Turn up the heat with Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders! The perfect blend of crunch and zesty buffalo flavor, made healthier in the air fryer.
Prep Time25 minutesmins
Cook Time13 minutesmins
Total Time38 minutesmins
Servings: 3
Ingredients
For the chicken
1poundchicken tenders
For the marinade
1cupbuttermilk
1tablespoonhot sauce
For the dipping and coating
½cupbuttermilk
¾cupflour
½cupbreadcrumbs
1teaspoongarlic powder
1teaspoonpaprika
1teaspoonblack pepper
½teaspooncayenne pepper
1teaspoonsalt
1/2cupBuffalo chicken sauce
Instructions
Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel.
1 pound chicken tenders
Mix the cup of buttermilk and hot sauce in a medium bowl. Add the chicken pieces and refrigerate for 20 minutes to 2 hours.
1 cup buttermilk, 1 tablespoon hot sauce
Mix the flour, bread crumbs, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl.
¾ cup flour, ½ cup breadcrumbs, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon black pepper, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, 1 teaspoon salt
Put ½ cup buttermilk in another bowl.
½ cup buttermilk
Take a chicken strip from the marinade. Dip it into the flour mixture, then the buttermilk mixture, then the flour again. Set it on a wire rack.
Continue to dip the chicken. The breading will stick better if the pieces rest on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before air frying.
Preheat the air fryer to 370 degrees F for 3 minutes. Then, spray the air fryer basket with some oil to prevent sticking.
Put the chicken in the basket. Don't stack it, and make sure there is room for air to circulate.
Spray the chicken with oil to coat the top. Air fry at 370 F for 5 minutes.
Check the chicken. If there is visible flour on top, spray it with more oil.
Flip the chicken with tongs and air fry it for another 5 minutes until golden brown.
Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer and verify it has reached 165 F.
Put the chicken on a plate and brush it with the Buffalo sauce.
1/2 cup Buffalo chicken sauce
Notes
Tenderloins are great for this recipe. They're the perfect size for bite-sized snacking and cook evenly in the air fryer. Or use boneless chicken breasts and slice them thinly.
Don't skimp on the Buffalo sauce. Coat the tenders thoroughly in the sauce and then add another layer. More is better.
Don't skip preheating the air fryer. It ensures a crispy, golden exterior on your chicken tenders. Just a few minutes should do the trick!