Emilie Meyer
Chicken goujons are a beloved classic, but frying them is not the healthiest option. Air fryers promise to provide all the fried goodness with less oil and fewer calories. Chicken goujons cooked in an air fryer are also said to be the best-tasting. To cook fresh chicken goujons in an air fryer, you should first trim any excess fat from fresh boneless chicken breasts or thighs and slice the chicken into thin, even strips. Then, create a marinade with herbs and spices like garlic powder, paprika, and oregano, combined with a splash of lemon juice or buttermilk. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Finally, coat the chicken strips in panko breadcrumbs and place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other. Cook for 7-12 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
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What You'll Learn
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (400°F)
Preheating your air fryer is crucial when cooking chicken goujons. It ensures your chicken cooks evenly and reduces the chances of undercooking or overcooking. Set your air fryer to 200°C (400°F) and allow it to preheat for a few minutes before placing your chicken inside.
While the air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your chicken goujons. Start by selecting fresh boneless chicken breasts or thighs and trimming any excess fat. Cut the chicken into thin, even strips to ensure even cooking and a consistent texture. You can also create a marinade by combining herbs and spices like garlic powder, paprika, and oregano with a splash of lemon juice or buttermilk. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes to infuse the flavours.
After marinating, it's time to coat your chicken strips. Set up a breading station with three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumbs. You can use regular breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture. Dip each strip of chicken first in the flour, shaking off any excess, then in the egg, and finally in the breadcrumbs. Make sure each piece is well-coated.
Once your chicken goujons are prepared and your air fryer has preheated to the set temperature, you're ready to start cooking. Place the chicken goujons in the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they are not touching each other. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook in batches to ensure even cooking.
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Marinate chicken strips for flavour
Marinating chicken strips is a great way to add flavour and tenderise the meat. There are many different marinade recipes to choose from, but most involve a combination of herbs, spices, and other seasonings. Here is a simple recipe you can try:
In a bowl, whisk together your chosen marinade ingredients. For example, you could use a combination of olive oil, garlic, salt, sweet paprika, and perhaps some brown sugar or coconut sugar. You could also try a combination of olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and Italian seasoning. Place the chicken strips in a sealable plastic bag or container and pour the marinade over them. Seal the bag or container and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes or up to 8 hours. The longer you leave the chicken to marinate, the more intense the flavour will be.
When you're ready to cook the chicken goujons, preheat your air fryer to 200°C (400°F). Place the chicken tenders in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil, ensuring the chicken is well coated. Arrange the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cook for 9-12 minutes, flipping halfway through. Check that the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink before serving. The internal temperature of the chicken should be 75°C/165°F.
You can also try different coatings for your chicken goujons. For example, instead of using traditional breadcrumbs, you could blitz cornflakes until they are the size of breadcrumbs and use those instead.
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Coat chicken with cornflakes or breadcrumbs
To coat the chicken with cornflakes or breadcrumbs, start by preparing three separate bowls. In the first bowl, place some flour. In the second bowl, add eggs and beat them lightly. In the third bowl, combine cornflakes or breadcrumbs with garlic salt, sweet paprika, and olive oil. You can also add grated Parmesan cheese or Italian seasoning to the breadcrumbs for extra flavor.
Take each strip of chicken and coat it in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip the floured chicken into the beaten eggs, ensuring it is well coated. Finally, coat the chicken in the cornflake or breadcrumb mixture. Repeat this process until all your chicken strips are prepared, spacing them out on a tray as you go. You can also freeze these coated chicken strips for later use.
If you are using cornflakes, you will need to blitz them in a mini chopper or food processor first until they are a similar size to breadcrumbs. Be careful not to over-blitz, as you do not want them to turn to dust.
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Cook for 7-10 minutes, flipping halfway
When cooking fresh chicken goujons in an air fryer, it is important to remember that each air fryer may cook slightly differently, so some experimentation is encouraged. Preheating your air fryer is crucial, as it ensures your chicken goujons cook evenly and reduces the chances of them being undercooked. Set your air fryer to around 200°C (400°F).
Now, it's time to cook the chicken goujons. Place the chicken in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching each other. This is to avoid overcrowding the basket, which can lead to uneven cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the goujons in batches.
To check if the chicken is cooked, look for that golden brown colour and use a kitchen thermometer to ensure it has reached an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C). If the chicken hasn't reached this temperature, return it to the air fryer and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, then check again.
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Serve with salad, fries, or in a wrap
Chicken goujons cooked in an air fryer can be served with a variety of side dishes, including salad, fries, or in a wrap.
If you're opting for a salad, you can toss together chopped lettuce, cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumbers, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette to create a vibrant and fresh accompaniment. You can also add some roasted vegetables to your salad, such as peppers, onions, green beans, broccoli, carrots, butternut squash, or courgettes.
For a heartier option, serve your chicken goujons with a side of crispy, golden French fries. You can even make these in your air fryer! Simply cut some potatoes into thin fries, season them with salt and a sprinkle of paprika, and air fry them until crispy. If you're short on time, you can also use frozen air fryer chips.
If you're feeling creative, you can also use your chicken goujons as a filling for a wrap. Homemade tortillas are a great option, and you can add some salad and sauce to your wrap for a simple yet delicious lunch.
No matter which serving option you choose, your chicken goujons cooked in an air fryer are sure to be a tasty treat!
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Frequently asked questions
First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Next, prepare the chicken by trimming any excess fat and slicing the chicken into thin, even strips. Create a marinade using your favourite herbs and spices, and coat the chicken strips before leaving them to marinate for at least 30 minutes. Then, coat the chicken strips in flour, followed by beaten egg, and finally, breadcrumbs. Place the chicken goujons into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not touching each other. Cook for 7-12 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. The chicken is done when it is golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C).
It takes around 7-12 minutes to cook chicken goujons in an air fryer. However, it's important to ensure the chicken is cooked through and has reached a safe internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) before placing the chicken goujons inside.
To achieve crispy chicken goujons, coat the chicken strips in a layer of breadcrumbs before placing them in the air fryer. You can also try using panko breadcrumbs for an extra crunchy texture. Additionally, ensure you preheat your air fryer to the recommended temperature to avoid undercooking or over-crisping the goujons.
Yes, you can cook frozen chicken goujons in an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and cook the frozen goujons for 13-15 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C).
