Air Fryer Gluten Free Chicken Tenders

Gluten free chicken tenders should be fresh, crunchy and crispy. Which is exactly why I like making them in the air fryer. These gluten free chicken fingers are dipped in egg, then coated with gluten free breadcrumbs, cheese and crackers mixture. Then, instead of frying them in oil I choose for you good-for-you air fryer option for athe best, crispy, crunchy gluten free chicken tenders ever.

These gluten free chicken tenders have the crispiest crust and the juiciest chicken and are SUPER easy to make. This is an easy 30-minute dinner recipe that is perfect for during the week, or even instead of take out on a friday night!

If you love making gluten free recipes in the air fryer, you’ll also love french bread pizza in the air fryer, my crispy air fryer tacos, and my buffalo chicken air fryer tacos.

why you’ll love this gluten free recipe

• While Perdue, Tyson, caulipower and trader joes make really good gluten free chicken tenders that you can buy from the grocery store, making them homemade is so much better, and you get to control exactly whats in them! When I make them I am in full control of the ingredients, spices, salt level and if I want to make them dairy free too.
• This recipe makes for the perfect comfort food dinner, and also makes for a great protein option for salads, sandwiches, wraps and pizza!
• The best part about this recipe is that it is easy to clean up…My ideal situation since I hate doing dishes. To cut back on clean up I crack my egg in a bowl, but put my breadcrumb mixture in a bag to shake instead of dirtying another dish.
• This air fryer chicken tenders recipe is allergy friendly. You can use gluten free breadrcumbs like I did for gluten free mac chicken tenders. You can use dairy free cheese for an easy dairy free recipe!
• These gluten free chicken tenders are an easy freezer friendly meal, which means it is a great option for a meal prep lunches or dinners! I love to have it ready to go when I need to just pull a dinner out of the freezer and heat it up quick. It’s perfect to throw into pasta, make mini gluten free chicken parms with or even use in tacos!

ingredients & substitutions

Gluten free Cheddar Balls or Cheese Doodles: I like to use theses to add extra crunch and plus it. makes this recipe cheesy and unique! Who wants the same boring gluten free chicken tenders every single time? Not me! You can use anything from cheese doodles, cheese balls, crispy cheese crackers, savory crackers, cornflakes, etc…just make sure anything you’re using is gluten free!

Gluten free Breadcrumbs: These provide a classic breading texture you want when you’re making gluten free chicken fingers.

Garlic Powder: This adds a savory, garlicky flavor. I have also used a garlic and herb seasoning before and thats great too!

Shredded Cheddar Cheese: This adds a rich, cheesy flavor to these unique cheesy gluten free chicken tenders.

Fresh Parsley: This adds a fresh, herby, savory flavor I really enjoy!

directions

Step 1

In a food processor, pulse together the Cheddar Balls, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, shredded cheddar cheese, and fresh parsley until finely ground.

Step 2

Dip each chicken strip into the beaten eggs, ensuring it’s fully coated.

Step 3

Roll the egg-coated chicken strip in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere.

Step 4

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).

Step 5

Place the breaded chicken strips in the air fryer basket, making sure they aren’t overcrowded.

Step 6

Air fry the gluten free chicken tenders for 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).

expert tips & tricks

• Make sure chicken is fully cooked: Always ALWAYS make sure the chicken is fully cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees before serving. I cannot stress this enough. I always check my air fryer chicken tenders with a meat thermometer.
• Use Same Size Chicken tenders: I like to buy a chicken breast and then slice it into trips for the gluten free chicken tenders. You can also buy chicken tenderloinds but I like to slice my own. For best cooking results, no matter which option you choose, make sure to use chicken tender pieces that are all the same size and thickness. This way, they will all cook in the air fryer at the same rate.
• If you have a small air fryer, you might not be able to fit all the gluten free chicken tenders in there at once. You can just make multiple batches.
• Chicken thighs work great in the air fryer too. If you’d rather use chicken thighs instead of chicken tenders check out this air fryer chicken thigh recipe here!

serving, storing and meal prepping

I like to serve my gluten free chicken tenders with my favorite dipping sauce. My personal favorite is honey mustard but you can use ketchup, barbecue sauce or even a creamy ranch.

To store, I let the gluten free chicken tenders cool completely before refrigerating in an airtight container for up to four days.

For longer storage, I love to portion the air fryer chicken tenders into freezer-safe containers and freeze for up to 2 months.

To meal prep the gluten free chicken fingers into individual portions, divide into separate containers. These individual portions are my favorite for great grab-and-go lunches or quick dinners during the week.

Looking for more allergy friendly easy recipe?

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