Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Fingers: Quick, Crispy, And Delicious!

Cooking frozen chicken fingers in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a tasty snack or meal. It's a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as it uses less oil, and it's faster than waiting for a table at a restaurant or cooking chicken fingers in the oven. Air-fried chicken fingers can be ready in as little as 12 minutes, and you can serve them with a variety of sauces and sides, making them a versatile option for any occasion.

Cooking Frozen Chicken Fingers in an Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. While some recipes and air fryer instructions may suggest otherwise, preheating your air fryer will help you cook your chicken fingers more evenly. This means you'll achieve the perfect level of crispiness on the outside, while ensuring the meat is cooked thoroughly on the inside.

To preheat your air fryer, start by setting the temperature to between 360°F and 400°F (180°C) and 200°C. The exact temperature may depend on your air fryer model and personal preference, but a higher temperature is generally recommended for crispier results. Once you've set the temperature, let the air fryer run for about 5 minutes to heat up.

During this preheating process, you can prepare your chicken fingers. If desired, you can lightly spray or brush the chicken fingers with a high-quality cooking oil, such as avocado oil, to promote even browning and crispiness. You can also season the chicken fingers with salt and pepper or any other desired seasonings.

After preheating, carefully place the chicken fingers into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. Overlapping pieces may prevent hot air from circulating properly and could lead to uneven cooking. Once the chicken fingers are in the air fryer, you can proceed with the cooking process, following the timing guidelines provided in other sections of this guide.

Oil and season the chicken fingers

To make juicy and crispy chicken fingers in an air fryer, you'll want to start by seasoning the chicken. The most basic seasoning is salt and pepper, but you can also experiment with different seasonings like garlic powder, paprika, onion powder, rosemary, thyme, or oregano. For a kick of heat, you can also add cayenne pepper. Don't be afraid to get creative and mix different seasonings to find your perfect blend.

Once you've seasoned the chicken, it's time to bread them. Start by dredging the chicken strips in flour, then dip them in a beaten egg, and finally, coat them with breadcrumbs or a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and seasonings. You can also add some flavour to the flour by mixing in your chosen seasonings. This will ensure that every bite of your chicken fingers is packed with flavour.

After breading, the key to achieving that perfect crispy texture is to coat the chicken fingers with a thin layer of oil or cooking spray. This helps the chicken cook evenly and prevents sticking. Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as canola or avocado oil, for best results. You can also use olive oil or a similar cooking spray, but be sure to avoid cooking sprays like PAM, which can ruin the air fryer's non-stick lining.

Finally, it's essential to preheat your air fryer. Let it heat up for a few minutes before adding your chicken fingers. This ensures that the air inside is hot enough to create that sought-after crispy exterior.

Arrange the chicken fingers in the air fryer basket

When arranging chicken fingers in the air fryer basket, it's important to ensure they are in a single layer and not overlapping. This allows the hot air to circulate freely and evenly cook the chicken fingers, resulting in that desired crispiness. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken fingers in batches to avoid overcrowding the basket.

It is recommended to preheat your air fryer to ensure even cooking and that signature crispy texture. Preheat your air fryer to between 360 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit (180 to 200 degrees Celsius). Five minutes of preheating should be sufficient.

Once preheated, carefully place the frozen chicken fingers into the basket. Make sure there is a bit of space between each piece to allow for proper air circulation. You can spray the chicken fingers with a light coating of cooking oil, such as avocado oil or olive oil, to enhance crispness and prevent sticking. However, this step is optional, and you can choose to omit it if you prefer.

If you're using thicker or larger chicken fingers, you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly. Thicker chicken fingers may require a longer cooking time, while thinner ones might cook faster. Remember, the key to achieving that perfect crispiness is to ensure proper air circulation and even cooking.

Cook for 8-18 minutes

Cooking frozen chicken fingers in an air fryer is a quick and simple process. It's a great way to make a tasty snack or meal in under 15 minutes. You can use either raw or pre-cooked frozen chicken fingers, and there's no need to thaw them first.

To get started, preheat your air fryer to between 360 and 400°F (180-200°C). Some sources recommend preheating to 375 or 380°F (199°C). Preheating ensures your chicken fingers cook evenly, resulting in a crisp exterior and tender meat inside. Once preheated, place your frozen chicken fingers in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap. This is important because the hot air needs to circulate freely to cook the chicken fingers evenly.

Now, you're ready to cook your frozen chicken fingers. The cooking time will depend on the size and thickness of the chicken fingers and whether they are pre-cooked or uncooked. For pre-cooked chicken fingers, cook for 8-12 minutes. Thin chicken fingers will take closer to 8 minutes, while thicker or bigger ones will take 10-12 minutes. If your chicken fingers are uncooked, they will need a longer cooking time of 22-28 minutes.

During the cooking process, you may need to flip your chicken fingers to ensure even cooking. For pre-cooked chicken fingers, flip them halfway through the cooking time. For uncooked chicken fingers, you can flip them once after the initial 22-28 minutes of cooking, and then continue cooking until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. This will ensure your chicken is thoroughly cooked and safe to eat.

With these simple steps, you can enjoy delicious, crispy chicken fingers straight from your air fryer!

Serve with your favourite sauce

There are many sauces that you can serve with your air-fried chicken fingers. You can opt for a classic side of frozen fries or choose healthier options like salad, green beans, slaw, or broccoli.

If you're looking for a dipping sauce, you can go for BBQ, honey mustard, or ranch. Mayonnaise is also a great option, and you can even get creative with flavoured mayo, like chipotle mayo. Ketchup is always a simple and classic option, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can make your own homemade fry sauce.

Chicken fingers are also great in sandwiches and wraps, or as a topping for simple pasta dishes. You can also slice them up and put them on a salad for some extra protein.

If you're cooking for kids, chicken fingers are a great option. They can be a fun and tasty way to get your children involved in the kitchen, and they'll love dipping their chicken fingers in their favourite sauces.

Frequently asked questions