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Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tenders
These air fryer ranch chicken tenders skip the breading for a ranch and Parmesan coating. A dill pickle juice and buttermilk brine keeps them juicy and a little tangy.
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 244kcal
Equipment
- Parchment paper
Ingredients
Chicken brine
- 2/3 cup dill pickle juice
- 1/3 cup buttermilk
Chicken
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil spray
For serving
- ranch dressing
- 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro chopped
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the pickle juice and buttermilk. Add the chicken tenders and make sure they are completely covered. Cover the bowl with a lid or plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.2/3 cup dill pickle juice, 1/3 cup buttermilk, 1 pound chicken tenders
- Preheat the air fryer to 360°F.
- Drain the brine from the bowl and toss the chicken tenders in the olive oil. Add the ranch seasoning, Parmesan, and black pepper, and toss until the chicken is fully coated.1/2 tablespoon olive oil, 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray or line it with air fryer parchment paper for easy cleanup. Place the seasoned chicken tenders in a single layer and spray the tops with olive oil.1 tablespoon olive oil spray
- Air fry for 8 minutes, flip, and cook for another 6 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Top with ranch dressing and chopped cilantro before serving.ranch dressing, 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro
Notes
- Pat the tenders dry with a paper towel after draining the brine.
- A standard ranch seasoning packet holds about 3 tablespoons. Homemade ranch seasoning works too.
- If the tenders don't fit in one layer in your air fryer, cook them in two batches.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
- Freeze cooked tenders for up to 4 months. Thaw them in the fridge before reheating.
- Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 4 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway.
Nutrition
Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1409mg | Potassium: 456mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 1mg
