Air Fryer Chicken Strips are tender, juicy and crispy. Made with just a few ingredients and seasoned to perfection, this crunchy chicken dish is perfect when served with your favorite dipping sauces!
Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Everyone loves a good chicken recipe, and when crispy, juicy, tender and flavorful chicken is involved, it’s love at first bite.
This air fryer chicken tenders recipe just might be my new favorite. I adapted it slightly from these baked chicken tenders and I couldn’t be happier with the results.
It reminds me of my childhood. After all, chicken nuggets were practically a staple growing up! But, now that I’m an adult, these air fryer chicken tenders with buttermilk are everything a tender should be:
- Flavorful
- Tender
- Juicy
- Ultra-crispy
And easy…so easy! Like most of my recipes, these tenders are a breeze to whip up. A few ingredients, a little time in the air fryer, and dinner is ready to be devoured. I like to serve these chicken pieces with bbq sauce, buffalo sauce, or honey mustard.
Ingredients in Air Fryer Chicken Strips:
- All-purpose flour
- Seasoning salt
- Eggs
- Buttermilk
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Seasonings: garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley, salt, pepper
- Chicken tenders
How to Make Crispy Chicken Tenders:
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Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line with air fryer parchment paper.
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In a large plate or pie dish, mix flour and seasoning salt. In another shallow dish, whisk eggs and buttermilk. In a third shallow dish, combine panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Stir thoroughly.
-
Coat chicken tenderloin on both sides with the flour mixture; then dunk into the buttermilk egg mixture, coating both sides; and finally, into the bread crumb mixture, coating each side. Repeat with rest of tenderloins and place onto a a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
-
Add the chicken tenders in a single layer in bottom of basket, being careful not to overlap. Lightly spray tops of each tender with cooking spray.
-
Cook for 5 minutes, then remove basket and flip each tender over. Continue to cook for an additional 6-7 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Repeat with rest of chicken tenders, working in batches. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Can You Put Frozen Chicken in the Air Fryer?
Yes! If you forget to defrost the chicken, you can air fry the chicken strips. You may need to add 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
How to Store Leftovers:
Let chicken cool to room temperature and then store in an airtight container or ziploc bag for up to four days.
How to Reheat Leftovers:
To keep the chicken crispy, you can reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 8-10 minutes, or until warmed through.
Can I Freeze this Recipe?
Absolutely! Let cool to room temperature and then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
What to Serve with Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Tenders:
These air fryer chicken tenders with flour make a delicious appetizer or main dish! I like to serve them with:
- Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries
- Roasted Garlic Cauliflower
- Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes
- Roasted Aparagus and Peas
- Baked Cheesy Cauliflower
Tips for Making the Best Breaded Air Fryer Chicken Strips:
- Be sure to preheat your air fryer so the chicken quicks evenly and quickly.
- Before cooking, lightly spray the top of each tender with cooking spray. This will help them retain the crispiness and brown evenly.
- You may need to cook in batches, depending on how many tenders you have. This is necessary, as you want the chicken to crisp on all sides and the air to circulate evenly.
- Flip the air fryer chicken tenderloins halfway through cooking. This will ensure that both sides are crisp.
- If you’re looking for easy clean-up, use air fryer parchment paper or lightly grease the basket with cooking spray.
Looking for More Chicken Recipes? I’ve Got You Covered!
- Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Pasta
- Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken
- Creamy Tuscan Chicken
- Chicken and Noodle Casserole
- Honey Garlic Chicken Legs
- Easy Teriyaki Chicken
Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Ingredients
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon seasoning salt
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
- ¼ cup buttermilk
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- ¾ teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 12 chicken tenders (about 1¼ pounds)
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or line with air fryer parchment paper.
- In a large plate or pie dish, mix flour and seasoning salt. In another shallow dish, whisk eggs and buttermilk. In a third shallow dish, combine panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, paprika, dried parsley, salt and pepper. Stir thoroughly.
- Coat chicken tenderloin on both sides with the flour mixture; then dunk into the buttermilk mixture, coating both sides; and finally, into the bread crumb mixture, coating each side. Repeat with rest of tenderloins and place onto a a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
- Add the chicken tenders in a single layer in bottom of basket, being careful not to overlap. Lightly spray tops of each tender with cooking spray.
- Cook for 5 minutes, then remove basket and flip each tender over. Continue to cook for an additional 6-7 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Repeat with rest of chicken tenders, working in batches. Serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Recipe was tested using my 5.8 quart Air Fryer.
- Chicken strips will last in an airtight container or ziploc bag in the refrigerator for up to four days.
- See my tips and tricks for making these Air Fryer Chicken Strips above the recipe box.
- Lightly adapted from my Easy Baked Chicken Tenders.
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