Air fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Buffalo chicken tenders are delightfully crispy on the outside and melting soft inside. It is coated in a fingerpicking hot sauce. Your perfect main or appetiser. 

We love having breaded chicken tenders for their fried chicken-like crunch and the heat from the spicy Buffalo sauce.

It is so perfect for a weekend evening at home with friends and family. Pair with some chilled drinks, and you have a party going.

The recipe is quite easy and needs no prior marination. Sometimes, I air fry chicken tenders half way and do a few batches. 

Then I just finish the air frying when friends arrive, and it is so quick and easy to serve them this delectable starter.

You may also like crunchy air fryer chicken tenders, easy air fryer chicken wings, air fryer teriyaki chicken, Healthy chicken meatballs in air fryer and KFC copycat Air fryer fried chicken.

Ingredients

Chicken tenderloins: If you have chicken tenderloins use them. I sometimes just cut chicken breast lengthwise like chicken tenders and use. Both work.

Flour: I have used wholewheat flour for the breading. You can use regular flour too.

Eggs: Egg wash is needed for binding the breading in this recipe. 

Seasonings: I have used onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne to season the flour here.

I also seasoned chicken breast with some minced garlic, pepper and salt.

Oil: Use olive oil for brushing or spraying the tenders as well as air fryer basket.

Variations

This recipe uses flour hence it is not gluten free. For those who do not eat eggs, buttermilk is a good substitute.

I have used wholewheat flour, but regular flour is perfectly fine too.

You could also use chopped herbs like cilantro or parsley in the recipe too.

You can use any hot sauce for the recipe. Vary the quantity as per your taste.

Serving suggestions

1. Appetizer: Serve it with ranch dressing with carrot and celery sticks as a classic appetiser at your party.

2. Sliders: These are perfect in sliders with lettuce, tomato, pickled onion and mayo.

3. Wraps, tacos or salads: These buffalo chicken tenders are a great protein addition to your wraps, salads or tacos.

Tips

1. Spray with olive oil well so that no floury bits are visible on chicken tenders before air frying. After flipping, spray the other side too. That way your chicken tenders will be perfectly cooked.

2. Cut tenders of the same thickness or use precut tenderloins. This is for even cooking.

3. Since we are using chicken breasts, they can dry out easily. Using a meat thermometer helps in cooking them perfectly while keeping them moist. 

Internal temperature must be over 165F for chicken to be perfectly cooked.

4. I prefer to brush only the tops of the tenders. This is so that the bottom breading still remains crunchy. 

Another tip is to serve the Buffalo sauce on the side so that it can be dipped into or applied just before eating. Else the tenders will get soggy soon.

5. Do remember that both the breading and chicken tender marination have salt. Use altogether ½ tsp. only. 

If you want you can only add seasonings to the flour and skip the one on the chicken, though I personally find that it enhances the flavour.

Storage

Apply adding the sauce, the tenders will get soggy pretty soon. You could store in the fridge for upto 2 days, then reheat in the air fryer and serve.

They may not get very crunchy though.

You can freeze these tenders and keep them in freezer for upto a month. Preferably, don’t apply the sauce when you are planning to freeze or refrigerate them.

That way, they will be crispy on reheating.

Instructions

Dry chicken tenderloins. If using chicken breasts, cut into similar sized strips and keep aside.

Assemble seasonings for flour as well as for chicken tenders.

Apply minced garlic, pepper and salt to chicken tenders. This is optional. I find that it makes them more flavorful.

But, you can skip this step.

Add onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper and cayenne to the flour and mix well.

Break 2 eggs in a shallow plate. Add 1 tbsp. water and beat lightly.

Preheat air fryer at 360F or 180C for 5 minutes.

Start breading chicken tenders. Dunk each tender in seasoned flour. Press well. Then shake to remove extra flour.

Now dip it well in egg wash to cover well.

Take it out and dip again in flour to form a nice coating.

Repeat for other tenders. I could fit four tenders at a time in my air fryer basket. Hence, I took two batches to do the entire batch.

Spray olive oil or brush on air fryer basket.

Place breaded chicken tenders in air fryer basket.

Apply or spray olive oil so that all floured surfaces are covered on the tenders.

Air fry at 360F or 180C for 10 minutes. Open air fryer basket.

Carefully flip the tenders. You may use a spatula if the coating seems to be sticking.

You could also use parchment paper to line air fryer basket to prevent sticking.

After flipping the tenders, spray/brush oil to cover all floured surfaces.

Air fry again at 360F or 180C for 8-12 minutes till the tenders are cooked.

Use a meat thermometer in the densest part of the part. Its temperature must be above 165F for it to be cooked.

Now, take out the crunchy chicken tenders.

You can toss in Buffalo sauce or apply sauce all over them.

Serve hot with ranch dressing or blue cheese dip along with celery and carrot batons.

Enjoy your delicious Buffalo chicken tenders in air fryer.

They are so good!

In case you have leftovers, here's how to reheat chicken tenders in air fryer.

Here's the recipe card:

📖 Recipe Card

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