Air Fryer Chicken Strips: Crispy, Golden Perfection

Chicken strips are a quick, easy, and healthy meal to make in an air fryer. They are perfect for a weeknight dinner and can be served with a variety of side dishes and sauces. The chicken strips can be made with a simple dredge of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, and then cooked in the air fryer for around 10-15 minutes. The air fryer allows the chicken strips to become crispy without using a lot of oil, making them a healthier alternative to deep-fried chicken strips.

Explore related products

Tyson Air Fried Perfectly Crispy Chicken Nuggets, 25 Oz. (Frozen)

$6.99

Bell & Evans, Chicken Whole Fryer Bagged Air Chilled Step 2

$13.96

Zatarain's Air Fryer Chicken Seasoned Coating Mix, 5 oz

$2.17

PERDUE Roasted Crispy Chicken Wings, 22 OZ

$12.99

Ninja Air Fryer, Roast, Bake, Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Reheats, & Dehydrates, 4-in-1, Fries, Frozen Food, Veggies, and Juicy Meat, Less Oil, Easy Meals, Healthy Meals, Compact, 4 QT, Grey, AF101

$89.99

Tyson Fully Cooked Crispy Chicken Strips, 25 oz (Frozen)

$7.49

Chicken preparation and cutting

Firstly, decide how wide you want your chicken strips to be. For example, if you are making fajitas, you will want thinner strips of around 1/2 inch (1.3 cm). On the other hand, fried chicken strips are usually cut thicker, at 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) wide.

Next, place your raw chicken breast on a plastic cutting board. If you are using chicken on the bone, use a sharp knife or kitchen shears to trim around the ribs and breastbone and remove the breast meat. You can also use a boning knife for this step.

Now, it's time to cut the chicken into strips. Locate the grain of the breast, which are the small white muscle fibres running through it. Position your knife blade or shears across the grain and cut against it, rather than parallel. This will ensure your chicken is more tender once cooked. Make your strips as thin or thick as you like, but keep them all the same size so they cook evenly.

If you are prone to injury or don't feel confident using a sharp knife, you can buy cut-resistant gloves made from the same material as bulletproof vests. Alternatively, you can cut the chicken in the pan you will be cooking it in, using kitchen scissors instead of a knife.

Air fryer temperature settings

Firstly, it is important to preheat your air fryer. Most sources recommend preheating to 400°F (200°C), but this may differ depending on your air fryer model. For example, the Ninja Foodi air fryer's hottest setting is 450°F (230°C). Preheat your air fryer for around 10 minutes to ensure it reaches the desired temperature.

When cooking chicken strips from scratch, the temperature setting will depend on the type of breading you use. Regular breadcrumbs, panko, almond flour, or crushed pork rinds are popular choices. The ideal temperature range for cooking breaded chicken strips is between 360°F (182°C) and 400°F (200°C). For example, one source recommends setting your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) and cooking the strips for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through.

If you are reheating chicken strips, the temperature setting may be slightly lower. Preheat your air fryer to around 360°F (182°C) and reheat the strips for about 5-7 minutes, depending on their size and thickness. Breaded strips may require an additional 2-3 minutes of cooking time.

It is important to note that cooking times and temperatures may vary depending on your air fryer model and the size and thickness of your chicken strips. Always ensure that your chicken strips reach an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) to meet food safety guidelines.

Breading and seasoning

Next, prepare the dredging station. In one shallow bowl, whisk eggs. You can also use buttermilk instead of eggs. In a second shallow bowl, combine the breading. This can be breadcrumbs, flour, or a combination of both. You can also add seasonings to the breading, such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or chilli powder.

Now, it's time to dredge the chicken. Dip each strip first in the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off, and then coat it evenly in the breading. You can use tongs or your hands for this step. Make sure each strip is well-coated.

Finally, place the breaded chicken strips on a cutting board or baking tray. Spray or drizzle both sides of the chicken generously with oil. You can use avocado oil, olive oil, or any oil of your choice. This will help the chicken strips crisp up in the air fryer.

Explore related products

Tyson Any'tizers Buffalo Style Bone-In Chicken Wings, 22 oz. (Frozen)

$7.49

Just Bare® Chicken Lightly Breaded Breast Strips | Fully Cooked | 16G Protein | Frozen |1.50 LB

$7.69

Reynolds Kitchens Air Fryer Liners Disposable, Unbleached Parchment Paper Sheets, 50 Count

$3.78

Tyson Frozen Southern Style Chicken Breast Tenderloins, 25 Oz

$6.49

Just Bare® Chicken Lightly Breaded Breast Bites Fully Cooked 16 G Protein Frozen 1.50 LB, 24 Ounce

$10.79

Chefman TurboFry® Touch Air Fryer, XL 8-Qt Family Size, One-Touch Digital Control Presets, French Fries, Chicken, Meat, Fish, Nonstick Dishwasher-Safe Parts, Automatic Shutoff, Stainless Steel

$89.99 $119.99

Cooking time and technique

The cooking time and technique for chicken strips in an air fryer depend on your personal preferences and the brand and size of your air fryer.

Firstly, decide whether you want to use chicken tenderloins or cut chicken breasts into strips. If you're cutting chicken breasts, you can decide how thick or short you want your strips to be, but make sure they fit into your air fryer basket.

Next, preheat your air fryer. Most sources recommend preheating to 400°F, but this can vary depending on your air fryer model. The Ninja Foodi, for example, recommends preheating to 450°F/230°C. It's a good idea to preheat for around 10 minutes.

Now, it's time to bread the chicken. You can do this by dipping the tenders in flour, then egg, and finally, breadcrumbs. You can season the flour or breadcrumbs with salt and pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or other spices of your choice. Make sure the tenders are evenly coated.

After breading, spritz or spray the chicken strips with oil. Avocado oil, olive oil, or cooking spray are all good options. Place the tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they don't overlap.

Cooking time can vary depending on your air fryer and the thickness of your chicken strips. As a general guideline, cook the tenders for around 5-8 minutes on each side, flipping halfway through. The tenders are done when they are golden brown and cooked through. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centre of the chicken should read 165°F/74°C.

If you're cooking frozen chicken tenders, preheat your air fryer to a lower temperature, around 360-390°F, and cook for about 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through.

Once your chicken strips are cooked, let them cool for a few minutes before serving with your favourite dipping sauce. Enjoy!

Dipping sauces and serving suggestions

Chicken strips cooked in an air fryer are incredibly versatile and can be served with a variety of dipping sauces and side dishes.

Dipping Sauces

A popular choice for dipping sauce is honey mustard, which can be made with just five ingredients. You can also make a sweet-spicy sauce or an Asian dipping sauce. Other sauces and dips that go well with chicken strips include ketchup, ranch, honey yogurt, BBQ sauce, and lemon wedges. If you're making a dipping sauce to go with your chicken strips, it's recommended that you use full-fat mayo as a base.

Serving Suggestions

Chicken strips can be served with just about any side dish, including vegetables, which can be enjoyed plain, air-fried, or roasted. Some specific vegetables that go well with chicken strips include broccoli, zucchini, and tomato. Starchier sides like pasta, bread, rice, oats, potatoes, quinoa, corn, beans, and cereals are also a good choice. For a healthier option, serve chicken strips with fruits and veggies. For a more indulgent option, serve with French fries or sweet potato fries, either cooked in the air fryer or baked in the oven.

Frequently asked questions