Description
These Air Fryer Cracker Barrel Chicken Tenderloins are a healthier, quick, and flavorful alternative to deep-fried chicken tenders. The chicken is marinated in a mixture of Italian dressing, honey, lime juice, and garlic, then air-fried to a crispy, golden perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins
- 1/2 cup Italian dressing
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 teaspoons lime juice, fresh squeezed
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together Italian dressing, minced garlic, honey, lime juice, salt, and pepper until combined.
- Add the chicken tenderloins to the bowl and mix to coat them thoroughly in the marinade.
- Cover the bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes to 1 hour for optimal flavor.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and lightly spray the air fryer basket with olive oil.
- Place the marinated chicken tenderloins in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don’t touch each other.
- Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
- Once done, remove the chicken from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- For best results, do not marinate the chicken for more than 1-2 hours as lime juice can start to break down the chicken.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook the chicken in batches if necessary to ensure even cooking.
- If you’re using a different air fryer model, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (4 tenderloins)
- Calories: 218 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 714mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0.03g
- Carbohydrates: 8g
- Fiber: 0.1g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 73mg