Gluten-Free Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Craving the satisfying crunch of fried chicken but trying to stick to a gluten-free or low-carb diet? These Gluten-Free Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are going to blow your mind. They deliver all the crispy, golden goodness you remember from childhood, but they’re completely free of refined flour and heavy frying oils.
The secret is our special almond flour and parmesan breading, which gets incredibly crispy in the air fryer. Paired with a quick honey mustard dip, this is a healthy weeknight dinner the whole family will fight over.
Love this? You should also try our Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- 100% Gluten-Free: Safe for Celiac and gluten-sensitive diets.
- Low Carb & Keto-Friendly: By swapping traditional breadcrumbs for almond flour, these are packed with protein and healthy fats instead of empty carbs.
- Mess-Free: Air frying means no oil splatters to clean off your stove!
Key Ingredients & Substitutions
- Almond Flour: Make sure to use blanched, super-fine almond flour, NOT almond meal! Almond meal is too coarse and won’t stick to the chicken properly.
- Parmesan Cheese: This is the secret weapon! It helps bind the almond flour and creates a beautifully browned, crispy crust.
- Avocado Oil Spray: Because almond flour doesn’t brown as easily as regular flour, a generous spray of oil is required. Avocado oil is perfect for high-heat air frying.
How to Make Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders
Breading without gluten requires a slightly different technique. Since almond flour lacks the sticky gluten structure of regular flour, you need to press it firmly into the egg-washed chicken. Don’t just toss it; use your hands to pack the breading onto the meat. When placing them in the air fryer, leave space between each tender so the hot air can circulate and crisp up the edges perfectly!
Ingredients
Method
- Set up a breading station. In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In a second shallow bowl, whisk the almond flour, parmesan, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Pat the chicken tenderloins completely dry with a paper towel.
- Dip each tender into the beaten eggs, letting the excess drip off, then press firmly into the almond flour mixture to coat completely.
- Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (195°C) for 3 minutes.
- Place the breaded tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer (work in batches if needed).
- Generously spray the tops of the chicken with avocado oil spray to help the almond flour crisp up.
- Air fry for 6 minutes, flip the tenders, spray the other side, and air fry for another 5-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Serve immediately with a gluten-free honey mustard or ranch dip!
