Air Fryer Hack: Cane's Chicken Tenders Perfection

Raising Cane's chicken tenders are famous for their crispy exterior and juicy interior. This recipe uses an air fryer to achieve the same mouth-watering results without the excess oil of traditional deep-frying. The secret to authentic Raising Cane's-style chicken lies in the breading technique. The tenders are dipped in a three-step breading process: first dredged in seasoned flour, then in buttermilk, and finally coated in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture. The air fryer transforms these steps into crispy, golden-brown chicken tenders.

Characteristics of Making Cane's Chicken Tenders in an Air Fryer

How to get the perfect crispy coating

The secret to a perfect crispy coating on your Raising Cane's chicken tenders is to use a three-step breading process. First, dredge the chicken in seasoned flour, then dip it in buttermilk, and finally, coat it in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture. This will give your tenders a golden-brown, crispy texture.

For the seasoned flour, you can use a mixture of paprika, garlic powder, and Cajun seasoning. You can also add some crushed cornflakes for extra crunch. The buttermilk will help to tenderize the meat and give it a juicy texture. Finally, for the seasoned breadcrumbs, you can use a mixture of panko breadcrumbs and regular breadcrumbs. You can also add some spices to your breadcrumbs, such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

Make sure to coat the chicken thoroughly in each step of the breading process. After the final step, spray the tenders with a neutral oil spray, such as avocado oil, to help the breadcrumbs get extra crispy.

Place the tenders in the air fryer in a single layer and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 8 minutes. Then flip them and cook for another 4-6 minutes until the breadcrumbs are golden and crispy.

You can also bake your tenders in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.

How to make the Cane's sauce

How to Make the Canes Sauce

Canes sauce is a creamy, tangy, peppery sauce, similar to a remoulade or thousand island dressing. It is often served with chicken tenders, fries, burgers, and more. While the official recipe is a closely guarded secret, here is a copycat recipe that you can make at home.

Ingredients:

• Mayonnaise: Use regular, store-bought mayonnaise for the best results. Avoid flavoured mayo. You will need 1/2 cup (4.4 oz or 1/2 cup) of mayonnaise.
• Ketchup: You can use either store-bought or homemade ketchup. You will need 1/4 cup (2.6 oz or 3 tablespoons) of ketchup.
• Worcestershire Sauce: This is available at most grocery stores. You can substitute it with balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, or fish sauce. The quantity required is 1/2 teaspoon to 1 and a half tablespoons.
• Spices: You will need garlic powder (1/2 to 1 teaspoon), coarse black pepper (1/2 teaspoon to 1 teaspoon), and salt (1/2 teaspoon). You can also add cayenne pepper, onion powder, Cajun spice, Creole seasoning, or a few drops of lemon juice to taste.

Method:

Place all the ingredients in a small bowl and whisk or stir until well combined. The sauce should turn a salmon colour. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the sauce for at least 6 hours or preferably overnight. This step is crucial as it allows the flavours to meld and develop, giving the sauce a greater depth of flavour. The sauce will taste mostly like ketchup if you skip this step.

Your Canes sauce is now ready to be served! It goes well with chicken tenders, fries, or tater tots, or as an aioli for sandwiches and burgers. Enjoy!

What to serve with the chicken tenders

There are many options for what to serve with your air-fried chicken tenders. Here are some ideas:

Sides

• Fries
• Texas toast
• Potato wedges
• Baked potato
• Roasted vegetables, such as zucchini, broccoli, green beans, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, carrots, and potatoes
• Mashed potatoes
• Mac and cheese
• Coleslaw
• Salad, such as arugula salad, tomato cucumber salad, or cucumber salad
• Corn on the cob
• Rice or pasta dishes, such as couscous corn salad, orzo and peas, or pasta salad
• Bread, such as Texas toast

Dipping Sauces

• Copycat Cane's sauce
• Ketchup
• Mustard
• BBQ sauce
• Honey mustard
• Sweet and sour sauce
• Honey
• Sweet chili sauce

How to make chicken tenders from scratch

Ingredients

• Chicken tenders (or chicken tenderloins)
• Buttermilk
• Eggs
• Flour
• Breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
• Salt and pepper
• Oil spray
• Optional: spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper

Method

• Brine the chicken (optional): Cover the chicken tenders in a brine solution (a mixture of water, salt, and sugar) for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best results. This will help keep the meat juicy and allow for a crispier exterior.
• Prepare the seasoning (optional): In a small bowl, mix together your chosen spices.
• Make the wet batter: In a large bowl, mix together the eggs, flour, and seasoning. The consistency should be slightly looser than pancake batter.
• Season the breadcrumbs: Add the remaining seasoning mix to a tray of breadcrumbs and mix well.
• Dredge the chicken: Remove the chicken from the brine and pat dry. Dip the tenders in the egg mixture, letting the excess drip off, then coat them in the seasoned breadcrumbs. Spray the top side of the tenders with oil spray.
• Air fry the chicken: Place the tenders in a single layer in the air fryer, with the oiled side facing down. Spray the other side with another layer of oil. Air fry at 400°F (200°C) for 8 minutes, then flip and air fry for another 4-6 minutes until the coating is golden and crispy.

Tips

• To prevent soggy chicken strips, ensure that you pat the chicken dry after brining and use enough oil spray to cover the tenders before air frying.
• Don't be gentle when breading the chicken in the breadcrumbs. Press them into the chicken firmly and shake off any excess.
• As air fryer models vary, you may need to adjust the cooking time to get the desired crispiness.

How long to cook the chicken tenders for

The cooking time for chicken tenders in an air fryer varies depending on the model and power of the appliance. As a result, it is important to keep a close eye on the chicken tenders while they are cooking and adjust the timing as needed to achieve the desired level of crispiness.

In general, it is recommended to air fry chicken tenders for a total of 12 to 14 minutes at 190 degrees Celsius or 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Some recipes suggest cooking the tenders for 8 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit, flipping them, and then cooking them for an additional 4 to 6 minutes. This method ensures that the tenders are cooked through and have a crispy, golden exterior.

It is important to note that air fryers can vary in terms of cooking time and temperature, so it is always a good idea to refer to the specific instructions for your particular model. Additionally, when cooking chicken, it is crucial to ensure that the meat is fully cooked before serving. This can be done by using a meat thermometer to check that the internal temperature of the chicken tenders has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

To achieve the perfect crispy texture, it is recommended to pat the chicken tenders dry after brining or marinating and use enough oil spray to cover all parts of the breading before placing them in the air fryer. This helps to prevent the chicken tenders from becoming soggy.

Frequently asked questions