Air Fryer Chicken Strips: Crispy, Quick, And Easy!

Chicken strips are a popular dish for good reason: they're juicy, crispy, and perfect for a quick and easy lunch or dinner. Even better, they're simple to make in an air fryer, which means less oil and grease to deal with. The basic recipe involves coating chicken tenders in a dredge of flour, egg, and breadcrumbs, then air-frying until golden brown. But there are endless variations to try, from the spices you use to the sauces you serve them with.

Choosing the right oil

When making chicken strips in an air fryer, you'll want to choose an oil with a high smoke point. This is because the air fryer cooks at a high temperature, and you don't want your oil to start smoking.

Avocado oil is a great choice, with a smoke point of 570 degrees Fahrenheit. It's also a good option if you're looking for a neutral-flavoured oil. If you're after something with a bit more flavour, extra light olive oil works well and has a smoke point of 468 degrees Fahrenheit. Other oils with high smoke points include ghee (clarified butter), soybean oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, grapeseed oil, canola oil, and vegetable oil.

You'll want to avoid oils with low smoke points, such as extra virgin olive oil, which has a smoke point of 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and butter, which has a smoke point of 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit.

It's worth noting that while you can use olive oil in an air fryer, its low smoke point means it's best used for recipes cooked at temperatures under 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Preparing the chicken

Brining the chicken

Brining the chicken tenders is an optional but recommended step. To brine your chicken, mix water, kosher salt, and sugar in a large bowl until the salt and sugar dissolve. Submerge the chicken tenders in the water and leave them to brine for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for the best results.

Seasoning the chicken

If you don't want to brine your chicken, you can simply season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Alternatively, you can create a seasoning mix by combining kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.

Battering the chicken

In one shallow bowl, beat one or two eggs. In a separate shallow bowl, combine flour with your seasoning mix. You can also add the eggs to the flour mixture to create a wet batter. Dip the chicken tenders in the egg mixture, allowing any excess batter to drip off, and then transfer them to the flour or breadcrumb mixture.

Breadcrumbs

For extra crispy chicken tenders, use panko breadcrumbs. You can also use a combination of panko and regular breadcrumbs for the perfect texture. Press the breadcrumbs into the chicken tenders, ensuring all sides are coated evenly, and shake off any excess.

Oil

Lightly spray or brush the chicken tenders with a neutral oil spray such as avocado, canola, or vegetable oil. This will help the tenders get extra crispy.

Making the batter

Next, prepare the wet batter by beating eggs in a separate shallow bowl. You can also add some flour to the eggs to create a looser batter. If you don't have eggs, you can use buttermilk as a substitute.

Now you are ready to dredge the chicken tenders. First, coat each tender with some flour, then dip it into the egg mixture, and finally, coat it with the breadcrumb mixture. Make sure to press the breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken so that the breading adheres well.

At this stage, you can place the breaded chicken tenders in the air fryer and spray them with cooking spray, or you can prepare a double dredge for an extra crispy coating. For the double dredge, dip the tenders back into the egg mixture, and then again into the breadcrumb mixture.

Cooking the tenders

Now that your chicken tenders are prepared, it's time to cook them in the air fryer! Place the tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they don't overlap. Spray the tops of the tenders with cooking spray or a neutral oil spray, such as avocado or olive oil.

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). The ideal temperature for cooking chicken tenders is between 375°F and 400°F. Place the basket in the air fryer and cook the tenders for 7-8 minutes.

After the initial cook, flip the tenders over and spray the other side with cooking spray or oil. Return the basket to the air fryer and cook for an additional 4-8 minutes. The total cooking time will depend on the thickness of your tenders and the model of your air fryer, but on average, it should take around 12-16 minutes.

Your chicken tenders are ready when they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). You can use an instant-read thermometer to check the temperature. Remove the tenders from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.

If you are cooking a large batch, you may need to cook the tenders in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Remember to preheat the air fryer before each batch and spray the tenders with oil or cooking spray to ensure even cooking and a crispy texture.

Serving suggestions

Dipping Sauces

Chicken strips are often served with a dipping sauce. Suggested sauces include:

• Honey mustard
• Sweet and sour sauce
• BBQ sauce
• Honey sriracha sauce
• Ranch
• Sweet and spicy Korean sauce
• Tzatziki
• Marinara sauce

Sides

Chicken strips can be served with a variety of sides. Suggested sides include:

• French fries
• Sweet potato fries
• Tater tots
• Onion rings
• Roasted broccoli
• Air fryer french fries
• A simple Caesar salad
• Oven-baked steak fries
• Classic homemade mashed potatoes
• Homemade applesauce
• Baked mac and cheese
• Roasted green beans with bacon
• Hawaiian macaroni salad
• Pasta salad
• Roasted carrots
• Parmesan roasted broccoli

Salads

Chicken strips can also be served on top of a salad. Suggested salads include:

• Mediterranean quinoa salad
• Broccoli and orzo salad
• Mediterranean couscous salad
• Korean broccoli salad

Frequently asked questions