These air fryer chicken mini fillets (no breading) are juicy, flavorful and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, or to serve up as a fun appetizer! They come together in less than 20 minutes and use just a handful of ingredients.
While chicken mini fillets are typically found in the UK, my US readers can easily follow this recipe using chicken tenders in the air fryer too!
Much like my air fryer chicken bites, this recipe is both delicious and adaptable! Serve up these air fried chicken mini fillets without breading with hot veggies and sides or leave to cool and enjoy as a summer dinner with fresh salads.
We coat the chicken tenders with fragrant sweet paprika, garlic and herbs for so much flavor, just as I do in my air fryer boneless skinless chicken thighs and air fryer chicken and vegetables recipes. It's a delicious combination and such a tried and tested seasoning blend in my home!
Jump to:
⭐ Why this recipe is so good
Uses chicken mini fillets or chicken tenders. I suggest to use already-prepared for quickness if that works for you. Or you can make chicken strips by slicing boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Easy to find ingredients. You may already have them in the fridge and pantry, or they're simple to find at the store.
Quick weeknight dinner. It takes less than 20 minutes to prep and air fry the chicken mini fillets.
🐓 Ingredients
All the ingredients and their quantities are set out in the recipe card below.
Some notes on a few of them:
- Chicken mini fillets - for my UK readers, these are smaller cuts of chicken breast that are easy to find in stores. My US readers can also use chicken tenders for this recipe (they can also be known as chicken strips).
- Paprika - I suggest to use sweet paprika if you're a low histamine reader as it scores 0 on the SIGHI list. Hot or smoked paprika can also be used, if those work for you (they score higher on the SIGHI list).
- Olive oil - don't skip this! It helps brown the chicken and prevent it from sticking to the air fryer basket.
📖 Swaps and variations
You can easily swap the dried thyme for Italian seasoning, dried oregano or other herb. Dried onion powder can also be used, if tolerated.
🔪 Step by step instructions
It's so easy to make these chicken tenders or chicken mini fillets in the air fryer, and we add herbs, spice and garlic for lots of flavor.
All the instructions are in the recipe card below, but these step by step photos should help guide you.
Step 1: Prep the chicken mini fillets
After preheating the air fryer, pat the chicken mini fillets (or chicken tenders) dry with paper towel and then add to a bowl. Drizzle over the olive oil, and sprinkle on the sweet paprika, dried thyme, salt and optional black pepper (image 1).
Step 2: Coat the chicken
With either your hands or a large wooden spoon, coat the chicken in the seasonings. Make sure each mini fillet is evenly coated in the herbs and spice! (image 2).
Step 3: Add to the air fryer basket
Use tongs to transfer the mini chicken fillets to your air fryer basket (don't use hands, as the basket will be hot!). Make sure they are in a single layer and with a little space between them to allow the air to circulate and evenly cook the chicken (image 3).
Step 4: Air fry the chicken fillets
Air fry the chicken mini fillets for 10-12 minutes at 190C / 375F, using tongs to flip the chicken halfway through the cook time (image 4). The chicken should have an internal temperature of 74C / 165F using a meat thermometer at the deepest point. Cook for a few more minutes, if required.
💭 Recipe tips and notes
- Don't skip the oil! This prevents the chicken from sticking to the air fryer basket, and helps with browning too.
- Give them a little space! Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket by having the chicken fillets in a single layer, with a little space between them. If needed, cook them in batches or if you have a dual basket air fryer like I do, then use both baskets.
- Don't cook for too long. If you overcook the chicken tenders they will be dry rather than juicy, and we don't want that!
- The cook time will vary slightly depending upon the size of the mini chicken fillets or chicken tenders. Using a meat thermometer will ensure safe cooking of the chicken.
📋 Frequently asked questions
It takes 10-12 minutes to air fry chicken mini fillets, but ensure that you check they reach an internal temperature of 74C / 165F using a meat thermometer for safe cooking.
If you're using chicken tenders then it is usually recommended to remove the white tendon before cooking them.
Yes, it's very easy to freeze the chicken fillets. Simply allow to cool completely, than transfer to a freezer-safe container. They can be frozen for 3 months, but my low histamine readers may like to see the SIGHI advice on freezing food.
🍽 How to serve
You can enjoy the chicken mini fillets hot or cold, for dinner or as an appetizer, and so with a variety of side dishes:
- Appetizer - serve with a dipping sauce and perhaps some celery, carrots, cucumber and coleslaw for game day or as party food!
- Summer dinner - I suggest to pair with fresh salads such as my apple cucumber salad or my cucumber pomegranate salad, and with some potato salad or a rice salad.
- Winter meal - for an all-air fryer meal, serve with my air fryer Tenderstem broccoli, air fryer lettuce or air fryer baby carrots.
🥣 More air fryer protein recipes
There are so many air fryer protein recipes here to choose from, including my air fryer stuffed chicken breast and air fryer frozen cod, as well as these recipes:
I'm always in the kitchen, so come join me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest to be the first to hear of new recipes! And I love to hear from you - so please do leave a star rating ⭐⭐⭐ and comment if you've tried the recipe!
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Chicken Mini Fillets
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 chicken mini fillets or chicken tenders
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon paprika*
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch salt
- pinch black pepper optional
Instructions
- Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes at 190C / 375F.
- Pat the chicken mini fillets dry with paper towel, then add to a bowl. Drizzle on the olive oil, and sprinkle over sweet paprika, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and black pepper (if using). Use your hands to evenly coat the chicken in the herbs and spices.
- Use tongs to add the chicken mini fillets to your air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little space between them to allow for the air to circulate and evenly cook the chicken. Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 190C / 375F, using tongs to flip the chicken halfway through the cook time.
- Check for an internal temperature at the deepest point of the chicken of 74C / 165F using a meat thermometer. Air fry for a few more minutes, if required.
Notes
- Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket - leave a little space between the chicken mini fillets so the air can circulate.
- Sweet paprika scores 0 on the SIGHI list if you're a low histamine reader. Hot or smoked paprika are higher histamine per that list.
- If using chicken tenderloins, you would want to remove the white tendon before you season and cook the chicken.
- Cook time will vary slightly depending upon the size of the chicken strips, so add a few more minutes for larger pieces.
- Nutritional information is auto-generated and should be understood to be an estimate.
- garlic, which scores 1 with a note, 'In small amounts, usually well tolerated after cooking'.
- black pepper, which scores 2 with a note, 'Small amounts are tolerated'.
Comments
No Comments