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

Cooking chicken strips in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a weeknight meal. It's a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides, sauces, and salads. The cooking time is short, and the preparation is minimal, making it a convenient option for those short on time. The air fryer's ability to produce crispy results with less oil is a key advantage, and the customisation options are endless.

How do I cook chicken strips in an air fryer?

Chicken preparation and cutting

To begin, select your chicken. You can use chicken tenderloin cuts, which are commonly used for chicken tenders, or opt for organic chicken breasts and cut them yourself. Buying a whole chicken and cutting it up allows you to have a mix of dark and white meat. If you choose chicken breasts, place them on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice them into uniform strips, about 1 inch thick. Alternatively, cut each breast into 3-4 thin, flat pieces, ensuring they are not bite-sized. Thin chicken strips are essential for even cooking and delicious results.

Before seasoning or marinating, it is a good idea to lightly pound the chicken. Place the chicken breasts on a cutting board, cover them with plastic wrap, and use a rolling pin, meat mallet, or your palm to gently pound them to an even thickness. This technique helps tenderize the meat and ensures more consistent cooking.

Now, you can choose to dry brine or wet brine your chicken. For a dry brine, sprinkle kosher salt all over the chicken and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 day. If you prefer a wet brine, soak the chicken in buttermilk for at least an hour or even overnight. Buttermilk adds tenderness and flavour to the chicken. After brining, pat the chicken dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.

Next, it's time to season your chicken. You can use a variety of spices, such as salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, or Italian seasoning. Combine your chosen spices in a small bowl, and then sprinkle the mixture over the chicken strips, ensuring an even coating. You can also add a bit of brown sugar and cornstarch to enhance the flavour and crispiness. Don't be afraid to coat the chicken generously with the spices for maximum flavour.

Finally, if you want to add a breading, set up a dredging station. In one bowl, whisk an egg, and in another bowl, combine flour with your desired seasonings. You can also use potato starch instead of flour. Dip each chicken strip first in the egg, allowing the excess to drip off, and then coat it with the seasoned flour. Repeat this step for a double breading, or proceed to cook your chicken strips in the air fryer for a single breading.

Air fryer temperature and timing

The temperature and timing for cooking chicken strips in an air fryer depend on the brand and size of your air fryer, as well as the thickness of the chicken strips.

As a general rule, preheat your air fryer to 380-400°F (190-200°C). Some sources recommend preheating to 450°F (230°C) if your air fryer has this setting.

For frozen chicken strips, cook at 350°F for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through.

For fresh chicken strips, cook for 8-11 minutes at 380-400°F, flipping halfway through. The chicken strips are done when they are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Depending on your desired level of crispiness, you can adjust the cooking time for an additional 4-6 minutes.

Breading and seasoning

Breading:

Before breading, prepare your chicken strips by cutting them into uniform sizes. You can use chicken tenderloins, chicken breasts, or chicken thighs. Some people prefer to cut their own chicken strips to ensure they fit in the air fryer and are of their desired size.

For the breading process itself, you will need three separate bowls or trays. In the first bowl, place your chosen breading or coating. This could be flour, seasoned flour, or a combination of flour and spices. You can add spices such as paprika, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper to the flour to enhance the flavour. Make sure to mix the spices and flour well.

In the second bowl, beat an egg or two, depending on the quantity of chicken. The egg will act as a binding agent for the breading. You can also add a small amount of oil to the egg to promote browning and crispiness.

In the third bowl, place your chosen breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs are a popular choice due to their coarse texture and ability to create a crispy exterior with less oil. You can also use regular breadcrumbs or a combination of both for a unique texture. If desired, you can season the breadcrumbs with additional spices or herbs, such as Italian seasoning, Cajun seasoning, ranch powder, or chili powder.

Now, you are ready to bread the chicken strips. First, dip each chicken strip into the flour mixture, ensuring it is evenly coated. Shake off any excess flour. Then, dip the floured chicken strip into the egg, allowing the excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken strip with the breadcrumb mixture, again shaking off any excess. Place the breaded chicken strips on a cutting board or baking tray while you bread the remaining pieces.

Seasoning:

Seasoning the chicken strips is an essential step to enhance their flavour. You can season the chicken before breading or after, depending on your preference. If you choose to season before breading, you can add your desired spices to the flour mixture, as mentioned above. This will ensure the spices adhere to the chicken during the breading process.

However, if you prefer a more subtle flavour or want to avoid altering the colour of the breading, you can season the chicken strips after breading. Simply sprinkle your desired spices or herbs over the breaded chicken strips. You can also spray the chicken strips with a mixture of oil and spices before placing them in the air fryer for added flavour and crispness.

Some popular seasoning options include:

• Smoked paprika
• Italian seasoning
• Garlic powder
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cayenne pepper
• Chili pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Parsley

Cooking and serving

First, prepare your chicken strips. You can either buy chicken tenderloins or cut strips from chicken breasts. If you're cutting your own strips, place a raw chicken breast on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to slice it into uniform strips about 1 inch thick. You can get 4-5 strips per breast, and you can cut them in half if you want them shorter.

Next, bread the chicken. Combine flour, paprika, parsley, seasoned salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Beat an egg in a separate bowl. Dredge each chicken strip in the seasoned flour, then dip it in the beaten egg, and then back in the flour. If you want to add breadcrumbs, dip the chicken in the egg first, then coat it with breadcrumbs. You can also add some garlic powder and onion powder to the flour mixture for extra flavor.

Now it's time to cook the chicken. Preheat your air fryer to between 375°F and 400°F (190°C to 200°C). Lightly spritz the air fryer basket with oil, then place the chicken strips in a single layer, making sure they don't touch each other if possible. Spray the tops of the chicken strips with oil and air fry for 8-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken is done when it's golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Finally, serve the chicken strips. They go well with almost anything! Try serving them with a simple vegetable side like roasted broccoli or green beans, or something more indulgent like French fries or sweet potato fries. They're also great on top of a salad or in a wrap or grain bowl. Don't forget to add your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup, mustard, or BBQ sauce, or something more exotic like a sweet and spicy Korean sauce.

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. To reheat, simply pop them back in the air fryer, oven, or skillet until warmed through.

Storing and reheating

To reheat chicken strips in an air fryer, first preheat the air fryer to 350-360°F (182°C). Place the chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each strip to allow hot air to circulate and crisp the chicken. Reheating time will vary depending on the size of the chicken strips and the model of the air fryer, but generally, strips will take around 3-7 minutes to reheat. Breaded chicken strips may take slightly longer than unbreaded strips. Halfway through reheating, flip the strips or shake the basket to ensure even cooking.

To check that the chicken strips have been thoroughly reheated, use an instant-read thermometer to ensure they have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This temperature ensures that any harmful bacteria have been destroyed, making the chicken safe to eat.

Reheating chicken strips in an air fryer is a quick and efficient method that preserves the crispiness of the chicken. It is important not to reheat chicken strips more than once, as this can increase the risk of contamination.

Frequently asked questions