Air-Fryer Chicken Strips: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Chicken strips are a great option for a quick and easy meal. They can be made in an air fryer for a healthier version of fried food, without compromising on flavour and crunch. The cooking time will depend on the size of your air fryer, but generally, chicken strips will take around 10-15 minutes to cook at 375-400°F. If you're using frozen chicken strips, you'll need to cook them for a little longer, around 20-25 minutes at 375°F. Breaded chicken strips are a popular option, and you can bread them yourself using a simple flour, egg, and breadcrumb mixture. You can also season the breadcrumbs with spices like paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder for extra flavour.

Characteristics and Values Table for Cooking Chicken Strips in an Air Fryer

How to bread chicken strips for the air fryer

To bread chicken strips for the air fryer, you can use a variety of ingredients, including flour, breadcrumbs, eggs, and spices. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to bread chicken strips:

• Prepare the chicken tenders by cutting raw chicken breasts into uniform strips about 1 inch thick. You can also use chicken tenderloin cuts or pre-cut chicken tenders.
• In one shallow bowl, whisk eggs until beaten. You can also use buttermilk as a substitute for eggs.
• In another shallow bowl, combine dry ingredients such as flour, breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, and spices. Spices can include salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, or any other seasonings you prefer.
• Dip each chicken strip into the egg mixture, ensuring it is fully coated.
• Next, coat the chicken strip with the breadcrumb mixture. Use your hands or tongs to press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken, ensuring an even coating.
• Place the breaded chicken strips on a cutting board or a large dish until you have breaded them all.
• Optionally, you can double-coat the chicken strips by repeating steps 4 and 5 for a thicker breading.
• Spray the breaded chicken strips with cooking spray or olive oil spray. This will help the breading brown and become crispy.

Now, your chicken strips are ready to be cooked in the air fryer! Remember to preheat your air fryer and cook the chicken strips in batches if they don't all fit in a single layer without overlapping. Enjoy your crispy, juicy, and tender air-fried chicken strips!

Air fryer temperature and timing for chicken strips

The temperature and timing for cooking chicken strips in an air fryer depend on whether the chicken is fresh, frozen raw, or precooked frozen, as well as the size of the air fryer.

For fresh chicken strips, preheat the air fryer to 375–400 °F. Place the chicken tenders in the basket in a single layer, ensuring they do not overlap. Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray or oil spray. Air fry for 7–8 minutes, then flip the chicken tenders over and spray with cooking spray or oil spray again. Continue air frying for another 5–8 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. The total cooking time at this temperature should be around 12–15 minutes. The chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 °F.

For frozen raw chicken tenders, air fry at 375 °F for 20–25 minutes. You do not need to defrost them first. Flip the tenders halfway through cooking.

For precooked frozen chicken strips, air fry at 400 °F for 10–15 minutes. Flip halfway through cooking.

How to cook frozen chicken strips in an air fryer

Cooking frozen chicken strips in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a weeknight meal. The best part is that you don't need to thaw the chicken before cooking it.

First, take the desired amount of frozen chicken strips out of the freezer and rinse them under cold running water to wash off any ice. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels.

Next, lightly spray the chicken tenders with oil, such as avocado oil or olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, or other seasonings of your choice.

Now, you are ready to place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket. Make sure the pieces are in a single layer and do not overlap, allowing them to cook evenly. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches.

Set the air fryer temperature to between 350°F and 400°F (160°C to 200°C). The exact temperature may depend on the brand and size of your air fryer, so refer to the manufacturer's instructions.

Cook the chicken tenders for about 10 to 15 minutes, carefully flipping them halfway through to ensure even cooking. The total cooking time may vary depending on the size and brand of your air fryer, as well as the thickness of the chicken strips.

The chicken strips are done when they are golden brown and crispy. To check if they are fully cooked, use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).

Once the chicken strips are cooked to the desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and serve immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as honey mustard or sweet-spicy sauce. Enjoy!

How to cook raw chicken strips in an air fryer

To cook raw chicken strips in an air fryer, you'll first want to prepare the chicken strips by seasoning and breading them. Then, you can place them in the air fryer and cook until they're crispy and golden.

Preparing the chicken strips

First, cut your raw chicken breasts into uniform strips about 1 inch thick. You can also use tenderloin cuts, or cut the chicken into nugget-sized pieces for chicken nuggets.

Next, season the chicken strips. You can season with just salt and pepper, or add additional spices such as paprika, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian seasoning.

Then, prepare your breading station. In one shallow bowl, whisk an egg. In a second shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs with your choice of seasonings. You can use regular breadcrumbs, panko breadcrumbs, or both.

Now, it's time to bread the chicken. Dip each strip first into the egg, then into the breadcrumbs, and place on a cutting board or baking tray. Repeat this process until all your chicken strips are breaded.

Finally, spray the chicken strips on each side with olive oil or avocado oil spray.

Cooking the chicken strips

Preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F. Place the chicken strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. You may need to cook the chicken in batches if your air fryer is on the smaller side.

Cook the chicken strips for 9-11 minutes at 380°F, or 7 minutes at 400°F, flipping them halfway through. They're done when the edges and sides are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

If you're cooking frozen raw chicken strips, increase the cooking time to 20-25 minutes at 375°F, or 12-15 minutes at 400°F.

Serve your chicken strips immediately with your choice of sides, or store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

What to serve with chicken strips cooked in an air fryer

Chicken strips cooked in an air fryer can be served with a variety of side dishes and sauces. Here are some ideas:

Side Dishes

• Salads: Chicken strips can be served on a bed of salad greens, such as a Korean Broccoli Salad, or diced and added as a topping to a salad.
• Wraps: Chicken strips can be wrapped in a tortilla with your choice of vegetables, sauces, and condiments.
• Grain bowls: Chicken strips can be added to a bowl of rice, quinoa, or another grain, along with vegetables and a sauce or dressing.
• Fries: Traditional French fries or sweet potato fries cooked in the air fryer are a classic side dish that pairs well with chicken strips. Tater tots are another similar option.
• Vegetables: Simple vegetables like roasted green beans or broccoli can be a healthy and tasty side dish.
• Pasta: Pastas such as Hawaiian Macaroni Salad or Baked Mac and Cheese can be served as a side dish or a main course alongside chicken strips.

Sauces and Condiments

• Lemon wedges: Squeezing fresh lemon juice over chicken strips adds a tangy and refreshing flavor.
• Asian dipping sauce: An Asian-inspired sauce can add a unique and flavorful twist to your chicken strips.
• Sweet and spicy sauce: A sauce that is both sweet and spicy can complement the crispy texture of the chicken strips.
• Honey mustard sauce: A quick and easy honey mustard sauce can be a great dipping option for chicken strips.
• Ketchup, mustard, and BBQ sauce: These classic condiments are always a safe bet and can be paired with any number of side dishes.

When serving chicken strips cooked in an air fryer, the possibilities are endless! Feel free to get creative and experiment with different flavors and combinations to find your favorite.

Frequently asked questions