How to Make Ritz Cracker Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

Quick and Easy Ritz Cracker Chicken in the Air Fryer

I can’t wait to share this simple yet delicious air fryer recipe that will take your chicken to the next level! Today, we’re making crispy, golden-brown Ritz Cracker Chicken Tenders in the air fryer. With just a few ingredients and 30 minutes, you’ll have a family-friendly meal guaranteed to be a new favorite!

Simple Ritz Cracker Chicken Ingredients and Supplies

I love this recipe because you don’t need much to make this tasty and crunchy chicken. The best part is that you can substitute this recipe’s herbs and spices with your favorites.

Ingredients

• Chicken tenderloins or breasts cut into strips
• Ritz crackers
• Italian seasoning
• Creole seasoning (homemade instructions below)
• Dried parsley
• Rosemary
• Eggs
• Worcestershire sauce
• Parmesan cheese

Ingredients for Homemade Creole Seasoning

I love the Creole seasoning because it adds a real tasty kick to the chicken. If you don’t have Creole seasoning on hand, you can make your own with these seasonings:

• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Sweet paprika powder
• Smoked paprika
• Dried thyme
• Dried oregano
• Dried basil
• Cayenne pepper
• Salt
• Fresh ground black pepper

How to Make Air Fryer Ritz Cracker Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

Prepare your chicken by slicing them into smaller pieces or strips. The smaller they are, the quicker they will cook.

Step 2: Prepare the Crackers

With the Ritz Crackers in a bag, crush them by hand or with a rolling pin. You can also place them in a food processor and pulse until they resemble a fine powder.

 Step 3: Bread the Chicken

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray.

1. Whisk the eggs and Worcestershire sauce in one shallow bowl.
2. In the second shallow bowl, place the parmesan cheese.
3. In the third, combine the Ritz cracker crumbs with the seasonings and herbs.

Then, take your chicken through each of the bowls, making sure to cover it completely with each of the ingredients. Place the chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket.

Do not overcrowd the basket. I did this in several batches because I didn’t want to overcrowd the air fryer basket.

How Long to Cook Chicken in the Air Fryer?

Step 4: Air Fry

Set the air fryer temperature to 380°F/190°C and cook for 7-8 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F/73.8°C.

Flip the chicken at about 4 minutes or the halfway point. 

Remove the chicken from the air fryer basket and enjoy with a dipping sauce!

Dipping sauces to serve with Ritz Cracker Chicken:

• BBQ Sauce
• Ranch
• Yogurt mixed with more Creole seasoning
• Honey mustard Sauce from this recipe

What to serve with chicken tenderloins:

• Air Fryer Green Beans
• Air Fryer Roasted Potatoes
• Marshmallow Fruit Salad with Vanilla Pudding and Cool Whip
• Cauliflower Broccoli Pea Salad

How to Store Leftovers

Ritz Chicken Tenders are excellent for meal prep! Make a double batch of these and freeze half for another day. They reheat nicely in the air fryer and maintain their crispy texture as if you just made them fresh!

Refrigerator:

• Allow the chicken to cool completely before storing.
• Place leftovers in an airtight container.
• Store in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
• To reheat, use the air fryer at 350°F for 3–5 minutes to keep them crispy.

Freezer:

• Let the chicken cool completely.
• Arrange pieces in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1–2 hours (this prevents them from sticking together).
• Transfer the frozen tenders to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, removing as much air as possible.
• Store in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• To reheat, air fry from frozen at 350°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until heated and crispy.

Final Thoughts

This recipe was a huge hit in our home; the kids are already asking for it again! I love how simple it is to make, and it’s definitely one I’ll be making on repeat. Crispy, flavorful, and so easy—this Ritz Cracker Chicken is a new air fryer favorite in our kitchen! Give it a try, and let me know in the comments if it becomes a favorite in your home, too!

You’ll love more of these easy chicken recipes!

• Tasty and Easy Air Fryer Potato Chip Chicken
• One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies for the Air Fryer or Oven
• The Best Air Fryer Hawaiian Chicken and Coconut Rice
• Copycat Chick-fil-A Chicken Tenders 

Have air fryer questions? I have answers!

• Air Fryer 101
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• FREE Download: Top 18 Air Fryer Tips and get air fryer recipes delivered to your inbox every weekend!
• Air Fryer Buying Guide
• Watch me make Air Fryer meals on the Fabulessly Frugal YouTube Channel for Air Fryer Recipes and Air Fryer tips and tricks!

Air Fryer Ritz Cracker Chicken

Make quick, easy, and delicious chicken tenders in the air fryer with Ritz crackers! You will be surprised to find just how tasty and simple this meal actually is!

4.64 / 5 ( 50 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 6 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 16 minutes minutes

Serves: 5 people

Adjust Servings: 5 people

Equipment

• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 3 pounds Chicken tender cut into pieces
• 2 sleeves Ritz crackers crushed
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon Creole seasoning
• ½ teaspoon dried parsley
• ½ teaspoon rosemary chopped
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 ½ cups Parmesan cheese grated

Optional Homemade Creole Seasoning

• 4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 4 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 tablespoon sweet paprika powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

• Cut the chicken into smaller pieces.
• In a shallow bowl, mix the eggs with the Worcestershire sauce. Set aside.
• Crush the 2 sleeves of the Ritz crackers, place in shallow dish. Add the seasonings and herbs. Mix together until combined.
• Place the parmesan cheese in its own shallow dish.
• Spray the air fryer basket with an avocado oil sprayer. Dip the chicken in the egg, the cheese, the cracker crumbles, and then place in the air fryer basket. Repeat for each piece of chicken. Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
• Spray the tops of the chicken with avocado oil.
• Cook at 380°F/190°C for 7-8 minutes (or until the chicken registers at 165°F/73.8°C), flipping the chicken at the halfway point.
• Remove from the air fryer basket, and repeat for the remaining chicken (I ended up doing 3 batches of chicken). Enjoy with dipping sauce of choice.

Creole Seasoning

• Combine and mix all the ingredients together. It will make about 1/2 cup of seasoning. So, you will have plenty for future Ritz chicken recipes!

Nutrition

Calories: 472kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 72g | Fat: 17g | Sodium: 871mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g