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cooked chicken tenders on a green plate
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Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Tenders

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!
Course Main Course
Cuisine North American
Diet Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Marinating 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 127kcal
Author Emmeline Kemperyd

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 frozen chicken tenders or other cut of chicken

Mexican Chicken Marinade (can be swapped for other marinade)

  • ½ teaspoon paprika powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ½ lime juice only; fresh is best
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil or neutral cooking oil

Instructions

  • 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, the internal temperature should reach at least 165°F (74°C).

Notes

This recipe for frozen sausage in air fryer has been tested in the following air fryer models (affiliate links): Philips HD9252/90 Air Fryer, Ninja DZ401 DualZone XL Air Fryer and Cosori Pro II.  . Cooking time can vary with your specific model.

 

  • 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.
 

What to Do with Leftovers

Storing: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezing: Store leftovers in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Reheating in air fryer: Air fry at  360°F (180°C) for 2-3 minutes, until heated through.
Reheating in microwave: Reheat leftovers in the microwave in 30-second increments, until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 407mg | Potassium: 390mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 156IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 9mg | Iron: 1mg