For The Easiest And Crispiest Air Fryer Chicken, Run To Costco's Frozen Section

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Among the many hacks that will change the way you shop at Costco, stockpiling foods that make for quick and reliable meals is key. Next to purchasing Costco's meal prep secret weapon (pre-pulled rotisserie chicken), there's one other chicken product air fryer fans may want to grab from Costco's frozen meat department: Tyson's Panko Breaded Chicken Breast Tenderloins, which costs only $20.89 for a 5-pound bag.

Each white meat tenderloin is individually coated in Japanese-style bread crumbs to help form a golden-brown crust. Thanks to your air fryer's convection-style heating system, which circulates hot air all around your food as it cooks, a short stint in the basket yields chicken tenders that are deliciously crispy on the outside and perfectly tender on the inside. And it only takes about 20 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, with a shake or flip halfway through, to get perfectly cooked chicken each and every time.

For the best result, avoid overcrowding your fryer basket, as that can lead to unevenly cooked chicken that steams instead of crisps. You can add a spritz of oil for added assurance, but be careful. The emulsifiers in cooking spray can ruin nonstick surfaces like the ones in your air fryer. Instead, buy an oil mister you can fill with your own cooking oil, such as the TrendPlain oil sprayer and dispenser. And don't forget to use a food thermometer to ensure the chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Once you've perfected your cooking method, you can use these popular frozen chicken tenders to make all sorts of meals. For lunch, make a fall-inspired, chicken-topped dinner salad with kale, pecans, and roasted sweet potatoes. They also become an easy weeknight meal if you toss the Tyson tenderloins in one of Chowhound's favorite store-bought Buffalo sauces and pair them with a side of fries and vegetables. Or add some easy protein to turn leftover sides into a full meal by serving them on top of fried rice, macaroni and cheese, or mashed potatoes and mixed vegetables. 

You can also use it as a shortcut to preparing semi-homemade versions of more complicated dishes. To make chicken cordon bleu, top your air-fried tenderloins with sliced ham and Swiss cheese. Or make chicken Parmesan by adding marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil.