How to Cook Frozen Chicken Tenders in Air Fryer

Table of contents

Have you ever cooked a frozen chicken fillet in the air fryer? I know this sounds crazy, but I’m not gonna lie. It’s actually easy.

With an air fryer, you can make some of the tastiest and crispiest frozen chicken fillet’s you’ve ever had.

Just follow these simple steps.

Start with the marinade

Mix 1/2 teaspoon paprika, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 a slice of lime juice, and 1 teaspoon olive oil into a small bowl.

How to cook frozen chicken tenders in an air fryer

Take out the frozen chicken tenders from the freezer.
Find a clear bag that can hold all the chicken you plan to eat.
Add the chicken tenders into the bag.
Pour a mixture into the bag.
Tie up the bag’s opened end and seal it.
Massage the bag to mix the marinade with the chicken.
Let the bag sit at room temperature for 15 to 30 minutes.
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Spread the chicken tenders out on the air fryer tray in a single layer. Don’t place any tenders on top of each other.
Place the tray into the air fryer.
Keep the temperature at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 10 minutes.
Flip the chicken over and continue cooking for an additional 3 minutes.
Serve and enjoy.

Do you have to thaw frozen chicken tenders before air frying them?

When cooking frozen chicken in the air fryer, you do not have to have them fully thawed before you cook them. The main concern with frozen chicken is that it may not be fully cooked if you do put it in raw. The USDA states that chicken is safe to eat when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 Fahrenheit. If you are concerned about the safety of the chicken, you can use a meat thermometer to determine if it is safe to eat or not. Raw chicken that is frozen takes about 25–30 minutes to cook fully in an air fryer.

How long should I air fry chicken tenders?

If I had raw chicken tenders

Raw chicken tenders take about 18 to 20 minutes to cook fully while flipping them half way through the cooking process. This is going to make sure the chicken cooks fully and evenly as well. With raw chicken, you may need to use a meat thermometer to ensure that it is fully cooked and fully safe to eat.

If I had cooked chicken tenders

Cooked chicken tenders take about 7 to 10 minutes to cook fully in an air fryer, again, flipping it half way through the cooking process. This is going to help you make sure that the chicken is evenly cooked and that the breading is crispy.

How do you make chicken tenders crispier in an air fryer?

If you want to make your chicken crispier in the air fryer there are a few things that you can do. Adding cornstarch to your breading if you are using a wet breading is going to help your breading to get extra crispy. You can also add panko bread crumbs to the breading to help give an extra airy crunch. If you want your chicken to be extra crispy you need to make sure you use oil as well, spray oil works best with air fryers.

Can you put raw chicken tenders in an air fryer?

You can put raw chicken tenders into an air fryer. The first thing you need to do is to either season the chicken or add a breading to the chicken. You then need to first oil the air fryer pan with either spray oil or add oil on the chicken itself. You would then set the air fryer to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and allow it to heat up. You should cook the chicken for about 25-30 minutes and flip it halfway through.

How long can chicken tenders last?

If they were left out

Cooked chicken should not be left out at room temperature for consumption over two hours. After that point, even if the chicken has been properly and fully cooked, can start to grow bacteria which can lead to stomach issues and foodborne illnesses that can cause extreme distress. If you have chicken that has been cooked, and you want to keep eating it, you should move it to the fridge or freezer as quickly as possible then, reheat if needed.

If they were kept in the refrigerator

Cooked chicken tenders can last for up to three to four days in the fridge, according to the USDA. After that, the chances of your contracting some foodborne illness do go up, and you can end up with things like salmonella. Even with the low temperatures of the fridge, bacteria still has the chance to grow. This usually takes about three to four days to happen.

If they were stored in the freezer

The time frame for frozen chicken that has been fully cooked is about two to three months for the best taste, but they can last for up to a year before they should be thrown out. You can eat chicken well past the use by date if it has been consistently frozen, and it has not thawed at any point during the time that it was frozen.

Can you reheat chicken tenders in the air fryer?

You can certainly reheat tenders in the air fryer either straight from the fridge or from takeout that you have brought back home. In order to do this, you should first look at the food itself, if it is frozen it may take a bit longer to ensure that it is going to be crispy and delicious. With frozen tenders, you should cook them about 10 to 15 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping halfway through. For tenders that are not frozen, you can cook them at the same temperature for about 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you have a very large tender, this may take longer to cook as they do need to be heated all the way through. For very small pieces or chicken, the cooking time is going to be shorter.

Are chicken tenders healthier when cooked in an air fryer?

Chicken is one of the most abundant meats for human consumption in the US. The USDA estimates that there is an available 65.2 lbs. of chicken per person in the US. Chicken is going to be healthier in some ways if it is cooked in the air fryer. When you cook in the air fryer, you are able to use less oil. This means that it is going to be less greasy and there is not going to be oil pooling on your food. You can also use healthier oils like canola and avocado oil.

Can you freeze air fried chicken tenders?

You can freeze air-fried chicken tenders. If you are working to freeze this type of chicken, make sure you pre-portion it into either Tupperware or freezer bags that are going to hold your food. Place them in a single layer and allow them time to freeze without touching, if possible. After they have been frozen, you can move the bag around as needed.

Other interesting articles: