These Almond Flour Chicken Tenders are juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside. Make them in the air fryer or oven for a kid-friendly, Whole30, paleo, gluten and grain-free protein. They have a beautiful golden color from turmeric, for an anti-inflammatory boost!
We Love Our Air Fryer
Thanks to the invention of the air fryer, our days of deep-fried foods are long gone, my friends. You can have the taste and texture of frying, without all of the oil and mess. It’s fantastic!
Air frying chicken strips makes this recipe healthier. Plus, it’s easy for kids to help make, because NO frying is needed. Almond crusted crispy chicken tenders are a better-for-you version of those frozen dinosaurs!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Below is an overview of the ingredients and recipe. Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details and nutrition information.
- Chicken tenderloins – If you can’t find chicken tenderloins, it’s not a problem. Just use a sharp knife to cut boneless, skinless chicken breasts lengthwise into 4 or 5 pieces.
- Super fine almond flour – Blanched almond flour is a wonderful option for those with gluten and/or grain intolerance. Plus, it’s low carb and paleo-friendly! For a finer texture, I use Bob’s Red Mill super fine almond flour.
- Seasoning – Sea salt and black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and turmeric.
- Egg – To help the crispy almond flour batter stick to the chicken.
How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Before you start making the recipe, you’ll want to create a breading station to make things easier.
- First, the chicken tenders will get a coating of egg, so that will go into one dish. The other dish is where they’ll take a dip into the almond flour breading mixture.
- Because the chicken strips are long and relatively thin, I find that it’s easiest to use two rectangular baking dishes. Or, if you have wide bowls, they’ll do the job just as well.
1. PREHEAT THE AIR FRYER OR OVEN
If you’ll be making air fried chicken tenders, set your air fryer to 370 F. Or, if you’re making the healthy baked chicken strips in your oven, preheat the oven to 400 F.
2. MAKE THE BREADING and EGG WASH
- In a wide bowl or a shallow dish, combine the almond flour, salt, turmeric, garlic powder, and black pepper. Use a fork to whisk it all together to combine the flavors, and then set it aside.
- Next, whisk the egg in the other wide bowl or shallow dish, and set that aside.
3. COAT THE CHICKEN
- Coat one chicken tender at a time in egg and then dredge in the turmeric almond flour mixture. Place in air fryer or, if you’re baking them in the oven, place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Repeat until all of the chicken tenders have a coating of almond flour mixture.
4. BAKE or AIR FRY
- If you’re air frying, it will take about 16 minutes. To bake them in the oven, 20 -22 minutes. Regardless of which method you use, be sure to flip the tenders over half way through the cooking time.
- Remove once cooked and place on a warm plate to rest for a few minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
You can serve a variety of dipping sauces with the chicken tenders. Maybe some Nightshade-Free BBQ Sauce or Creamy Mustard Sauce.
Need some delicious kid-friendly side dish ideas? My suggestions are Cauliflower Sweet Potato Tots or Air Fryer Zucchini Fries.
And since the air fryer is already out, finish off the meal with some Air Fried Sweet Potato Dessert Fries!
Common Questions
The answer is, partially. You can definitely make the breading ahead, and if you aren’t using tenderloins, you cut the chicken breasts into strips ahead of time. Really, the only thing that you might want to wait to do until just before air frying is whisking the egg.
Absolutely, you can! Just be sure that they are completely cool before you wrap and freeze them. Otherwise, they may develop freezer burn more quickly. If they’re in an air tight container or Ziploc bag, you can keep them frozen for up to 3 months.
Almond Flour Chicken Tenders Recipe (Air Fryer or Oven)
- Total Time: 26 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Golden Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are kid friendly, paleo, Whole30, gluten free and grain free. Make this recipe for healthy baked chicken strips in an air fryer or oven.
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenderloins
- 1 ½ – 2 cups blanched almond flour (an estimate – use more if not sure)
- 1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt or seasoned salt blend of choice
- 1 teaspoon ground turmeric
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 large egg, whisked
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 370 F or oven to 400 F.
- In a wide bowl or shallow dish, combine the almond flour, salt, turmeric, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Whisk together with fork to combine the flavors. Set aside.
- Whisk the egg in a wide bowl and set aside.
- Coat one chicken tender at a time in the whisked egg bowl, and then dredge in the turmeric almond flour mixture.
- Place chicken strips in air fryer basket or on lined baking sheet (if using oven). Repeat until all chicken strips are coated in the almond flour mixture.
- AIR FRY in preheated air fryer at 370 F for 15 -17 minutes, gently flipping halfway through cooking. (See notes)
- OVEN option – Place breaded chicken on lined baking sheet then cook in preheated oven at 400 F for 20 -22 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time.
- Remove when internal temperature reaches 163 F. and place on hot plate to rest for 5 minutes. The chicken will continue to cook to a safe internal temperature of 165 F.
- Serve or cool and store for later. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Depending on what type of air fryer you have and the thickness of your chicken, you may need to adjust cooking times. I used Krups Air Fryer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 16 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 309
- Sugar: 1.1 g
- Sodium: 650.6 mg
- Fat: 15.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 7.4 g
- Fiber: 3.3 g
- Protein: 33.1 g
- Cholesterol: 128.6 mg
These had such a great taste, but were not as crispy as I wanted them. But then I found a way, after air frying them for 16 minutes, I froze them overnight. The next day, I put them in the air fryer for about 8 minutes. Super crispy and delish! I’ve tried a few chicken finger recipes from other blogs and didn’t like them, these are really good!
That’s a great idea! Curious, what brand of air fryer do you have?
It’s the Instant brand, they’re the same company that makes the Instant Pots.
Of course my boys could live on chicken tenders if I allowed them. And these make them so guilt-free for me to make for them. Thanks Lindsay!
I know right?!! Glad to help Matt!
Totally going to make these!!! yum!!!
These look amazing! Love the turmeric in there too!
Thank you! Yes, so good!
Good to know that works too! It was perfect the first time. I learn so much from you as well! Wow great post.
Thank you!
I love that I can make it in my air fryer! So easy and delicious!
Yes, totally! Thanks, Toni!
I am totally in love with my air fryer and trying very hard to stay low carb. These yummy tenders are a life saver! So easy and so tasty and the whole family enjoys them. No need to make a separate meal for the non low-carbers!
So glad you and your family enjoyed them!
Yay! Another reason to love my air fryer! You have the best recipes.
Thank you, Lauren!!