Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Method

1. 01

   Preheat the air fryer to 190°C for 3 minutes so the breading starts to brown from the first contact.

2. 02

   Pat the chicken breast strips dry with paper towels and season with 0.5 tsp of salt and ground black pepper; they should be slightly shiny, not wet.

3. 03

   Place the flour in a shallow dish. In another dish, whisk the eggs with the Dijon mustard until there are no streaks. In a third dish, mix the panko, grated Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, and the remaining 0.5 tsp of salt.

4. 04

   Coat each chicken strip in the flour and shake off the excess; then cover it with the egg and Dijon mustard mixture, and finally press it into the panko with Parmesan to ensure it is well coated.

5. 05

   Arrange the breaded strips in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, without overlapping, and spray half of the olive oil over the surface.

6. 06

   Cook at 190°C for 6 minutes, until the bottom looks firm and the breading takes on a light golden tone.

7. 07

   Flip the strips with tongs, spray the remaining olive oil, and cook for an additional 5 to 6 minutes, until golden and crispy.

8. 08

   Check that the center of the chicken reaches 74°C with a cooking thermometer; if any strand hasn't reached it, cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes at 190°C.

9. 09

   Let the crispy chicken rest for 2 minutes on a rack before serving, so the crust remains dry and crunchy.