These low carb and keto air fryer chicken tenders use crushed pork rinds (you could also use panko) to make a super flavorful and crispy crust.
Related: I get all of my grass fed beef and pasture raised chicken from Butcher Box. Read my honest review here.
The air fryer has become my new favorite appliance, just edging out the Instant Pot. It makes the most delicious meats…Including these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders.
Into air fryer recipes? Be sure to check out my Air Fryer Pork Chops, Air Fryer whole chicken, Air Fryer Bacon, and Air Fryer Chicken Wings.
HOW TO MAKE AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS WITH CRUSHED PORK RINDS
So this recipe uses the same crispy coating as my air fryer pork chops and my keto chicken nuggets. That involves crushed pork rinds and seasonings. You can use pork rinds that you crush yourself in the food processor, or you can use a product called Pork King Good Pork Rind Breadcrumbs (Affiliate Link). I personally have never used them before but I have heard they are great!
You could also use panko breadcrumbs, but I must tell you, the pork rinds have less Weight Watchers points than the breadcrumbs! So for 1/4 cup of the crushed pork rinds it is 2 Weight Watchers points and for 1/4 cup of panko breadcrumbs, it is 3 Weight Watcher points.
Our breading station consists of beaten eggs in a shallow bowl and the crushed pork rinds in a shallow bowl. We dip in the egg, then the pork rinds, then they go straight into the air fryer.
Cook the chicken tenders in the air fryer at 400F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. The temperature of the air fryer chicken tenders should be 165F.
Did you make these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders? Tag me on Instagram so I can see! @lowcarbwithjennifer
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
INGREDIENTS
- 6 Chicken tenders
- 1 Cup Crushed pork rinds or panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Onion powder
- 2 Eggs, beaten
EQUIPMENT
INSTRUCTIONS
- In a shallow bowl, mix the crushed pork rinds with the seasonings. In a separate shallow bowl, add in the beaten eggs. One at a time, coat the chicken tenders in the egg, then in the pork rind mixture. Place the breaded chicken tenders in the air fryer.
- Set the air fryer at 400F for 10 minutes and flip half way through. Chicken Tenders are done when an internal temperature thermometer reads 165F. (bake in a 400F oven for 15-20 minutes if you do not have an air fryer)
- Serve with crispy broccoli cooked in the air fryer or in the oven at 400F until your desired doneness
Marty says
Trying these tonight. I may add a bit of parmesan to the breading. Looks very easy and fast.
Ashley says
Easy to follow! We love making these chicken tenders in our air fryer. Thanks for the great recipe!
Julie Evink says
I have a new love for all things AF and these are AMAZING! Never going back to frozen chicken tenders again!
Karly says
So crispy!! Thanks for sharing!
Jeff says
I made this yesterday with chicken wings (flappers). Bought natural, unseasoned rinds and ground them in my mini food processor. I added a couple of dashes of chili powder to the seasonings to give it a bit of a kick. I couldn’t believe how well this turned out. Will never make air fried chicken with panko or bread crumbs again. If you didn’t know the ‘breading’ was pork rinds, you would think you were eating crispy fried chicken. Great recipe!
jenniferbanz says
I will have to try this with wings as well. Thank you!