These Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken Tenders are one of my family’s absolute favorite meals. They are crispy, and the cook time is so quick. I often make this on busy weeknights for dinner. It’s a family favorite here.
In the past when I’ve made cornflake chicken in the oven, it would come out soggy on the bottom. But…that’s the magic of an air fryer. Since it circulates the heat, these cornflake chicken tenders come out perfectly crunchy and crispy.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken Tenders
- 4 cups cornflakes
- 12-16 chicken tenderloins
- 1 cup olive oil
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- seasoning salt
Can you make Cornflake Chicken Tenders without eggs?
Yes! I have a child who is allergic to eggs. She also loves chicken tenders, so I always make them without dipping in egg. This particular method has become my go-to method for making egg-free fried chicken like tenders and breasts.
Instead of using egg and milk, I use olive oil before dipping the chicken in crushed cornflakes. I dip the chicken in the olive oil and then roll the chicken tenderloins in crushed cornflakes.
Another oil that’s really good to use is sesame oil. It has a really delicious savory flavor.
Cornflake Chicken in the Air Fryer is Kid Friendly!
My entire family LOVES them — the little kids, the teens, and most definitely my husband. There is always a little competition for who gets the leftovers. I frequently find my kids hiding the leftover cornflake chicken tenders somewhere in the fridge where only they can find them.
How many Cornflake Chicken tenders can you make in the Air Fryer?
With a big family, I use about 16 tenderloins to make this meal. That’s about 3-4 tenderloins per person, which is what I guesstimate is what the average person eats.
I have a large 8 qt air fryer, so I can cook about 8-9 chicken tenderloins at a time in batches. If you have a smaller one, you might be only able to fit 6 tenderloins to cook at once, which might be enough for two people, but you’d probably need to cook two batches for a family of four.
I usually get all the side dishes started before I start on the chicken since it cooks pretty quickly.
How do you cook Cornflake Chicken in the Air Fryer?
In a food processor or blender, add the cornflakes, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoning salt.
Crush the cornflakes on pulse a few times, but don’t process them until they’re dust. You just want crushed small pieces.
Dip each chicken tenderloin in the olive oil, then immediately roll in the crushed cornflakes.
Fit as many chicken tenderloins as you can in the air fryer, so they are not touching.
Cook for 10-11 minutes on 400 F degrees.
Check temperature is above 165 F degrees and remove from air fryer.
You’ll most likely need to cook these in 2-3 batches.
Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite side dishes!
Substitutions
You can totally skip the garlic and onion powder. I would recommend adding regular salt if you do.
For oil, you can use basic vegetable or canola oil instead of olive oil as well.
As for cereal, Rice Krispies would work well, too. I have actually found the organic cornflakes at Kroger make this dish extra crispy compared to regular Kellogg’s Corn Flakes or store brands.
Side Dishes for Cornflake Chicken
- Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes
- Easy Homemade Stove Top Macaroni and Cheese
- Quick & Easy Microwave Cream Gravy
- Fresh Corn on the Cob in the Microwave
- Frozen Broccoli in the Microwave
More Chicken Recipes
- The Most Flavorful Million Dollar Chicken Casserole
- How to make Orange Chicken with Panda Express Sauce (OUR FAVORITE!!)
- How to make Chipotle Chicken Kabobs
- Quick Honey Garlic Chicken Tenderloins
- 5 Minute Chicken Caesar Salad
Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 12-16 chicken tenderloins
- 4 cups cornflakes
- 1 cup olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
Instructions
- In a food processor or blender, add the cornflakes, garlic powder, onion powder, and seasoning salt.
- Crush the cornflakes on pulse a few times, but don't process them until they're dust.
- Dip each chicken tenderloin in the olive oil, then immediately roll in the crushed cornflakes.
- Fit as many chicken tenderloins as you can in the air fryer, so they are not touching.
- Cook for 10-11 minutes on 400 F degrees.
- Check temperature is above 165 F degrees and remove from air fryer.
- You'll most likely need to cook these in 2-3 batches.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
12Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 292Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 176mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 0gSugar: 1gProtein: 19g
Any nutritional information on thetiptoefairy.com should only be used as a general guideline. This information is provided as a courtesy and there is no guarantee that the information will be completely accurate.
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