Air-Fried Herb Chicken Tenders

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-22 · Updated 2026-04-22

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crispy chicken tenders coated in aromatic herbs and cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer. This American-inspired air-fryer recipe (gluten-free, high-protein), ready in about 25 minutes, pairs chicken tenders, garlic powder, dried thyme for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 10 min Serves 2 American cuisine 320 cal/serving

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Ingredients

12 oz chicken tenders
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

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Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

Ninja XL Air Fryer | 5.5 QT Capacity fits 3lbs of Wings | 5-in-1 Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat & Dehydrate | 400°F Max Temp | 1750 Watts | With Dishwasher Safe Parts & Recipe Guide | Grey | AF150AMZ
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Instructions

Step 1: Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels, then toss with 1 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper until evenly coated.
Step 2: Arrange tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap. Set air fryer to 390°F and cook for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through until golden and crispy.
Step 3: Let rest for 2 minutes before serving to lock in juices.