Tillie Doyle
If you're looking for a quick, easy, and delicious meal, look no further than air fryer chicken strips. With a crispy exterior and juicy interior, these chicken strips are perfect for a weeknight family dinner. The best part? You can bread them yourself with just a few simple ingredients and an air fryer. So, get your hands on some chicken tenders, eggs, flour, breadcrumbs, and your choice of spices and oils, and you're good to go!
How to cook breaded chicken strips in an air fryer
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken | Chicken tenders or tenderloins |
| Seasoning | Salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper |
| Breading | Panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, flour, potato starch |
| Egg | Beaten egg |
| Oil | Avocado oil, cooking spray, or oil of choice |
| Air fryer temperature | 375-400°F (190-200°C) |
| Cooking time | 7-14 minutes, flipping halfway through |
| Internal temperature | 165-180°F (74-80°C) |
| Serving suggestions | Dipping sauce, honey mustard dressing, salad |
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What You'll Learn
- Chicken preparation: Cut chicken breast into strips or buy pre-cut chicken tenders
- Breading: Combine flour, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Dip chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs
- Cooking: Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place chicken in a single layer, ensuring no pieces overlap. Spray with oil and air fry for 7 minutes on each side
- Serving: Remove chicken from the air fryer and let it cool for 3-5 minutes. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce
- Storing: Store cooked chicken in an airtight container for 2-4 days. Reheat in an air fryer for 5-8 minutes
Chicken preparation: Cut chicken breast into strips or buy pre-cut chicken tenders
Chicken preparation is the first step in making breaded chicken strips in an air fryer. You can either buy pre-cut chicken tenders or cut a boneless, skinless chicken breast into strips. If you're cutting the chicken breast yourself, cut it lengthwise into strips. You can also use chicken tenderloins, which are available at most supermarkets.
If you're looking for the best type of chicken to use, consider air-chilled chicken tenders. Although they are a little more expensive, they are not pre-packed with water. The cheaper varieties are often intentionally filled with water, which increases their weight and, therefore, their price.
Once you have your chicken prepared, you can season it with salt and pepper, or a spice mix of kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
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Breading: Combine flour, paprika, salt and pepper in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat eggs. Dip chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumbs
Breading chicken strips for the air fryer is a simple process, but there are a few steps to follow to ensure the best results. Firstly, prepare three separate bowls for the breading ingredients. In the first bowl, combine plain flour with paprika and a generous pinch of salt and pepper; you can also add other spices like garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne pepper to enhance the flavour. The second bowl should contain beaten eggs, which will act as a binding agent for the breading. You can substitute the eggs with buttermilk if you prefer. In the third bowl, prepare your breadcrumbs. Panko breadcrumbs are a popular choice for air-fried chicken tenders due to their coarse texture and ability to create a crispy exterior with less oil. You can also use a combination of panko and regular breadcrumbs or add some granulated garlic or garlic powder to the mix for extra flavour.
Once your breading station is set up, it's time to start coating the chicken strips. Begin by dredging a chicken strip in the flour mixture, making sure it's evenly coated. Shake off any excess flour, then dip the strip into the egg mixture, ensuring it's completely covered. Allow any excess egg to drip off before moving on to the final step. Finally, coat the chicken strip generously with the breadcrumb mixture, using your hands or a fork to press the breadcrumbs into the chicken and ensure an even coating. Repeat this process for each chicken strip, placing the breaded strips on a plate or a sheet of aluminium foil as you work.
Before air-frying, it's essential to let the breaded chicken strips sit for a minute. This allows the breadcrumbs to adhere fully to the chicken, reducing the risk of them falling off during cooking. You can also freeze the breaded chicken strips at this stage for future use. When you're ready to cook, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and arrange the chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap. Spritz or spray the tops of the chicken strips with oil and cook for 7-8 minutes before flipping them over and cooking for an additional 4-6 minutes. The total cooking time may vary depending on your air fryer model and your desired level of crispiness, so keep an eye on the chicken strips to avoid overcooking.
Once they're golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C), remove the chicken strips from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. This final cooling step helps the coating set and become even crunchier. Serve your air-fried chicken strips with your favourite dipping sauce or use them as a tasty topping for a salad or chicken parmesan. Enjoy!
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Cooking: Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place chicken in a single layer, ensuring no pieces overlap. Spray with oil and air fry for 7 minutes on each side
When you're ready to cook your breaded chicken strips, it's important to preheat your air fryer. Set it to 400°F, and make sure there's a little space between each chicken tenderloin to allow for airflow. This will ensure that all the edges get browned and crispy. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you should be able to fit about four chicken strips in the basket without them touching.
Once your air fryer is preheated, place the chicken in a single layer, ensuring that no pieces overlap. Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking spray or oil until no dry spots appear. This will help to ensure that the breading does not fall off in the air fryer.
Now you're ready to start air-frying. For juicy and golden chicken strips, air fry for 7 minutes on each side. You may need to adjust the cooking time depending on your air fryer model and power, as well as your personal preference for crispiness. After the first 7 minutes, open the air fryer basket and flip the chicken tenders over. Spray the tops with a little additional oil or cooking spray, then air fry for another 4 to 6 minutes.
Your chicken strips are ready when they are golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 165°F. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also check if the chicken is cooked by piercing the thickest part of the strip with a knife. If the juices run clear, the chicken is cooked.
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Serving: Remove chicken from the air fryer and let it cool for 3-5 minutes. Serve with your favourite dipping sauce
Once your chicken strips are golden brown and cooked through, remove them from the air fryer basket and let them cool for 3-5 minutes. This step is important as it allows the chicken to circulate air around it, making the coating even crispier.
You can serve the chicken strips with your favourite dipping sauce. Some popular options include honey mustard sauce, a sweet-spicy sauce, or an Asian dipping sauce. You can also put the chicken strips on top of a salad and drizzle your favourite dressing on top.
If you have any leftovers, transfer them to an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, simply preheat your air fryer to 350°F and air fry for 5-8 minutes until warmed through, flipping the chicken strips halfway through.
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Storing: Store cooked chicken in an airtight container for 2-4 days. Reheat in an air fryer for 5-8 minutes
When it comes to storing your cooked chicken strips, it's important to follow food safety guidelines to maintain their freshness and quality. Here's a detailed guide on storing and reheating your air-fried chicken strips:
Storing Cooked Chicken Strips:
Firstly, ensure your cooked chicken strips are completely cooled down before storing them. Store the chicken strips in an airtight container. Avoid wrapping them directly in foil or plastic wrap, as this can make them soggy. Label the container with the date of storage, so you can keep track of how long they've been stored. Cooked chicken strips can be safely stored in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 days.
Reheating in an Air Fryer:
When you're ready to enjoy your chicken strips again, take them out of the refrigerator. Reheat the chicken strips in the air fryer for a crispy exterior. Preheat your air fryer to around 350-375°F (about 180°C). Place the chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between each strip for even heating. Reheat for 5 to 8 minutes, flipping them halfway through, until they are warmed through and the exterior is crispy and golden.
The exact reheating time may vary depending on the model and power of your air fryer, so keep an eye on the chicken strips to ensure they don't overcook. It's important to ensure that your chicken strips are thoroughly reheated before consuming them. Enjoy your crispy, juicy chicken strips!
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Frequently asked questions
You will need chicken tenders or chicken breasts, eggs, flour, breadcrumbs, and oil for cooking spray. You can also add spices and seasonings of your choice, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and onion powder.
Cut the chicken breasts into strips or purchase pre-cut chicken tenders. You can also buy pre-breaded chicken tenders, although homemade breading is easier than you think!
First, dip the chicken in flour, then in egg, and finally in breadcrumbs. Use your hands to press the breadcrumbs into the chicken, ensuring all sides are coated. Shake off any excess breadcrumbs.
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Place the chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving some space between them. Spray the tops of the chicken with cooking spray or oil. Air fry for 7-8 minutes, then flip the chicken and spray with cooking spray or oil again. Air fry for another 4-6 minutes until golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C).
