Easy Keto Ranch Marinated Chicken Tenders – Air Fryer Friendly!

These easy keto chicken tenders are so yummy, you’re family won’t even know they’re keto!

I don’t know about you, but I’m lazy. I’ll be honest, if I have to do something, and it requires a bunch of steps, I’ll probably do that thing… Like, once…

Making chicken tenders used to be one of those dreaded multi-step activities. I had to cut them into chicken tenders, coat in flour, then egg, AND then bread crumbs. AND have way too many dirty dishes in the end. Yeah, that was a once a year activity.

If you are one of those rule-following foodies, then you should probably just get out. This recipe screams simplicity. In all reality though, I think you should give ’em a chance. (But then again, I’m biased…)

Anyways, if you are someone who loves shortcuts, breaking the rules, and being lazy, then you should definitely stick around. These easy keto chicken tenders (and probably most of my recipes) are made for you!

Life is short so lets get right to it…

Easy Keto Chicken Tenders Recipe

The ingredients…

• 1 lb raw chicken breast, cut into tenders. OR pre-cut chicken tenderloins.
• 1 cup pork rind, ground.
• 1/2 c low-carb ranch dressing (I typically just mix up some Hidden Valley mix with sour cream).
• Sauce for dipping, such as Primal Kitchen’s barbecue or ketchup.

If you are new to the world of keto cooking the pork rinds need to be ground. You can purchase ground pork rinds on Amazon. OR you can grind them yourself using a food processor. The food processor is my preferred option. It’s cheaper in the long run, and I generally just get a few bags from the store and grind a bunch on meal prep days. This is the food processor I have used for years. I’ve probably used it over a thousand times by now and I couldn’t say enough good things about it. It is super heavy-duty, and I love that I can throw everything in the dishwasher (except the motor, obviously).

If your looking for a few more yummy keto recipes using ground pork rinds check these out:

• Keto Chicken Cordon Bleu
• Giant Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs

The recipe…

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. (unless using an air fryer)
2. Cut chicken breast into “tender” like slices, about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Place in a freezer bag and marinate the chicken in 1/2 c ranch for at least 30 minutes, and no longer than 1 day.
4. Lightly spray baking sheet with cooking spray.
5. Put 1/4 cup ground pork rinds on a large plate.
6. Cover each chicken tender thoroughly in pork rinds.
7. Transfer coated chicken onto a baking sheet.
8. Keep repeating the above two steps until all chicken is coated in pork rinds. Add more ground pork rinds to the plate, as needed.
9. Bake for 12-18 minutes, or until cooked (165 F).
10. Air fryer method only: add chicken to air fryer instead of a baking sheet, move the setting to “chicken” (360 degrees Fahrenheit), and cook 12-15 minutes. To ensure even cooking, make sure the tenders are not stacked. You may need to do multiple batches, depending on the size of your fryer.

Closing Advice

This easy keto chicken tender recipe is VERY high in protein, and low in fat. If you’re doing keto, you may need to pair this meal with more fat. A side salad with avocado and fatty dressing goes great!

What do you think about this recipe? Let me know in the comments below! ♥