Air Fryer Chicken Pickle Tenders (with Pickle Sauce!)

Well, I've done it. I've created my new favorite meal/snack/appetizer. These Air Fryer Chicken Pickle Tenders are amazing! There was only one problem, I didn't make enough for my family. I will most definitely make a double batch for my hungry clan next time. A fight almost broke out for the last few!

These chicken pickle tenders look pretty, but trust me when I say they are very easy to assemble (and even prep ahead). Just four ingredients make them stand out in the crowd. Bacon, chicken tenders, dill pickles and bbq seasoning (I use my favorite Cookies BBQ Flavor Enhancer - but any favorite will do). You don't even need a toothpick to hold it all together! Just wrap up and tuck that bacon underneath. I promise it works. If you love bacon, chicken and dill pickles you will love this one.

I choose to make these in the air fryer - well, because I love using my air fryer! It gets anything I put in there nice and crispy without the use of any added oil. Depending on the size of your air fryer will depend on how many tenders you can fit in at a time. I just recommend keeping space in between each tender so the air can circulate and cook all areas evenly. I air fry these at 360 degrees for 15 minutes, flipping half way through the cooking process. It works perfect every time.

I cooked these in batches during the day and then placed them lined up in a baking dish to hold them till dinner. To reheat simply place the baking dish in a cold oven, set the oven to 350 degrees and once it's pre-heated they are most often nice and warm. Or of course you can eat them fresh as they come out of the air fryer! The barbecue seasoning gives the chicken incredible flavor (don't be stingy - rub it all over). The dill pickle gives it an extra tang and the bacon brings it all together.

And can we chat about my homemade pickle sauce? DON'T SKIMP ON THIS SAUCE. If you are thinking 'oh, I'll just dip mine in ranch', quickly erase that thought and take the 2 minutes to stir together this dipping sauce. Mayo, ketchup, dill pickle relish, garlic, vinegar, lemon juice and many seasonings give this sauce a puckering bite. I wanted to swim in it.

These chicken pickle tenders are great for parties, potlucks or just dinner! I served them over rice to fill out the meal a bit and every single family member loved them. Again, you can also prep them up to a day ahead and keep them covered in the fridge. If you have kids in sports like we do, you could easily air fry a few up for a pre-practice protein snack. I'm sure your kiddos would approve.

I cannot wait to hear your thoughts on these! Will they become your new go-to appetizer? Dinner? You tell me. Make them and leave a quick star rating review on the below recipe card.