How Long To Cook Chicken Tenderloin In The Air Fryer | Time And Temp Chart

Chicken tenderloins are small, lean, and perfect for quick air fryer meals. They cook fast, but the window between juicy and dry can feel narrow. Knowing exactly how long to cook chicken tenderloin in the air fryer, and at what temperature, gives you tender pieces that stay moist inside with a lightly crisp surface.

This guide breaks down air fryer chicken tenderloin cook times by thickness, temperature, and whether the meat is fresh, marinated, breaded, or frozen. You will also see how to check doneness with a thermometer, set up your air fryer basket, and plan timing for weeknight dinners or meal prep. By the end, you can answer how long to cook chicken tenderloin in the air fryer without guessing or cutting into half-cooked meat.

How Long To Cook Chicken Tenderloin In The Air Fryer Time And Temperature

Most boneless, skinless chicken tenderloins cook in the air fryer at 400°F (204°C) in 10–12 minutes. Thinner strips sometimes finish closer to 8–10 minutes, while thicker pieces or breaded tenderloins need 12–14 minutes. No matter which time range you follow, the safe finish line is 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part of each tenderloin.

Use this first table as a quick air fryer chicken tenderloin cooking time chart. It assumes a preheated air fryer and a single, even layer of tenderloins in the basket.

Tenderloin Type	Air Fryer Temp	Approx. Time Range*
Thin fresh tenderloins (½ inch thick)	400°F (204°C)	8–10 minutes
Medium fresh tenderloins (¾ inch thick)	400°F (204°C)	10–12 minutes
Thick fresh tenderloins (1 inch thick)	400°F (204°C)	12–14 minutes
Fresh tenderloins, light marinade	390–400°F (199–204°C)	10–13 minutes
Fresh breaded tenderloins	380–390°F (193–199°C)	12–15 minutes
Frozen raw tenderloins	380–390°F (193–199°C)	14–18 minutes
Frozen fully cooked tenders	360–380°F (182–193°C)	10–12 minutes
Leftover cooked tenderloins (reheat)	350°F (177°C)	4–6 minutes

*Times are guides. Always check that the center of each tenderloin reaches 165°F for safe eating.

So if you wonder how long to cook chicken tenderloin in the air fryer on a busy weeknight, a safe baseline is 10–12 minutes at 400°F with a flip halfway through, plus a quick thermometer check before serving.

Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloin Cook Time By Thickness

Thickness changes air fryer timing more than almost anything else. Two tenderloins from the same pack can finish several minutes apart if one is almost twice as thick. Sorting them by size before cooking gives smoother results and makes the question of how long to cook chicken tenderloin in the air fryer much easier to answer.

Thin Chicken Tenderloins

Thin tenderloins, close to ½ inch thick, cook fast and stay tender when you avoid crowding. Lay them in a single layer with a bit of space between pieces. At 400°F, start checking at the 8-minute mark. If your thermometer reads between 160–163°F, another minute or two usually finishes the job. Let them rest a couple of minutes so juices settle before you slice or serve.

Medium Chicken Tenderloins

Medium pieces, closer to ¾ inch thick, are common in grocery packs. At 400°F, plan for 10–12 minutes with a flip halfway through. These pieces give you a little more forgiveness: they do not dry out as fast as thin strips, but they still cook quicker than full chicken breasts. If the tops brown too quickly, drop the temperature to 380–390°F and extend the time by two minutes.

Thick Chicken Tenderloins Or Small Strips Of Breast

Sometimes stores label small strips of chicken breast as tenderloins, and they can be closer to 1 inch thick. These pieces need patience. Start at 400°F for about 12 minutes, then check the thickest strip. If the core is still under 165°F, add two more minutes and test again. To prevent the surface from drying out while you wait for the center, you can lightly coat the meat with oil or a yogurt-based marinade before cooking.

Other Factors That Change Chicken Tenderloin Air Fryer Time

Thickness is only one part of the story. Marinades, breading, basket load, and air fryer design all nudge cook time up or down. Knowing how each factor behaves helps you adjust with confidence instead of guessing.

Marinades And Seasonings

Oil-based marinades usually have little impact on timing, aside from helping browning. Sugar-heavy sauces or honey glazes brown faster and can darken before the center is cooked through. When using a sweet sauce, lower the air fryer to 380–390°F and give the chicken an extra two minutes or so. Dry rubs behave more like plain seasoning, though salt can help moisture stay in the meat during cooking.

Breading And Coatings

Breaded chicken tenderloins need a touch more time, since the coating adds insulation. Panko or crumb coatings do best around 380–390°F for 12–15 minutes, sprayed lightly with oil so the crust browns. If the breadcrumb layer is thick, test at 12 minutes, then add 2–3 minute bursts until the chicken inside reaches 165°F and the coating feels crisp.

Basket Crowding And Air Flow

Air fryers cook by moving hot air around the food. When the basket is packed, air cannot reach every side, and the batch cooks unevenly. Two small batches usually beat one packed basket in both texture and timing. For even results, leave a fingertip of space between pieces and shake or flip halfway through the cook.

Differences Between Air Fryer Models

Air fryer wattage, basket size, and fan power all affect chicken tenderloin cook times. Compact models with strong fans brown food quickly but can dry the surface if you keep the heat too high for too long. Larger oven-style air fryers often need one or two extra minutes compared with smaller basket units at the same listed temperature. When you try a new appliance, take notes on time and temperature so you can repeat your favorite tenderloin texture next time.

How To Check Doneness And Keep Chicken Safe

The safest way to tell if chicken tenderloins are done is with an instant-read thermometer. Color and juices can mislead you. Chicken that looks white all the way through can still sit under the safe range, while smoked or marinated meat sometimes keeps a faint pink hue even when fully cooked.

Food safety agencies recommend cooking all poultry to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). The official safe temperature chart for chicken lists this number for breasts, tenderloins, legs, and ground meat alike. This temperature is high enough to reduce harmful bacteria while still leaving room for a juicy texture when you avoid long overcooking.

To check chicken tenderloins in the air fryer, slide the thermometer probe into the thickest part of the largest piece. Try to hit the center and avoid the pan or basket surface. If the reading falls between 160–164°F, cook another 1–2 minutes and test again. Once the thickest tenderloin hits 165°F, you can safely remove the basket and let the meat rest for a few minutes.

Rest time matters more than people think. Those few minutes off the heat let juices spread back through the meat instead of running onto the plate with the first cut. Cover the basket loosely with foil or move the tenderloins to a warm plate while you finish side dishes.

Step-By-Step Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloin Method

Here is a simple method you can follow every time, then adjust with your favorite seasonings. It works for most boneless tenderloins and helps you dial in your personal answer to how long to cook chicken tenderloin in the air fryer.

1. Trim And Dry. Pat the tenderloins dry with paper towels. Remove any large bits of fat or tendon on the ends so the pieces cook more evenly.
2. Season. Toss the chicken with oil, salt, pepper, and any dry spices you like. Garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chili powder, and dried herbs all pair well with air fried chicken.
3. Preheat The Air Fryer. Set your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for at least 3–5 minutes. A hot basket helps the surface brown quickly without sticking.
4. Arrange In A Single Layer. Place the seasoned tenderloins in the basket so they do not overlap. Leave a little space between pieces for air flow.
5. Cook And Flip. Air fry for 5–6 minutes, then flip each piece. Cook another 4–6 minutes. Start checking temperature at the shorter end of the range.
6. Check Temperature. Insert a thermometer into the thickest tenderloin. Once it reaches 165°F, pull the basket. If the reading is lower, add 2 minutes and test again.
7. Rest And Serve. Let the chicken rest for 3–5 minutes. Serve with dips, over salad, in wraps, or with your favorite air fried vegetables.

When you repeat this method a few times in the same appliance, you will know whether your own air fryer tends to cook on the faster or slower side of the ranges in this guide. That makes timing second nature instead of a guessing game.

Planning Cook Time For Different Meals

Once you know the basic cook ranges, you can plan air fryer chicken tenderloin timing around the kind of meal you want. Quick lunches, kid-friendly dinners, and batch cooking for the week each work better with slightly different approaches. The next table lays out practical time and temperature ideas for common use cases.

Meal Style	Suggested Time And Temp	Notes
Fast weeknight dinner	10–12 minutes at 400°F	Use medium tenderloins; pair with quick air fried potatoes or broccoli.
Kids’ chicken strips	12–14 minutes at 380–390°F	Light breading keeps the crust gentle; add 1–2 minutes for extra crunch.
Salad or grain bowl topping	9–11 minutes at 390–400°F	Season with herbs and lemon; cool slightly before slicing over greens or rice.
Meal prep for several days	10–12 minutes at 390°F	Cook in two batches so pieces do not crowd; cool quickly and chill in shallow containers.
Frozen raw tenderloins	14–18 minutes at 380–390°F	Break apart any pieces stuck together once they soften, then finish cooking.
Frozen fully cooked tenders	10–12 minutes at 360–380°F	Heat through until crisp outside; check one piece to be sure the center is hot.
Reheating leftovers	4–6 minutes at 350°F	Spray lightly with oil to refresh the surface and prevent dryness.

Use this table as a menu planner as much as a timing guide. When you know roughly how long each meal style takes, it becomes much easier to pair air fryer chicken tenderloins with side dishes that finish around the same time.

Serving Ideas For Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins

Air fried tenderloins work in plenty of dishes beyond simple strips and dip. Toss sliced pieces with pasta and a light cream sauce, tuck them into tacos with slaw and lime, or layer them in sandwiches with lettuce and tomato. Small tenderloins also make quick protein for grain bowls with rice, quinoa, or couscous.

If you plan to use chicken across several meals, season the base batch fairly simply with salt, pepper, garlic, and a gentle spice. You can add different sauces or toppings later so each dish feels fresh without cooking new meat every time.

Final Thoughts On Air Fryer Chicken Tenderloins

Air fryers make it easy to cook chicken tenderloins that stay moist inside while picking up a crisp surface. The core rule is simple: cook to 165°F in the thickest part, and let thickness and coating tell you how long each batch needs. Thin strips often finish in 8–10 minutes at 400°F, medium pieces in about 10–12 minutes, and thicker or breaded tenderloins need a little more time or a slightly lower temperature.

With a thermometer in hand, a preheated basket, and the timing charts above, you can answer how long to cook chicken tenderloin in the air fryer every single time. Adjust for your own appliance, write down the times that give you the texture you like, and air fried chicken will move from guesswork to a simple, repeatable routine.