Minimal prep needed to make the best Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders. After marinating for 15 minutes in lime juice, olive oil & spices they just need 10 minutes in the air fryer. Juicy, tender & packed full of flavor!
Bring out a freezer bag large enough to hold all the chicken. Pour in the spices and mix, then add the lime juice and olive oil and mix again.
½ teaspoon paprika powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ lime, 1 teaspoon olive oil
Place the chicken in the bag and tie a knot on it. Massage the chicken through the bag to spread the marinade all over. Let sit in room temperature for 15 minutes.
8 frozen chicken tenders
With 5 minutes left for the marinade, preheat your air fryer by running it for 5 minutes at 390°F (200°C).
Spread out chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket and air fry for 5 minutes at 390°F (200°C). Then turn the chicken and cook for 5 more minutes.
After cooking for a total of 10 minutes, make sure the chicken is cooked through. If not, add another minute and check again, and repeat until cooked through.
Notes
This recipe for Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders was created in a Philips HD9252/90 Air Fryer*. Cook times can vary with your air fryer model.
Ingredient notes & substitutions
Frozen chicken tenders can be swapped for another frozen cut of chicken, but cook times will vary. Always make sure the chicken is cooked to 165°F (74°C) before consuming.
Lime juice is best when fresh, but bottled will also work for this recipe
Olive oil can be swapped for another type of vegetable oil
Seasoning: you can mix it up and adjust to suit your taste
Tips & tricks
Preheat the air fryer for best results
No need to defrost the chicken tenders, you can cook them straight from frozen
You can marinate the chicken tenders for longer for even more flavor. If doing so, keep them in the fridge and adjust the cook time to account for how thawed they are before air frying
Cook in a single layer - if you're making more chicken tenders than fit comfortably, cook them in batches
Cook time can vary with different air fryers
Adjust cook time depending on your air fryer and how large your chicken tenders are
Store leftovers in the fridge in an air tight container and consume within 4 days