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Pickle Brined Chicken Tenders

Tender chicken strips brined in dill pickle juice and air-fried for a crisp, tangy finish.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time8 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 chicken tenders (about 1.25 pounds total)
  • 1 1/4 cups dill pickle juice plus more if needed to cover
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs (regular or gluten-free)
  • 1/2 cup seasoned panko bread crumbs (regular or gluten-free)
  • olive oil spray for coating

Instructions

  • Place the chicken tenders in a shallow bowl and pour the dill pickle juice over them so they are fully submerged.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours to brine.
  • Remove the tenders from the brine, discard the marinade, and pat the chicken completely dry with paper towels.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole egg, egg white, Kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
  • In a separate shallow dish, combine the seasoned bread crumbs and the seasoned panko.
  • Working one at a time, dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, then press into the breadcrumb mixture until evenly coated. Shake off excess crumbs.
  • Place the breaded tenders on a work surface and generously spray both sides with olive oil spray.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Arrange a single layer of tenders in the basket without overlapping and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.
  • If using a toaster-oven style air fryer, cook about 10 minutes at the same temperature.
  • For oven cooking, preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C). Bake on the lower third of the oven for 8 to 10 minutes, flip the tenders, then bake 6 minutes more until cooked through and crispy.
  • Serve immediately.

Equipment

  • Shallow Bowl
  • Paper Towels
  • Medium Bowl
  • shallow dish for breading
  • Air Fryer
  • baking sheet (for oven option)
  • oven (for oven option)

Notes

  • Ensure chicken is fully submerged in pickle juice for even brining.
  • Pat chicken very dry to help the breading adhere.
  • Work in batches in the air fryer to avoid overcrowding.
  • Use regular or gluten-free crumbs as desired.