These chili lime air fryer chicken tenders will become your new favorite quick and healthy meal or snack! The best part is that these are done in the air fryer in just 8 minutes. I love making chicken tenders because they stay moist for so long and work well for meal prep.
When you want a delicious, versatile chicken meal, you can't go wrong with chicken tenders. Dishes like these grilled chicken tenderloins make the perfect main course, appetizer, or addition to pasta when cut into smaller pieces. There's really nothing you can't do with them.
I create a variety of easy chicken recipes, and chicken tenders are a staple in many of them. Now, I've added another delicious, convenient, and versatile chicken tender recipe to my rotation, and I think you'll love it.
You can enjoy this chicken tenders recipe as-is or chop them into small pieces and serve them in wraps or zesty Mexican dishes like these crispy chicken tacos. You can also serve the chicken tenders over rice or in a salad. The possibilities are endless!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Limited Ingredients: The recipe only requires chicken tenders, oil, and seasonings.
- Easy: All you have to do is toss everything to coat and air fry the tender. It's so easy.
- Bold Flavor: The blend of cumin, oregano, and other zesty spices, along with the lime juice gives these tenders a big, bold flavor.
- Tender and Juicy: Air frying the tenders cooks them quickly and evenly, making them so tender and juicy.
- Customizable: You can easily change the spices to create different versions for your family.
- Versatile: Serve these tenders as a main course or chop them up and add them to soups, sandwiches, tacos, wraps, pasta dishes, and more.
- Great for Meal Prep: These are freezer-friendly, so you can make as much as you like and store extras for later.
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Ingredients
I used Springer Mountain Farms chicken tenders for this recipe. I always use their chicken for my recipes because they're non-GMO, American Humane Certified, and their quality is guaranteed. I recommend joining the @smfchicken flock, a program offering money-saving coupons, recipes, and more.
I prefer Costabile olive oil for its quality, purity, and flavor. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK on Amazon for 15% off.
See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Variations
- Ranch: Add ½ packet of ranch dressing seasoning and serve with ranch dipping sauce
- Thai peanut: Use 3 tablespoons of Thai red curry paste mixed with 2 tablespoons of coconut milk to rub chicken, and serve with peanut dipping sauce
- Barbeque: Use your favorite BBQ seasoning in the same proportions as the seasonings in the recipe for a BBQ version.
- Extra Spicy: Add red pepper flakes or cayenne for an even hotter kick.
- Sweet Chili: Add a little brown sugar to the seasoning mix or a bit of honey for a sweet and spicy variation.
- Chicken: Instead of chicken, use turkey tenderloins or pork loin cut into strips.
- Vegetarian: Use tofu cut into 2-inch cubes or your favorite ground meat substitute shaped into 2-ounce balls.
How to Make Air Fryer Chili Lime Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Mix the seasonings in a small bowl. Then, toss them with the chicken and oil in a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Place the tenders in an even layer in the basket of your preheated air fryer.
Step 3: Cook the chicken at 400°F until the internal temperature registers 165°F, flipping halfway through cooking.
Step 4: Enjoy!
Tips
- It's important to mix your seasonings before coating the chicken. It ensures that each chicken tender has a nice blend of seasonings.
- Always preheat your air fryer for even cooking and accurate cooking times. It only takes a few minutes.
- Always use a separate non-porous cutting board to prep chicken and sanitize all surfaces and hands after handling raw chicken.
- Don't waste those leftovers! If you don't have enough leftover for a second meal, chop up the tenders and add them to recipes like balsamic pasta salad or chicken bacon mushroom pasta.
Air Fryer Chili Lime Chicken Tenders FAQ
Chicken tenders should be air-fried for 4 to 6 minutes per side, depending on their size and the temperature specified in the recipe.
These tenders should be cooked for around 8 to 10 minutes until their internal temperature registers 165°F.
Your first choice for checking chicken for doneness should be a meat thermometer. When the temperature registers 165°F in the thickest part of the tender, it is fully cooked. While there are other methods that utilize the feel or color of the chicken, none of them are accurate.
📖 Recipe
Chili Lime Chicken Tenders
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon chili powder
- ¼ tablespoon ancho chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic
- ½ teaspoon cilantro
- 2 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
Instructions
- Combine all dry ingredients into a small bowl, and mix well.
- Coat chicken with avocado oil, then lime juice.
- Generously pour seasoning over chicken tenders and toss well.
- Place in air fryer and cook on 400 for 4 minutes.
- Flip chicken tenders and cook for another 4 minutes. Internal temperature should be 165° when done.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freeze for up to 3 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air removed as possible.
- Defrost overnight in the fridge if frozen. Then, microwave at 1-minute intervals until heated through.
- It's important to mix your seasonings before coating the chicken. It ensures that each chicken tender has a nice blend of seasonings.
- Always preheat your air fryer for even cooking and accurate cooking times. It only takes a few minutes.
- Don't waste those leftovers! If you don't have enough leftover for a second meal, chop up the tenders and add them to recipes like balsamic pasta salad or chicken bacon mushroom pasta.
- Always use a separate non-porous cutting board to prep chicken and sanitize all surfaces and hands after handling raw chicken.
Agnieszka says
My kids really enjoyed this chicken. Flavorful and juicy.
Swathi says
Chili lime air fryer chicken is straightforward to put together, making it a great meal idea; my son even asked me to make it again.
Leah says
Love these tenders
Lora says
These chili lime chicken tenders are so quick and flavorful. Hard to beat a healthy meal ready in just 8 minutes!
Krystle says
Super juicy every time, I love meal prepping these for the week!
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!
Nancy says
Chili lime air fryer chicken is super tasty. It comes out super tender and moist.
Andrea says
love the chili lime flavor! so tasty and delicious for a weeknight dinner!
Nora says
These chicken tenders turned out perfectly, and the seasoning was awesome! Thanks for the recipe!
NKendrick says
Thank you for sharing!! SO happy to hear!
Stephanie says
We finally got an air-fryer so I am on the lookout for new recipes to try. These chili-lime chicken tenders are amazing. The spices are spot on! Definitely plan to serve these again soon - especially with the summer months approaching (don't want to turn the oven on!).
Mary says
Thawing chicken tenders out for tomorrow! I get so tired of the same old chicken tenders and this has my name written all over it. We eat a lot of chicken tenders because I cook for two, and the tenders are so easy to buy in bulk and split into perfect servings.
NKendrick says
Chicken tenders are one of our favorite also!
Connie grigg says
This is such a flavorful and easy recipe. New favorite my family will love. Thank you so much.
Juliette says
This is a delicious recipe. I love how you make it so easy to make and the spice combination is really good. Just the right amount of chilli for me too. 🙂 thank you.
NKendrick says
Thank you so much!
Kimberly Russo says
I have made this recipe and I absolutely love it. They came out super delicious and moist and used them in multiple meals the whole week since I love chicken. Thank you Golden Grace kitchen.
Kim Russo says
I just love this recipe. Why? Because you can use the chicken in many other ways for lunch or dinner. This chicken never goes to waste. The flavor of the seasoning on this, delicious. The chili and the lime combined is the zest I need in my chicken salad or just with rice. Quick and easy for my lifestyle.
NKendrick says
Thank you for your feedback, I am so happy that you enjoyed the recipe!