easiest air fryer chicken recipes as it takes just minutes to prepare. 

Being able to batch cook meals and items to use for simple lunches and dinners saves me time and helps to keep our families grocery budget in check.

If you’re looking for some alternative serving ideas then be sure to check out my air fryer side dishes and Ninja air fryer recipes.

Ingredients for air fryer chicken tenderloins:

Serves 2

320g boneless skinless chicken tenderloins

Salt and black pepper

Spray olive oil or 15ml oil of choice

Seasoning of choice – see below for some suggestions 

Method for cooking chicken tenderloins in the air fryer:

Start by removing any gristle or skin from your chicken tenderloins and drying them thoroughly.

Spray your mini fillet with oil or brush lightly.

If you're adding optional seasonings then add them to the chicken tenderloins and shake or stir well in a large mixing bowl to ensure all of the chicken is well coated.

Place the chicken tenderloins in a single layer in the bottom of your air fryer basket, on the grill or inner tray if your air fryer has one. Try to leave a little space around each piece of chicken to allow for good air flow.

Air fry at 200C (390F approx) for 6 minutes.

Turn the chicken over, to prevent sticking, and then air fry for a further 6 minutes at 200C (390F approx).

Depending on the seasonings you're using the chicken may need a further 1-2 minutes of cook time here, or the same if you like the chicken to be extra crispy.

Make sure your chicken is a safe internal temperature before serving, I aim for 75C (165F approx).

What are chicken tenderloins?

These are sometimes referred to as chicken fingers and are located just under the chicken breast. These are tender, white meat cuts that taste exactly like chicken breast.

What to serve with chicken tenderloins?

Personally I love to keep it simple for dinners and serve with air fryer mashed potatoes and air fryer green beans or air fryer butternut squash.

For my daughters I love to serve with tomato ketchup, curry sauce or onion gravy. It goes great in a salad or pasta salad too. Sometimes I have it with this Katsu curry sauce too as I’m a big air fryer katsu chicken fan.

Air fryer lemon pepper fries are a favourite in our home too.

I have a TON of great air fryer recipes, air fryer side dishes, air fryer potato recipes and air fryer desserts to help you make a full meal using your air fryer.

Fancy cooking some vegetables at the same time? 

With these tenderloins taking around 12-14 minutes to cook this makes them ideal for cooking alongside some vegetables. Depending on what you're cooking you can add at the beginning or halfway through the cooking time when you're flipping the chicken over.

I love peppers, onions, green beans, tenderstem broccoli or courgettes with these chicken mini fillets. I also love to make air fryer roasted tomatoes and then blend them into a roasted tomato pizza sauce which goes delightfully with these chicken tenderloins.

Great seasoning ideas: 

I love to make my own seasoning blends as they are healthy and super simple. Fajita seasoning, cajun seasoning, peri peri seasoning and Mexican seasoning all work perfectly on this air fried chicken tenderloins.

Garlic powder and rosemary work great as will basil, thyme and paprika. You can use dried or fresh herbs depending on what you have available.

Many of these seasonings are gluten free too, or can be modified with ease for different dietary requirements.

What are some tasty uses for these easy air fryer chicken tenderloins?

These work great served with potatoes and vegetables, in wraps, in pasta salads or salads, as a pizza topping or even as part of an easy midweek roast dinner.

What is the difference between chicken breast and chicken tenderloin?

They are closely located on the chicken with the tenderloins being located just alongside the chicken breast and being very similar in taste, texture and appearance.

These are great for using for single servings, such as for lunch portions, as you can easily cook up a batch and then portion them out appropriately.

Can you reheat air fryer chicken tenderloins?

Yes, absolutely. I like to reheat for 3-4 minutes typically, or 2 minutes in an 800W microwave. Ensure that they are piping hot throughout before serving and check they have reached a safe internal temperature.

Want to cook chicken tenderloins and fries at the same time?

Air fryer frozen french fries take around 12 minutes to cook, at 200C (390F approx), so you could add these to the air fryer basket at the same time. Just ensure you leave some space for the tenderloins to cook evenly and avoid sticking together.

Why not try out some of my other air fryer recipes while you're here?

• Air fryer crumble topping
• Air fryer cheese scones
• Air fryer frozen chicken burger
• Air fryer frozen salmon
• Air fryer chips recipe
• Air fryer french toast sticks
• 14 of the best bratwurst toppings
• Chicken mini fillets in the air fryer
• Air fryer garlic bread
• Air fryer parsnips recipe (honey glazed)

Check out some of my favourite air fryer chicken and side dish recipes too:

• Air fryer crispy chicken tenders
• Air fryer chicken wings
• Air fryer frozen chicken nuggets
• Air fryer cajun chicken strips
• Air fryer sweet potato fries

I absolutely love to have a batch of cooked chicken in the fridge at all times. It is super simple to prepare, takes minutes to cook and requires very minimal effort.

You can use jarred seasonings if those are convenient for you and it is very cheap to make your own seasonings also.

I love chicken as a protein source as it is pretty lean, tastes nice and is very easy to re-heat as the base for many meals.

Getting to grips with using your air fryer more can be a great way to enjoy faster, crispier and tastier meals and snacks. I've got a whole range of great posts here including air fryer desserts, air fryer side dishes and more.

Something to note about air fryer recipes is that all air fryers have different sizes, depths and as such the cooking times can vary. All air fryer recipes on this website are intended as a guide, and not a guarantee that the timings will be perfect. Enjoy!

How to cook chicken tenderloins in the air fryer:

Note: All calorie information is for demonstration purposes only and is based on the specific uncooked ingredients that I used when creating the recipe.

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