Description
These Air Fryer Pretzel Crusted Chicken Tenders are a flavorful, crunchy twist on classic chicken tenders. Coated with a seasoned pretzel and panko breadcrumb mixture, these tenders are air fried to golden perfection, providing a crispy exterior without the extra oil. Perfect for a quick and easy dinner or a tasty snack that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Scale
Pretzel Crust
- 2 cups pretzels (Dot’s Original Seasoned Pretzels recommended)
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp Cajun spice
- 1 tsp garlic salt
- ¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs
Chicken and Coating
- 2 eggs
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- Cooking oil spray (for air fryer basket)
Instructions
- Prepare Pretzel Crumbs: Add the pretzels to the bowl of your food processor and pulse on high until they mostly resemble coarse bread crumbs.
- Mix Coating: In a small bowl, combine the pretzel crumb mixture with the Panko breadcrumbs and stir well to combine.
- Add Seasonings: Add smoked paprika, Cajun spice, and garlic salt to the pretzel crumb mixture. Stir thoroughly to evenly distribute the spices.
- Whisk Eggs: In a shallow bowl, whisk the two eggs until fully combined and smooth.
- Prep Chicken: Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels to ensure the coating adheres properly.
- Coat Chicken: Working one tender at a time, dip the chicken first into the whisked eggs, then dredge thoroughly in the pretzel crumb mixture to coat evenly.
- Arrange on Tray: Place coated tenders on a baking tray lined with parchment paper to keep them organized and prevent sticking.
- Repeat Coating: Repeat the egg and coating process with each chicken tender until all are coated and arranged on the tray.
- Prepare Air Fryer: Spray the basket of your air fryer with a non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking during cooking.
- Load Air Fryer: Add the chicken tenders to the air fryer basket in batches of three to avoid overcrowding, which helps them cook evenly.
- Air Fry: Set the air fryer to 370°F and cook the chicken tenders for 14 minutes, flipping them halfway through if desired for even crispness.
- Serve and Enjoy: Once cooked to a crispy golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F, remove from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Be sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches for the best crispiness.
- Use a food processor for quick and even pulverizing of pretzels into crumbs.
- If you don’t have seasoned pretzels, add extra spices to the coating to enhance flavor.
- Patting the chicken dry before coating helps the crumb mixture stick better.
- For extra crispiness, flip the chicken tenders halfway through the cooking time.
- Serve with honey mustard, ranch, or your favorite dipping sauce for added flavor.
