Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tenders
Air fryer ranch chicken tenders are crispy, flavorful chicken strips coated in savory ranch seasoning and cooked perfectly in the air fryer. They’re a family friendly dinner that gives you crunchy tenders fast without the mess of deep frying.
Some nights you just need a dinner you already know everyone is going to eat without complaints.
And in my house chicken tenders and anything with ranch seasoning are both always a sure thing.
Of course for me, I like any dinner that is easy.
So these air fryer ranch chicken tenders fit all our needs!
They check all the boxes since they’re quick, easy, and packed with flavor from the ranch seasoning.
The air fryer gives them a crispy outside while keeping the chicken juicy inside, all without needing a pot of hot oil on the stove.
They’re also great for busy weeknights because they cook quickly and pair easily with simple sides like fries, veggies, or mac and cheese.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Chicken– A pound of chicken tenderloins with any extra fat trimmed off.
- Buttermilk– If you don’t have any, make your own with a tsp of vinegar or lemon juice in a cup of milk.
- Breadcrumbs– Plain panko breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese– Grated
- Ranch seasoning– A 1 ounce packet or homemade ranch seasoning
How to Make
These air fryer ranch chicken tenders are so easy.
Just put the chicken in a large ziplocking bag and pour the buttermilk overtop.
Then squeeze out the excess air and seal the bag tightly.
Put it in the fridge so it is laying flat and let it marinate for 45 minutes- 1 hour.
Just before the chicken is done marinating, whisk together the panko, Parmesan, and ranch seasoning in a mixing bowl until they are evenly combined.
Set the breadcrumb mixture aside.
Then drain the chicken completely.
Dip one tender at a time to the breading mixture and turn it to coat it evenly.
Press the breadcrumbs into the chicken as needed.
Transfer the coat chicken tenders to the basket of an air fryer and repeat until you have a single layer of breaded chicken tenders that don’t touch each other.
Air fry the chicken at 350° for 12-16 minutes, flipping halfway through.
The chicken will be golden brown and crispy when it is cooked through.
Using tongs, carefully transfer the cooked chicken strips to a serving plate, then repeat until you’ve air fried all the tenders.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
For best results, reheat the leftovers in the air fryer or oven until they are warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- Don’t skip marinating the chicken in the buttermilk and definitely do not use regular milk! The buttermilk marinade makes the chicken super moist and tender.
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer! If the chicken is over lapping then it won’t cook evenly.
- Serve it with your favorite dipping sauce. Barbecue, ketchup, or even ranch dressing are all yummy!
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes
Air fryer ranch chicken tenders are quick and delicious! Make them and enjoy!
Looking for other easy air fryer recipes?
Try these:
- Air Fryer Burgers
- Cherry Hand Pies
- Crispy Ranch Potatoes
- Air Fryer Ribs
- Easy Tuna Melts
- Zucchini Fries
- Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches
If you’ve tried these AIR FRYER RANCH CHICKEN TENDERS, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Ranch Chicken Tenders (Airy Fryer Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1 oz pkt dry ranch dressing mix
Instructions
- Add the chicken to a large ziplocking bag. Pour the buttermilk overtop, then squeeze out the excess air and seal the bag tightly. Lay it flat and marinate for 45 minutes- 1 hour.1 lb chicken tenderloins, 1 cup buttermilk
- Add the panko, Parmesan, and ranch seasoning to a mixing bowl. Whisk them together until evenly combined. Set aside.1/2 cup plain panko breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1 1 oz pkt dry ranch dressing mix
- Drain the chicken completely.
- Working with one tender at a time add it to the breading mixture, turning to coat evenly, and pressing in as needed. Transfer to the basket of an air fryer, and repeat until you have a single layer of breaded chicken tenders that don't touch each other.
- Air fry at 350° for 12-16 minutes, until crispy and golden brown outside and cooked through inside, flipping halfway through.
- Using tongs, carefully transfer the cooked chicken strips to a serving plate, then repeat until all the tenders have been cooked.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Don't skip marinating the chicken in the buttermilk and definitely do not use regular milk! The buttermilk marinade makes the chicken super moist and tender.
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer! If the chicken is over lapping then it won't cook evenly.
- Serve it with your favorite dipping sauce. Barbecue, ketchup, or even ranch dressing are all yummy!
Nutrition
