As with so many air fryer recipes, I think it’s pretty important to set expectations right out of the gate on this one. Air fryer chicken strips won’t have quite the same crust and crunch as traditionally fried tenders, but for some people the tradeoffs (no oil to clean up, healthier option) are well worth it. These finished chicken strips have a rich and juicy flavor thanks to a lemon buttermilk marinade with a subtle crunch thanks to the air fryer.
Why Should You Use an Air Fryer to Make Chicken Strips?
When making chicken tenders in the air fryer you gain the ability to make small batches of chicken strips without a lot of fuss and clean up. An air fryer is about 10 times easier to clean up than a traditional hot vat of oil. Besides that, they are a healthier alternative to deep frying. You only need to lightly spray the tenders with nonstick spray before air frying, drastically reducing the amount of oil typically used when deep frying foods. If you aren’t totally convinced on the magic of air fryers here is a guide to the best air fryers in 202. If you’ve already found your favorite air fryer and you want a full-on tutorial check our First Timer’s Guide to Using an Air Fryer.
Cook Time for Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
When it comes to the actual cooking time for chicken tenders, you don’t save much time using this method. They need roughly the same time to cook whether you are air frying or traditionally deep frying them. You’ll also still have to work to cook the tenders in batches so you are not overcrowding the air fryer basket. As the chicken strips air fry, I recommend flipping them once about halfway through to allow all sides of the tenders to get crispy.
Buttermilk is Best for Chicken Strips
It’s important to marinate these chicken strips before frying them, whether you use a traditional fry method or the air fryer! A buttermilk marinade with some salt, pepper, and lemon juice will help tenderize your chicken tenders and make them so juicy. The marinade helps lock in moisture even if you end up overcooking your chicken slightly. It’s a must in my opinion!
How to Make Chicken Strips in the Air Fryer
Once you have your chicken strips marinated, remove them from the buttermilk and add them to the flour mixture. Letting any excess drip off. Coat the chicken strips well in the flour breading so a nice crust can develop on the chicken strips. Before air-frying the chicken strips, spray them with some nonstick cooking spray which will give them just enough fat on the outside to make the crust really crunchy and delicious.
How to Make this Recipe Without an Air Fryer
Air fryers are all the rage these days, but just because you don’t have one doesn’t mean you can’t make great chicken tenders at home! If you don’t have an air fryer, you can shallow fry these tenders in a large cast iron skillet. Add 2 cups of neutral oil (like vegetable oil) to your cast iron skillet and heat until it reaches 350˚F. Fry tenders in batches, flipping once halfway through, about 10 minutes per batch. The finished tenders should be a deep golden brown and have a nice crust on all sides. If you have a thermometer, the internal temperature should be at least 165˚F. If you need a new cast iron skillet (because why not have more than one) you can expand your collection with these top picks.
What to Serve with Your Air Fryer Chicken Strips?
These are a really hearty entrée for a casual meal. Serving these with fries would be standard, but you could also serve them with something lighter as well, like a salad or coleslaw. You can also try dirty rice, three bean salad, or oven baked sweet potato fries.
Freezing and Reheating Air Fried Chicken Strips
I find that these air fryer chicken tenders are best right out of the fryer basket. The breading gets a bit soggy as it sits since it isn’t as crispy as a traditional fry method. I’d recommend making just enough to eat, but if you have a few extra you can store them in the fridge for 4-5 days and reheat them in a 350˚F oven until crispy and warmed through, probably 10 minutes. You can also reheat them in the air fryer for a few minutes.
More Tasty Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets Air Fryer Fried Chicken Air Fryer Chicken Wings
Chicken tenders are done when the breading is golden brown, and they reach an internal temperature of at least 165˚F in the thickest part of the chicken tender. Repeat with remaining chicken tenders (3-4 batches), until cooked. You can hold cooked chicken tenders in a warm (250˚F) oven until you’re done with all the batches.
