Air-Frying Chicken Strips: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Cooking chicken strips in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a tasty meal. You can use chicken breasts or tenderloin cuts, sliced into uniform strips, and either breaded or unbreaded. The chicken strips are cooked in a single layer in the air fryer basket, and the cooking time will depend on whether you are cooking from fresh or frozen, and whether the strips are breaded.

Preparing the chicken

Once you have your chicken strips, it's time to bread them. Dip each strip into a beaten egg, then into a breadcrumb mixture. Place the breaded chicken strips on a cutting board or baking tray. If you prefer your chicken strips without breading, you can skip this step and simply drizzle olive oil over the strips and toss to coat them completely.

Next, spray the chicken strips on each side with olive oil spray or vegetable/corn oil. This step ensures that the chicken cooks evenly and gets crispy in the air fryer. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't touch each other if possible. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken in batches.

Now it's time to cook the chicken! Air fry the strips at 380°F for 9-11 minutes, flipping them halfway through. If you're cooking without breading, you may need to increase the cooking time to 10-12 minutes. The chicken is done when the edges and sides are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Use a meat thermometer to check the temperature.

Cooking time and temperature

The cooking time and temperature for chicken strips in an air fryer will depend on whether you are cooking them with or without breading.

If you are cooking chicken strips without breading, preheat your air fryer to 380F. Place the chicken strips in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are evenly spaced and not touching each other. Air fry for 9-11 minutes, flipping the chicken strips halfway through. The chicken is done when the edges and sides are beginning to turn golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165F degrees.

If you are cooking breaded chicken strips, preheat your air fryer to 400F. Before placing the chicken strips in the air fryer, spray them on each side with olive oil. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket and air fry for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, turning halfway. They are done when the chicken is cooked through and crispy and golden on the outside.

Breading

Next, spray the chicken strips on each side with olive oil spray. This will help to ensure that the chicken is crispy and golden on the outside. Place the chicken strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring that they do not touch each other. If you have a smaller air fryer, you may need to cook the chicken strips in batches.

Set the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and cook the chicken strips for 5 to 6 minutes on each side, turning halfway through. The chicken strips are done when they are cooked through and golden on the outside. To check if they are cooked, use a meat thermometer to ensure that the internal temperature of the chicken strips has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

Spacing in the air fryer

When cooking raw chicken strips in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that the chicken strips are evenly spaced and do not touch each other. This will allow for even cooking and prevent the strips from sticking together. Place the chicken strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each strip. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you may need to cook the chicken in batches to ensure proper spacing and avoid overcrowding.

The ideal spacing will depend on the size and shape of your air fryer basket, as well as the number of chicken strips you are cooking. Aim to leave at least a small gap between each strip to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking.

If you are cooking a large batch of chicken strips, you may need to cook them in multiple batches to ensure proper spacing. Overcrowding the air fryer basket can lead to uneven cooking, with some strips cooking faster than others. It can also cause the chicken strips to steam instead of fry, resulting in a less crispy texture.

By ensuring proper spacing and cooking in batches if needed, you can achieve evenly cooked and crispy chicken strips every time. This technique applies whether you are cooking breaded or unbreaded chicken strips in the air fryer.

Serving suggestions

Once your chicken strips are cooked, you can serve them immediately on a salad, in a wrap, in a grain bowl, or with sides like tater tots or fries. You could also try dipping them in a sauce of your choice, such as ranch or honey mustard.

If you want to get creative, you could also try adding some toppings to your chicken strips. Some options could include:

• Chopped green onions
• Shredded cheese
• Crumbled bacon
• Diced tomatoes

You can also serve the chicken strips with some vegetables on the side, such as roasted broccoli or cauliflower.

If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days.

Frequently asked questions