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Nashville Style Hot Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Recipe)

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.

nashville hot chicken tenders on a white plate


 

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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

Ingredients to make the Nashville hot chicken tenders

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.

Dredging the chicken tenders

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.

The breaded chicken in the air fryer basket

Gather your ingredients to make the Nashville hot sauce.

Spices to make the 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.

The Nashville hot sauce in a pan

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 🙂

hot chicken tenders on white plate with pickles on top

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.

A nashville hot chicken tender cut in half

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

Watch the Full Video

finished hot chicken tenders in a plate with pickles on top
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4.61 from 28 votes

Nashville Style Hot Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Recipe)

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.
Course Appetizer, Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword air fryer chicken tenders, hot chicken tenders, nashville style chicken
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 488kcal
Author Tanya

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

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.

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 488kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 998mg | Potassium: 583mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1428IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg
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4.61 from 28 votes (10 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Lori

Wednesday 8th of November 2023

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

Thursday 9th of November 2023

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.

Sean

Thursday 21st of September 2023

Love this one. Second time around I reduced the cayenne for my wife. Still delicious.

Third time around, I realized I had no breadcrumbs! In a pinch, I did half the batch with crushed up cheezits (really good) and the other half with French’s fried onions (amazing).

Tanya

Saturday 23rd of September 2023

Hey Sean, Thanks so much and I'm so happy you all enjoyed the recipe. I love your tweaks too. Sounds delish!

Kijai

Sunday 27th of August 2023

This recipe is amazing! I discovered it during the pandemic and it has been a regular in my household ever since! The sauce is the perfect amount of sweet and heat in my opinion.

Tanya

Monday 28th of August 2023

Thank you so much for the feedback, Kijai! So happy this recipe is on repeat for you. It's def one of my favorites.

Melissa

Friday 18th of August 2023

Way too much flavor from the peanut oil. Could barely taste anything but peanuts unfortunately.

Bell

Thursday 21st of March 2024

@Melissa, maybe your peanut oil is rancid. I've never tasted a peanut flavor in any peanut oil.

Tanya

Saturday 19th of August 2023

I don't taste the peanut oil at all; however, feel free to use any other neutral oil you prefer for next time.

david

Monday 24th of April 2023

I've made this three times already and the family is a big fan. My kids ask for it all the time. I use the recipe as you describe, but go a little easier on the spice. This is becoming a regularly requested dish!

Tanya

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

Thanks so much, David! I love that you've adapted the spice for your kids too.