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

Chicken strips are a great, easy meal to make in an air fryer. They're perfect for a weeknight dinner and can be made in big batches to freeze for later. The best part is that they're healthier than deep-fried chicken strips, but still come out crispy and juicy. You can use chicken tenderloins or cut chicken breasts into strips. The key to getting them crispy is to coat them in a wet batter and then a dry breading before air frying. You can use a variety of seasonings and spices to customize the flavor to your liking.

Chicken tender preparation

Chicken tenders are a tasty, juicy, and easy-to-make meal that can be prepared in an air fryer. Here is a detailed guide on how to make delicious chicken tenders.

Ingredients

You will need the following ingredients:

• Chicken tenders or chicken breasts cut into strips
• Breadcrumbs (Panko is recommended for extra crunch)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Garlic powder
• Eggs (large or beaten)
• All-purpose flour
• Olive oil or a neutral oil spray
• Spices/seasonings of your choice (e.g. paprika, onion powder, cayenne pepper)

Step-by-Step Process:

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Start by preheating your air fryer to 400°F. This is an important step to ensure the chicken cooks evenly and gets crispy.

Step 2: Prepare the Chicken

If using chicken breasts, cut them into strips or tenders. Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and toss to coat evenly.

Step 3: Season the Chicken

In a small bowl, mix your chosen spices and seasonings. Sprinkle the seasoning mixture evenly over the chicken tenders, ensuring each piece is well-coated. You can also add salt and pepper to taste.

Step 4: Bread the Chicken (Optional)

If you want a crispy coating on your chicken tenders, set up a breading station. Prepare three shallow plates. On the first plate, mix the breadcrumbs with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Beat the eggs in the second plate, and put flour on the third plate.

Now, coat each chicken tender with flour, then dip it in the beaten egg, and finally, coat it with the breadcrumb mixture. Place the breaded tenders on a cutting board or baking tray.

Step 5: Air Fry the Chicken

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket, making sure they don't overlap. Lightly spray the tops of the tenders with more cooking spray or oil.

Step 6: Cook the Chicken

Cook the chicken tenders in the preheated air fryer for about 10-12 minutes. For extra crispiness, flip the tenders halfway through the cooking process and give them another light spray of oil.

The cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of the chicken tenders. Ensure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F to make sure it's cooked through.

Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!

Your chicken tenders are now ready to be served! You can pair them with a variety of dipping sauces, such as ranch, honey mustard, BBQ sauce, or ketchup. Enjoy your juicy and crispy homemade chicken tenders!

Tips:

• Always preheat your air fryer to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• If breading the chicken, use a fork or your hands to press the breadcrumbs into the chicken gently. This ensures the breading sticks and there are no bald spots.
• Let the chicken rest for a few minutes after breading and before air frying to help the breading adhere better.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the tenders in batches if needed to ensure even cooking and crispiness.
• Reheat any leftovers in a preheated air fryer at 350°F for about 3-5 minutes.

Breading the chicken

Step 1: Prepare the Dredge

Begin by setting up your breading station. Grab three shallow plates or bowls. In the first plate, combine your dry ingredients: breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, and any additional seasonings or spices you wish to include. You can be creative and experiment with different spices like chili powder, Italian seasoning, or even a cajun mix! In the second plate, beat a couple of eggs. The eggs will act as a binding agent for the breadcrumbs. The third plate should contain flour, which will help create a crispy exterior and ensure the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken.

Step 2: Dredge the Chicken Strips

Now it's time to coat your chicken strips with the delicious breading! Start by coating each chicken strip lightly with flour. Shake off any excess flour, then dip the floured chicken strip into the beaten egg, ensuring it's completely coated. Finally, roll the egged chicken strip in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing down gently to ensure the breadcrumbs adhere well. Repeat this process for each chicken strip.

Step 3: Spray with Oil

Once all your chicken strips are breaded, it's time to give them a light spritz of cooking oil. This step is essential, as it helps the breadcrumbs crisp up and turn golden during the air frying process. Use an oil spray or a brush to lightly coat both sides of the breaded chicken strips.

Step 4: Air Fry to Perfection

Now, it's time to cook your chicken strips in the air fryer! Place the breaded chicken strips in the air fryer basket, making sure they are in a single layer with some space between them to ensure even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches. Air fry the chicken strips at around 400°F for about 8-10 minutes on each side, or until they are golden brown and cooked through. Be sure to flip them halfway through the cooking process to ensure even browning.

Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken Strips:

• Use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken strips to an even thickness before breading. This will help them cook more evenly and ensure a crispier exterior.
• For an extra crispy coating, double-dip your chicken strips in the egg and breadcrumb mixture.
• Don't overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook the chicken strips in batches if needed to ensure proper airflow and even cooking.
• If you're making a large batch, preheat your oven to 350°F and keep the cooked chicken strips warm in the oven while you cook the remaining batches.

Air-frying the chicken

Once you have your chicken strips, pat them dry with paper towels and place them in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle olive oil over the chicken and toss the bowl to ensure the strips are fully coated. Next, mix your chosen seasonings in a small bowl and sprinkle this over the chicken, ensuring an even coating.

Now your air fryer should be ready. Place the chicken strips inside in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded. Mist the tops of the tenders with cooking spray and cook for 8 minutes. Flip the chicken and mist again with cooking spray, then cook for another 7-8 minutes. Check that the chicken is cooked through and crispy and golden on the outside. You can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which should be 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the chicken in batches to ensure they cook evenly.

Chicken tender alternatives

If you're looking for alternatives to chicken tenders, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here are some ideas for chicken tender alternatives that you can make in an air fryer:

• Buffalo Chicken Tenders: If you're a fan of spicy food, buffalo chicken tenders are a great option. You can make them in the air fryer by coating chicken tenders in a buffalo sauce of your choice.
• Fried Chicken Tenders: For a more indulgent option, you can fry chicken tenders in oil before air-frying them. This will give them a crispy texture.
• Panko Chicken Tenders: Coating chicken tenders in panko breadcrumbs before air-frying is another way to add a crispy texture. You can season the panko breadcrumbs with your favourite herbs and spices.
• Frozen Chicken Tenders: If you're short on time, you can cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer. Pre-cooked frozen tenders from the store can be cooked in the air fryer at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12 minutes.
• Chicken Breasts: Instead of using chicken tenders, you can cut chicken breasts into thin strips and follow the same air-frying instructions. This is a good option if you have chicken breasts on hand.
• Chicken Parmesan: For an Italian-inspired option, you can make chicken parmesan in the air fryer. Simply bread chicken tenders or breasts and top them with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese before air-frying.
• Chicken Cordon Bleu: Another delicious option is to make chicken cordon bleu in the air fryer. This involves stuffing chicken tenders or breasts with ham and cheese before breading and air-frying them.

These are just a few ideas for chicken tender alternatives that you can make in an air fryer. With a little creativity, you can adapt many different recipes to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.

Chicken tender sauces

Zaxby's Chicken Fingers Dipping Sauce

This sauce is a great alternative to traditional BBQ sauce. It is spicy and creamy and goes well with fried chicken, chicken fingers, and sandwiches. You can make this sauce at home by whisking together mayonnaise, ketchup, garlic powder, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper.

Raising Cane's Sauce

This sauce is another great option for chicken tenders. It is tangy and slightly spicy and can also be used as a dip for fries, sweet potato fries, or onion rings. To make this sauce, whisk together mayonnaise, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, garlic powder, seasoned salt, and black pepper.

Honey Mustard Sauce

A simple honey mustard sauce is a classic option for chicken tenders. You can make this sauce by combining honey and mustard in a bowl and whisking until smooth.

Ranch

A simple ranch dressing can be a great option for dipping your chicken tenders. You can make your own ranch dressing by combining buttermilk, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, parsley, dill, and chives.

BBQ Sauce

A classic BBQ sauce is always a good option for chicken tenders. You can make your own BBQ sauce by combining ketchup, vinegar, molasses, brown sugar, and spices.

Asian Dipping Sauce

An Asian-inspired dipping sauce can be a nice change of pace from the typical sauces. You can make this sauce by combining soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil.

Frequently asked questions