Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders: Quick, Crispy, Delicious!

how to make buffalo chicken tenders in air fryer

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders are a quick and easy meal to make for the whole family. They are a healthier alternative to deep-fried chicken tenders and can be made in under 30 minutes. The tenders can be served as an appetiser or main course and are perfect for a game night or dinner party. They can be served with a variety of sauces, such as blue cheese or ranch, and are best served immediately for the crispiest chicken.

Characteristics Values
Prep Time 5-20 minutes
Cook Time 10-20 minutes
Total Time 15-30 minutes
Ingredients Chicken tenders, flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, eggs, water, hot sauce, buffalo sauce, olive oil spray, buttermilk, cornflakes, paprika, breadcrumbs, avocado oil spray, non-dairy milk, vinegar, lemon juice, aquafaba, blue cheese, ranch, celery, carrots
Air Fryer Temperature 300-400°F
Chicken Temperature 165°F

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Choosing your chicken

Chicken tenderloins are the preferred choice as they are already cut into the perfect size and are super delicious. However, if you don't mind cutting up raw chicken, you can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Just make sure to cut them into one-inch-thick tenders or strips.

When purchasing chicken, look for fresh, high-quality chicken with a good amount of marbling (fatty streaks). Avoid chicken that looks dry or has discoloured flesh. You want the chicken to be firm to the touch, not slimy or sticky. Check the "best before" date to ensure you are using fresh chicken.

For this recipe, you will need about 1 pound of chicken tenderloins or boneless, skinless chicken breasts. You can also adjust the amount of chicken depending on the size of your air fryer and the number of servings you need.

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Making the sauce

To make your own buffalo sauce, combine buffalo sauce with barbecue sauce, adjusting the ratio to suit your taste preference. For a spicier sauce, add more buffalo sauce. For a milder sauce, add more barbecue sauce. You can also add in some hot sauce.

You can also make a homemade buffalo sauce by adding butter and buffalo sauce to a microwave-safe bowl and microwaving for about two minutes, stopping to mix every 30 seconds, until the butter is melted.

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Preparing the coating

  • Cornflakes or panko/all-purpose flour for breading
  • Spices (garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper)
  • Eggs
  • Buffalo sauce

You can also add in some parmesan cheese and paprika to your breading for some extra flavour.

Firstly, pat your chicken dry with a paper towel. Then, rub your chicken with the garlic and onion powder, and salt and pepper. You can also dip the chicken in buttermilk and hot sauce to tenderise it.

Next, set up your breading station. In one bowl, crack and whisk your eggs. In a separate bowl, add your breading of choice. For cornflake breading, pulse cornflakes in a food processor or blender until they become small crumbs. You can also place the cornflakes in a Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to break them down. For flour breading, add in your spices and mix.

Now, dip your chicken in the egg mixture and then into the breading, pressing the crumbs or flour gently into the chicken to ensure they stick. Repeat this step for a second coating.

Finally, spray the air fryer basket with olive oil or avocado oil spray, and place the tenders in the basket, ensuring they do not touch. Spray the tops of the tenders with more oil to ensure there are no dry patches.

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Cooking the tenders

The cooking time for the chicken tenders will vary slightly depending on the thickness of the chicken and the type of air fryer being used. For example, basket air fryers will require cooking in batches, whereas oven model air fryers with trays should be able to accommodate all the chicken tenders in one batch.

If your air fryer requires preheating, preheat it to 400°F.

If you are using frozen chicken tenders, there is no need to preheat the air fryer. Simply put them in frozen and cook for 12-16 minutes. Make sure that your chicken is fully cooked, as raw chicken will take longer to cook than precooked chicken.

For chicken tenders that aren't frozen, pat them dry with a paper towel and season with salt and pepper.

Next, prepare the breading. In a medium-sized bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, water, and hot sauce.

One at a time, place the tenders into the flour mixture and coat on all sides, shaking off any excess. Then, place the tenders into the egg mixture until fully coated, letting any excess egg drip off. Place them back into the flour mixture and pack the flour on to form a crust, shaking off any excess.

Spray the air fryer basket with olive oil spray. Place the tenders into the basket, making sure they are not touching. Spray the tops well with more olive oil spray, ensuring there are no dry patches.

Air fry for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. After flipping, spray with more olive oil spray. The tenders are ready when they are golden brown and the internal temperature reaches at least 165°F.

If you are using cornflakes as a breading, add them to a food processor or high-powered blender and pulse until you have crumbs small enough to be used as breading. Alternatively, place the cornflakes in a large Ziploc bag and use a rolling pin to break them down.

For an extra crunchy exterior, double-coat the tenders by repeating the breading process a second time.

Saucing the Tenders

While the chicken is cooking, prepare the sauce by whisking together buffalo and barbecue sauce. Adjust the ratio of sauces to your taste preference.

Once the chicken is finished cooking, dip it in the sauce mixture or brush the sauce onto the tenders.

Serving the Tenders

For a simple appetizer, serve with a blue cheese or ranch dipping sauce and some celery or carrots.

For a more balanced meal, serve with rice and your favorite vegetable, such as Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli.

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Serving suggestions

These buffalo chicken tenders can be served as an appetizer or a main course. They can be served with a variety of dipping sauces, such as blue cheese or ranch. They also go well with homemade French fries, cheddar bacon ranch potato salad, and broccoli pasta salad.

For a more balanced meal, serve the tenders with rice and your favourite vegetable. Air Fryer Frozen Broccoli is a delicious and easy option.

If you're looking for a lighter option, these tenders can be served on a salad. Try a crispy buffalo chicken salad with sharp white cheddar, fresh vegetables, and a light blue cheese dressing.

For a simple appetizer, serve the tenders with a blue cheese or ranch-style dipping sauce and some celery or carrots.

If you're cooking for a crowd, you can double the recipe and serve the tenders as a party appetizer or at a larger dinner.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can cook frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer. You don't even need to preheat the air fryer, just put them in frozen and cook for 12-16 minutes.

Some popular brands of chicken tenders include Trader Joe's, Tyson, Banquet, and Perdue.

Place the frozen chicken patty in the air fryer for 7-8 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can serve chicken tenders with whatever sauce your family enjoys. Some popular options include blue cheese, ranch, and honey sriracha sauce.

You can serve chicken tenders with a variety of side dishes such as rice, vegetables, or a simple salad.

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