Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders are ready in under 25 minutes. You can never go wrong with a recipe that is crispy and ready in less than a half-hour. Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenderloins are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Your family will crave these chicken tenders.
Just you wait and see.
Summer is right around the corner, which means time spent by the pool and late-night dinners. During the warmer months, we try our best to be outside and enjoy family time as much as we can.
That means that I need more meals that are quick to make and recipes that don’t take a lot of prep time or effort on my part.
These Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenderloins are just what I need on these busy nights. I love how crispy the bacon turns out on the outside of these delicious chicken tenders.
The bacon also helps to keep the chicken juicy. The combination of crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside make these air fryer bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins stand out.
Your family will request you make these air fryer bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins over and over again.
These chicken tenders are so much healthier and taste a whole lot better than store-bought or fast-food chicken tenders. Not only are they more beneficial, but they come together quickly, and your family will love them.
There’s no need to stress during a busy weeknight about trying to get your family fed because these bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins are the perfect recipe to help you out when you are rushed for time.
How long to cook chicken tenderloins in the air fryer
To get your air fryer bacon wrapped chicken tenders perfectly cooked in the air fryer, you will need to cook them for about 18 minutes.
I prefer to flip them halfway through, as flipping them helps to ensure that your chicken are perfectly crispy all the way through.
Be sure to check the temperature of your chicken tenderloins with a meat thermometer to make sure the temperature reaches at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
When you are checking the temperature of the chicken, make sure you insert your thermometer into the center of the thickest part of your chicken tenderloin. I prefer to use a pen thermometer like this one from Amazon.
How long to cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer
When you are cooking frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer, you will want to add an additional 2 to 3 minutes to your air fryer cook time.
It’s essential you check the internal temperature of your chicken to ensure that it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Once your frozen chicken reaches the internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for more, they are ready to eat.
Are chicken tenders the same as chicken breasts
Chicken tenders are not the same as chicken breast. Growing up, I always thought chicken tenders were just sliced up chicken breast. However, that is not actually the case.
Chicken tenders or tenderloins are an actual piece of meat from the chicken.
A chicken tenderloin is located underneath the breast of the chicken. Sometimes it’s called hanging tenders or tenderloins because of where they are located on the breast bone.
Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenderloins are crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. Your family will crave these chicken tenders.
Just wait until you try them.
How to make bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins in the air fryer
Making bacon wrapped chicken tenders in the air fryer is simple. All you need to do is preheat your air fryer to 390 degrees Fahrenheit.
While your air fryer is preheating, you can season your chicken tenders with the recipe below.
Wrap your bacon around your chicken tenderloin tightly and then seal with a toothpick so that your bacon does not unwrap from your chicken during the cooking process.
Once your chicken is thoroughly cooked all the way through, serve with your dipping sauce and enjoy.
How to reheat chicken tenders in an air fryer
Do you have leftover chicken tenderloins? Reheating them in the air fryer makes your leftover chicken tenders taste like they were just freshly made.
Reheating chicken tenderloinss in your air fryer is simple, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about five minutes.
Once your air fryer is preheated, you can place the chicken tenders that you want to reheat into your air fryer basket.
Reheat your chicken tenders for up to about five minutes or until they are warm all the way through. Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, one of our favorite dips or the spicy mustard recipe below, and enjoy.
Why do I need to soak my toothpicks
Toothpicks are made of wood, and wood can be subject to burning. It is crucial to make sure that you soak your toothpicks for at least 10 minutes. Soaking your toothpicks longer will not harm or change your recipe at all.
You will make sure that your toothpicks are entirely wet all the way through to prevent burning. Once your toothpicks are soaked, they are ready to use in your air fryer.
What type of Air Fryer do I need to make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
You can use any type of air fryer that you have on hand. I personally prefer basket air fryers. This is the air fryer that I used to make these bacon wrapped chicken tenderloins.
A rotisserie or oven style air fryer will also work for this air fryer chicken tenders or tenderloins recipe.
If you are using a rotisserie or oven style air fryer, you will need to be sure to place your rack on the middle rack setting to keep your chicken from burning.
How do I buy the first air fryer
Are you looking for a new air fryer? I have some tips to help you pick out the best air fryer to fit your family’s needs.
Pay attention to the size of your air fryer. A family of four would need at least a 3.7L air fryer for average sized portions. If you have a larger family or you prefer cooking ahead to have leftovers, you will need to purchase a larger sized air fryer.
Check reviews. Check the reviews on the air fryer that you plan to purchase. I’m a huge fan of looking at reviews before I make a large purchase. No item will ever have perfect reviews but look for a higher rating. I look for at least four stars.
Look at safety features for your air fryer. I always look for an air fryer with auto shut off. That way, if something happens, I forgot it, or if the air fryer gets knocked off, it will shut itself off to prevent burns and fires.
And the most essential feature, in my opinion, is how easy it is to clean? I’m not a huge fan of wasting time in the kitchen cleaning hard to clean appliances.
Look for an air fryer that has a quality made basket without a lot of nooks and crannies that would be hard to clean. You want a surface that will be easy to wipe so you can clean quickly and move on.
How do I remove the tendon from the chicken tenderloin
Have you ever noticed the white piece of tendon or muscle that runs through your chicken tender? Did you know that you can easily remove that tendon so that your chicken tenders are not tough?
I didn’t realize this until a chef friend of mine showed me how to remove the tendon. When I pulled the tendon, I fell in love with using chicken tenders in recipes.
Here is how to remove the tendon from your chicken tenders.
Using your fingers or a paper towel, grip the top of the white tendon or muscle at the top of your chicken tenderloin.
After you have a good grip on the white muscle, take a fork and hold it with the tips facing down; slide the fork down the chicken tender to pull the meat away from the white muscle. Do this until you reach the end of the chicken muscle.
Now you are ready to cook your chicken tenderloin and it is ready to cook without being tough.
Did you know that you can actually eat the white tendon inside the chicken tender? You can.
Some people never notice a difference when a chicken tenderloin still has the tendon. My family is a little bit fussy about textures, so they prefer the chicken tender without the muscle.
As always, the decision is up to you.
What is the difference between cracked peppercorn and ground black pepper
While cracked black peppercorn and ground black pepper comes from the same peppercorn, there are some differences between the two.
Cracked black pepper is not ground as finely as ground black pepper. Black pepper that has been cracked is more like a flake, and ground black pepper is thin and finely ground black pepper.
Cracked black peppercorn has a more robust peppery flavor than ground black pepper. The particle size difference also makes a difference in texture.
Cracked black peppercorn has a crunchy texture compared to its ground black pepper counterpart.
Dipping Sauces for air fryer chicken tenders
I encourage you to check out my How to Make Dip which contains all of our favorites in one place. Our ranch dip and oh take a minute and have a look. I know you’ll find a dip you want to try.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
- chicken tenderloins
- ground mustard
- paprika
- garlic salt
- center cut bacon
- mayo
- dijon mustard
- yellow mustard
- honey
- hot sauce
- rice vinegar
- cracked peppercorn
Directions for making Air Fryer Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders
Step 1. Soak toothpicks in water for 10 minutes. This will prevent them from burning inside the air fryer.
Step 2. Combine ground mustard, paprika, and garlic salt into a small bowl or ramekin. Season chicken tenderloins generously on both sides.
Step 3. Starting at the end of a tenderloin, wrap a piece of bacon around in a shingle form towards the opposite end. Secure each end with a toothpick to prevent your bacon from unwrapping.
Step 4. Preheat the air fryer to 390* for 5 minutes. If you are using an oven or rotisserie style air fryer make sure you place your rack in the middle location.
Step 5. Place chicken tenders into the air fryer basket or on your air fryer rack in a single layer. Air fry for 18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Step 6. While the chicken is cooking prepare the spicy honey mustard. Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl and whisk.
Step 7. Let chicken cool 5 minutes before serving with spicy honey mustard dip. Serve and enjoy!
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
Bacon Wrapped Barbecue Chicken
Bacon Wrapped Garlic Chicken Thighs
AIR FRYER FRIED CHICKEN THIGHS – CRISPY AND FAST
AIR FRIED NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN STRIPS
KFC FAMOUS BOWL (KFC MASHED POTATO BOWL COPYCAT RECIPE)
Bacon Wrapped Chicken Tenders with Spicy Honey Mustard Dip
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 1 tsp ground mustard
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- 1 lb center cut bacon
- ¼ cup mayo
- 3 tbsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp yellow mustard
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp hot sauce
- ½ tbsp rice vinegar
- 1 tsp cracked peppercorn
Instructions
- Soak toothpicks in water for 10 minutes. This will prevent them from burning inside the air fryer.
- Get out and measure all of your ingredients.
- Combine ground mustard, paprika, and garlic salt to a small bowl or ramekin. Season chicken tenderloins.
- Starting at the end of a tenderloin, wrap a piece of bacon around in a shingle form towards the opposite end.
- Secure each end with a toothpick.
- Preheat the air fryer to 390* for 5 minutes.
- Place chicken tenders into the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Air fry for 18 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- While the chicken is cooking prepare the spicy honey mustard. Add all ingredients to a small mixing bowl.
- Whisk until incorporated.
- Let chicken cool 5 minutes before serving with spicy honey mustard dip.
- Enjoy every bite!
Notes
Nutrition
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