Crispy Air Fryer Chicken (Printable)
Juicy chicken strips in a crunchy golden crust, cooked quickly with a healthier air fryer method.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.1 lbs chicken tenders or boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
→ Breading
02 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
03 - 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 1 tsp garlic powder
05 - 1 tsp paprika
06 - 1/2 tsp salt
07 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
→ Wet Mixture
08 - 2 large eggs
09 - 1 tbsp water
→ Cooking
10 - Olive oil spray
# Directions:
01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - In a shallow bowl, combine flour, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
03 - In a second bowl, whisk the eggs with water.
04 - Place panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow bowl.
05 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
06 - Dredge each chicken strip in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
07 - Dip into the egg wash, then coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs.
08 - Arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Lightly spray with olive oil.
09 - Cook for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through and spraying again with oil, until crispy and the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
10 - Serve hot with your choice of dipping sauce.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- That impossibly crispy crunch without the guilt of deep frying
- Ready in under 30 minutes which is a lifesaver on busy weeknights
- Customizable spices mean you can make them mild or spicy
02 -
- Crowding the basket leads to soggy spots, so cook in batches if needed
- Spraying oil after flipping is what makes both sides equally crispy
03 -
- Adding a half teaspoon of cayenne to the flour mixture gives these a nice kick without overwhelming kids
- Gluten free panko works surprisingly well if you need to accommodate allergies