Some dinners just make life easier.
These crispy Parmesan ranch chicken tenders are exactly that kind of meal. They’re quick, simple, kid-friendly, and honestly one of the easiest things to throw together on a busy night.
Ever since switching to a large basket-style air fryer, I’ve been making chicken tenders way more often because cleanup is so much easier. I loosely line the basket with foil, toss everything in, and dinner is basically handled.
The ranch seasoning and Parmesan cheese give these tenders so much flavor without needing a long ingredient list, which I love on hectic evenings.
And the best part? They come out crispy on the outside while still staying juicy inside.
These work great with fries, fruit, veggies, mac and cheese, or whatever your family will actually eat that night.
If you’re looking for an easy air fryer dinner that everyone will happily eat, this one is definitely worth saving.
Crispy Parmesan Ranch Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
9 minutes
Total Time
19 minutes
Servings
4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 packet ranch seasoning mix
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- In a large bowl, toss the chicken tenders with olive oil.
- In a separate bowl, combine ranch seasoning, Parmesan cheese, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, and black pepper.
- Coat each chicken tender evenly in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Loosely line with foil if desired for easier cleanup.
- Arrange chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket.
- Air fry for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve warm with ranch, ketchup, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, spray the tops lightly with cooking spray before air frying.
- Avoid overcrowding the basket for best results.
- These reheat really well in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes.
- You can also cut chicken breasts into strips if you don’t have tenders.
Suggested Pairings
- Air fryer fries
- Apple slices
- Fresh fruit
- Steamed broccoli
- Mac and cheese
- Carrot sticks
