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air fryer ranch chicken tenders on a white serving platter with a small bowl of ranch dressing on the side for dipping
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Ranch Chicken Tenders (Airy Fryer Recipe)

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Marinate Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Chicken, Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 268kcal
Author: Meaghan - The Quicker Kitchen

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
US Customary - Metric

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

Calories: 268kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 1000mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 241IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 1mg