Lori Taylor is the Founder & CEO of The Produce Moms. For ten years she sold fresh produce to over 300 grocery stores throughout the United States, and today she is fully focused on working with the produce supply chain, media, and government to increase fresh produce access & consumption in the US and around the globe.
Walnut-crusted air fryer chicken tenders are easy to make at home and loved by both moms and kids. In twelve quick minutes, you only need three main ingredients to whip up these savory chicken tenders. Serve with our homemade ranch and a side of your favorite veggie for a nutritious, gluten-free, and kid-friendly meal this week!
Ingredients
– California Walnuts – Parmesan cheese – Herbs & spices – Avocado spray
Crunchy Chicken Tenders with Walnuts
Step 1: Lay the walnuts in a single layer. Spread out the walnuts in the air fryer basket so they don’t overlap. If the walnuts are falling through the cracks, use a small oven-safe baking dish, like a cake pan. Put the walnuts in the cake pan and set the pan inside the air fryer basket. Step 2: Toast the walnuts. Toast the whole walnuts in a single layer at 425 ℉ for three minutes. Whole walnuts toast evenly and are easier to transfer to the food processor later.
Crunchy Chicken Tenders with Walnuts
Step 3: Set aside to cool. When the walnuts are done toasting, transfer them to a cutting board or plate. If you use a bowl, the hot air gets trapped and continues to cook the walnuts. Just as walnuts cook evenly in a single layer, they also cool quicker in a single layer, too!
Crunchy Chicken Tenders with Walnuts
Step 4: Pulse the walnuts into breadcrumbs. When the walnuts are cooled, add them to the food processor. Hold the pulse button down for about 30 seconds until it breaks down into a breadcrumb-like consistency. Be careful not to overpulse your toasted walnuts! You’ll end up with walnut butter, which your kids may also love, but not exactly what we’re shooting for this time.
Crunchy Chicken Tenders with Walnuts
Step 5: Season the toasted walnut breadcrumbs. Transfer the walnut breadcrumbs to a mixing bowl. Add the parmesan, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Mix it all together with a fork until the breading mixture is combined.
Crunchy Chicken Tenders with Walnuts
Step 6: Coat the chicken tenders in walnut breadcrumbs. Take each chicken tender and lay it in the breadcrumb mixture. Gently press down so the walnut crust sticks to the chicken. Flip the tender onto the other side and gently press down again to make sure the entire chicken tender is coated with a raw walnut crust.
Crunchy Chicken Tenders with Walnuts
Step 7: Air fry the walnut-crusted chicken tenders. Lay each walnut chicken tender in the air fryer basket in a single layer. It’s best to leave space between the tenders so they cook evenly. Spray each tender with avocado oil cooking spray and air fry at 425℉ for twelve minutes, until lightly brown and done. Serve with dunkable homemade ranch dressing and a side of veggies!