I’ve officially cracked the code to making perfectly Crispy Gluten Free Chicken Tenders at home in the air fryer! These rival anything you’d get from a restaurant, and the secret ingredient is crushed potato chips. You wouldn’t even know these are gluten free, and they are super easy to whip up, too! Perfect for game day, after-school snacks, or whenever you need a salty, crunchy bite.
If you know Kyle, you know that one of his favorite foods on planet earth is fried chicken. He always requests that I try to make homemade versions of fried chicken sandwiches and chicken tenders in the air fryer. But I could never quite get them right. They always turned out a little soggy, or the breading wouldn’t stick to the chicken very well. Not nearly as yummy as the classic fried version. Howeverrrr, I’ve finally cracked the code!
As of a few days ago, I can officially say that I’ve perfected the method for crispy chicken tenders in the air fryer! The secret ingredient is actually…potato chips. No need to dredge the tenders in flour or breadcrumbs, just some crushed up potato chips! Which means that these air fryer chicken tenders just so happen to be gluten free too…and you wouldn’t even know it.
I was so so impressed with how these turned out! Safe to say, I’ll never be making chicken tenders any other way. They truly rival the kind that you’d get at a restaurant, but are a bit lighter and fully gluten free! They’d make for the perfect addition to your game day lineup, or when you’re just in the mood to have a girl dinner. Hope you love em!
Why You’ll Love these Crispy Gluten Free Chicken Tenders
- They turn out perfectly crispy every single time!
- They’re coated in crushed potato chips for a naturally gluten free breading.
- They are air fried for a slightly healthier option.
- They are flavorful, protein-packed and easy to make!
- You will love these for game day, girl dinner, or for serving to your kids.
What You Need to Make these Crispy Gluten Free Chicken Tenders
- Chicken Tenderloins: You’ll need 1.5 lbs which is about 10-12 tenders, depending on their size.
- Paprika, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder & Kosher Salt: A classic spice blend that’s savory and a bit warming from the paprika. Feel free to kick it up a notch by using smoked paprika instead, and adding some cayenne!
- Eggs: These act as the glue between the chicken tender and the potato chip “breading.”
- Dijon Mustard: It doesn’t actually make the chicken tenders taste like mustard, but it does help the crushed potato chip coating stick even better, so I don’t recommend omitting it! If you want to experiment with a substitute, try mayonnaise.
- Potato Chips: This is the secret ingredient to perfectly crispy and naturally gluten free chicken tenders! I used Utz original potato chips crushed in a food processor until crumbly, but still have some texture.
- Cooking Spray: To spray on the chicken tenders before air frying.
How To Make these Air Fryer Gluten Free Chicken Tenders
Dry & Season the Chicken Tenderloins:
First, pat your chicken tenderloins dry very well with a paper towel. Then, add them to a medium bowl along with the kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Toss until coated. Set aside.
Prepare Dredging Stations:
Next, add eggs and dijon mustard to a shallow bowl and beat with a fork until combined. Then, in another shallow bowl, add the crushed potato chips and paprika and stir until combined.
Dunk Chicken Tenders into Eggs & Crushed Potato Chips:
One by one, take a seasoned chicken tenderloin and dunk both sides into the egg mixture, followed by the crushed potato chips. Make sure to press the potato chips into the chicken so that they stick.
Air Fry until Crispy:
Finally, preheat your air fryer to 400F (if needed) and add the chicken tenders to your air fryer tray or basket, making sure there’s no overlap. You will likely need to cook these in multiple batches. Spray the top lightly with oil, then air fry for 5 minutes. Flip, spray the other side with oil, and continue air frying for 5 more minutes, or until crispy and chicken is done through. Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions:
- I don’t like dijon, can I omit it? Not to worry, you really can’t even taste the dijon in here. It mostly helps the egg mixture be even stickier, so that the crushed potato chips cling well to the chicken. As a substitute, I would recommend trying mayonnaise but I haven’t personally tested this version.
- Can I make these in the oven instead of air fryer? I strongly suggest using an air fryer for the best crispy results, but an oven will work in a pinch. Place tenders on a wire rack over a baking sheet and bake at 425F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway. And if your oven happens to have a convection setting, use that at 400F for about 13-16 minutes, flipping halfway.
- What flavor potato chips should I use? I just used classic “plain” potato chips (these ones from Utz, specifically). The seasonings on the chicken add plenty of flavor, so you don’t necessarily need to use a flavored potato chip but you absolutely could experiment with crushed barbecue potato chips, salt and vinegar, etc.
How Should I Store Leftovers?
These gluten free chicken tenders are best enjoyed fresh for maximum crispy texture! However, once they’re cooled down, you can store them in airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To re-heat, place the chicken tenders in a single layer and air fry at 350F for 4-6 minutes. You can also try reheating in the oven at 400F for 8-10 minutes, using a wire rack underneath if available. I have not experimented with freezing these yet, but I will update the blog post with instructions once I have!
Find the full recipe below. As always, please let me know if you tried it by commenting below or tagging me on Instagram, @munchinwithmaddie_.
Looking for More Gluten Free Snacks?
- Gluten Free Chicken Nuggets
- Homemade Cheez-Its (Gluten Free)
- Healthy Cosmic Brownies
- Samoa Cookie Bars (Gluten Free & Vegan)
Crispy Gluten Free Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- paper towels
- Food Processor (optional)
- 1 medium bowl
- 2 shallow bowls
- fork
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tbsp dijon mustard
- 3 cups crushed potato chips *SEE NOTE
- ¾ tsp paprika
- cooking spray
Instructions
- First, pat your chicken tenderloins dry very well with a paper towel. Then, add them to a medium bowl along with the kosher salt, paprika, garlic powder and onion powder. Toss until coated. Set aside.1.5 lbs chicken tenderloins, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp paprika, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder
- Add eggs and dijon mustard to a shallow bowl and beat with a fork until combined. Then, in another shallow bowl, add the crushed potato chips and paprika and stir until combined.2 large eggs, 2 tbsp dijon mustard, 3 cups crushed potato chips, ¾ tsp paprika
- One by one, take a seasoned chicken tenderloin and dunk both sides into the egg mixture, followed by the crushed potato chips. Make sure to press the potato chips into the chicken so that they stick.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400F (if needed) and add the chicken tenders to your air fryer tray or basket, making sure there's no overlap. You will likely need to cook these in multiple batches. Spray the top lightly with oil, then air fry for 5 minutes. Flip, spray the other side with oil, and continue air frying for 5 more minutes, or until crispy and chicken is done through. Enjoy!cooking spray
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
Please let me know how it turned out for you! Leave a comment below and tag @munchinwithmaddie_ on Instagram and/or hashtag it #munchinwithmaddie.