These Nashville style hot chicken tenders are so easy to make in the air fryer! These tenders are so wonderfully crispy and juicy, they rival any you've had in a restaurant! Ready to serve in less than half an hour.
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The full recipe with ingredients/instructions is available on the recipe card at the bottom of the post. Important tips/tricks are also included in the blog post.
Whenever I see Nashville hot chicken on a menu I've just got to have it! Super crispy and smothered in a spicy hot sauce, I just can't get enough of them!
It's so quick and fuss free to make these tenders in an air fryer, they are quickly becoming my new favorite thing!
If you love these, be sure to check out my air fryer chicken wings!
How To Make Nashville Style Hot Chicken Tenders
Gather your ingredients
Season tenders with a little salt and pepper. Set aside.
Create a dredging station by whisking milk and hot sauce in one bowl.
In a separate bowl, mix panko bread crumbs, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Start by coating chicken tenders with milk mixture and drain off excess milk, then coat chicken in panko bread crumbs mixture, ensuring all of the chicken is coated.
Place chicken in greased air fryer basket or use a parchment sheet liner.
Cook on 375 degrees for 14-16 minutes, flipping and spraying with oil halfway through cooking, until chicken is fully cooked and has reached a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
Gather your ingredients to make the Nashville hot sauce.
Add the hot sauce ingredients to a pan, whisk to combine and bring to the boil.
Once your mixture starts to bubble and simmer, remove from heat.
Once chicken tenders are done, remove from air fryer and add them to a large bowl.
Pour the hot paste over the chicken and toss to combine, making sure hot sauce covers all of the chicken.
And done 🙂
Can you use chicken breast in this recipe?
I like to use tenders for this recipe, they are so...well, tender, and they cook so well in the air fryer. If you can't find tenders, you can use breasts and cut them into strips.
How hot is the chicken?
On a scale of mild to hot, these chicken tenders are very hot! There's a lot of cayenne in the sauce and they really do pack a punch. If you prefer milder chicken, you can reduce the amount of cayenne used, or even omit it completely. It will still be delicious!
What do you serve with Nashville hot chicken?
I live to serve this hot chicken as a sandwich. Piled into white bread with pickles and you are in a good place! If you like, you can add in some coleslaw that helps to balance out the heat.
You can serve this as a main and serve it alongside some other Southern favorites like mac n cheese and collard greens.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Be sure to pre heat your air fryer before you add your chicken, so that the tenders cook through evenly.
- Place the tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook them in two batches if you need.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the air fryer at 400F for 3 to 4 minutes.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
- Sticky BBQ Chicken Legs
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets
- BBQ Air Fryer Chicken Breasts
- Lemon Pepper Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
Watch the Full Video
Nashville Style Hot Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- ¾ cup milk
- 2 Tablespoon hot sauce
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for spraying Canola, Olive Oil, or any oil with a high smoke point
Hot Paste
- ½ cup peanut oil
- 2 Tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 ½ Tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dry mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Season tenders with a little salt and pepper. Set aside. Create a dredging station by whisking milk and hot sauce in one bowl. In a separate bowl, mix panko bread crumbs, paprika, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Start by coating chicken tenders with milk mixture and drain off excess milk, then coat chicken in panko bread crumbs mixture, ensuring all of the chicken is coated.
- Place chicken in greased air fryer basket or use a parchment sheet liner. Cook on 375 degrees for 14-16 minutes, flipping and spraying chicken halfway through cooking, until chicken is fully cooked and has reached a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Meanwhile, when there are about 5 minutes left on the chicken, create the hot paste. Add peanut oil, brown sugar, cayenne pepper, paprika, dry mustard, garlic powder, and salt to a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat and whisk to combine. Once your mixture starts to bubble and simmer, remove from heat.
- Once chicken tenders are done, remove from air fryer and add them to a large bowl. Pour the hot paste over the chicken and toss to combine, making sure hot sauce covers all of the chicken. Serve and enjoy.
Suggested Tools
Video
Notes
- Be sure to pre heat your air fryer before you add your chicken, so that the tenders cook through evenly.
- Place the tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook them in two batches if you need.
- This chicken is really really really hot. If you’d like a milder chicken, reduce the cayenne pepper.
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat them in the air fryer at 400F for 3 to 4 minutes.
katy says
Is this 488 per serving? or in total? how much is tenders are in 1 serving
Tanya says
Hi Katy, yes. It's about 2 tenders per serving.
Lori says
Can you make the hot paste ahead of time and reheat or is it recommended to make it five minutes before the tenders are finished cooking?
Tanya says
Hey Lori, great question. I have not done that, but I wouldn't technically recommend it. The sauce can be finicky, so I just make it right before tossing. The tenders, however, can be made ahead and reheated.