Air Fryer Chicken Strips are made from scratch, and are crispy crunchy and delicious without frying!
Jump to RecipeThe Air Fryer
I love my air fryer! It is nothing fancy! No rotisserie option, no trays to fry multiple things. Just a basket that works perfectly for crips “fried” food without actual frying! The food also cooks up fast (usually in half the time) and tastes amazing with being pretty healthy!
Frozen food like nuggets, fries, tater tots and mozzarella sticks cook up perfect in the air fryer, but what about homemade things? Why not try some homemade chicken tenders in the air fryer!
I tried chicken tenders in the air fryer and they turned out super delicious! Crispy, crunchy, juicy and so freaking good! My boys loved them!
Also, try my Air Fried “Grilled” Chicken Bites! No breading, no frying just chicken that is marinaded in a delicious simple marinade.
The air fryer I have an love is below. The basket holds just enough. The buttons and controls are easy to figure out and use. You can adjust the time and cooking temperature to exactly what you need, but you can also use their preset cooking times and temps.
The clean up is easy with this air fryer. There is a tray that sits inside the basket. The tray lifts out so you can get the air fryer cleaned up in not time!
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The Chicken
You will need 1 1/2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips. The size of the strips is up to you!
Just cut the chicken into desired strips, making sure they are close to the same size so they will cook evenly in the air fryer.
The Breading for Air Fryer Chicken Strips
The breading is very similar to my Homemade Chicken Nuggets.
I use flour, cornstarch, seasoning salt, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, chili powder and paprika.
Mix your flour, cornstarch and seasonings in a large bowl.
The seasonings can be adjusted to your liking. Just taste the flour mixture after you have added the seasonings and mixed them together. Then adjust accordingly to your liking.
NOTE: The flour mixture will need to be seasoned enough that once it is on the chicken the flavor will not be too bland. When seasoning my flour for breading I always make it a touch saltier/seasoned than I think is the right amount so the seasonings come through once breaded and cooked on the chicken.
In another large bowl, add your eggs and some season salt. Beat your eggs. This will help the breading stick to the chicken.
Breading the Chicken Strips
I like top set up a work station for breading the chicken. It will be dipped in the egg bath first, then the flour mixture and then repeat. Each chicken piece will be dipped twice in that order so the breading is good and thick and crispy.
NOTE: Rubber food-grade gloves make it easier to handle the chicken, egg bath and flour and makes for an easier clean up on your hands.
Working in batches, take your chicken strips and dip them in the egg mixture.
Next, into the flour breading mixture. And then repeat.
I use a paper plate that can be tossed to put the breaded chicken strips on after breading them.
Air Frying the Chicken Strips
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees.
The chicken strips will cook super fast! Have a meat thermometer on hand to make sure you check the internal temperature. Spray the rack/bottom of the air fryer with cooking spray.
Place your chicken strips in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd the air fryer. If the air fryer is too full the chicken won’t cook up as crispy because there will be less air flow.
Let the chicken “fry” for about 3 minutes to start.
The breading will look white and start to crisp up. Turn the chicken strips over and let them cook for another 2 minutes.
After the 2 minutes, brush the chicken strips with melted butter or oil all over. Or spray the chicken strips with oil. See below for an oil mister/spray bottle that I have and love!
Let the chicken strips cook again for another 3-5 minutes, turning them part way through the last few minutes if they are not cooking evenly.
If you find your chicken strip are getting to crispy and not getting done in the center, then turn your temperature down to 375 degress and try another batch. Mine cooked perfect at 400 degrees.
Check the internal temperature of the thickest/biggest chicken strip to make sure it has reached 165 degrees F. Lightly salt your chicken strips after they are done “frying”.
Repeat with all of the chicken strips until they are all done!
Enjoy these Air Fried Chicken Strips with your favorite dipping sauce.
Frozen fries and tater tots cooked at 400 degrees are delicious to eat with these chicken strips.
Also try my Homemade Chicken Nuggets or my Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings or Air Fryer “Grilled” Chicken Bites.
If you liked this recipe please take the time to leave a comment and a star rating below! Also, don’t forget to follow me on Pinterest, Facebook and Instagram!
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Air Fryer Chicken Strips
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
Breading/Coating for the Chicken Strips
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 2/3 cups cornstarch
- 2 tbsp season salt *added to flour/cornstarch mixture
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
Egg Bath for Breading
- 4 large eggs, beaten/whisked
- 1 tsp season salt *added to beaten eggs
Things Needed for Cooking the Strips
- cooking spray to spray on the rack/tray of air fryer basket
- 1/4 cup oil, or melted butter for brushing on strips as they cook *you will need a basting brush for brushing the butter on the chicken or use an oil spray bottle
- salt, for lightly salting after cooking/"frying"
- Dipping sauce of your choice for eating
Instructions
- Cut your chicken into strips, and set aside. Make sure the strips are similar in size so they cook evenly.
- In a large bowl, add your flour, cornstarch, and seasonings. Mix well. Taste a pinch of the flour mixture to make sure it is seasoned enough to your liking. Once the breading is on the chicken, the flavor will lessen a bit, so I always make it a touch saltier then I think is enough. Adjust seasonings to your liking.
- In another large bowl, add your 4 eggs and 1 teaspoon of season salt. Beat the eggs and season salt.
- Working in batches, take your chicken strips and dip them in the egg mixture and then in the flour/cornstarch mixture making sure they are evenly covered. Then dip them all again in the egg mixture and then again in the flour mixture. Double dipping is important to get the breading good and crispy. Set them on a plate or on a dish so they are ready to air fry.Repeat until all of the chicken is breaded.
- Set your Air Fryer to 400 ℉. Spray the tray/rack of the air fryer with cooking spray. Put some of the chicken strips in the basket of the air fryer. Do not over crowd the basket. Cook in the batches as needed.Let the chicken strips "fry" for 3 minutes.
- Flip the chicken strips and let them cook for another 2 minutes.
- After the 2 minutes (they have only been cooking for 5 minutes at this point) brush the chicken strips with the oil or melted butter all over. Let the chicken strips cook again for another 3-5 minutes, turning them part way through the last few minutes if they are not cooking evenly.
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken strip. They should be 156℉ internal temperature to be done and safe to eat. ***If your air fryer is cooking them too fast and the breading is cooking too fast before the internal temperature reaches 165° , turn your air fryer down to 375° and try another batch of chicken strips at the lower temperature.
- Lightly salt the chicken strips after "frying".
- Serve with your favorite dipping sauce!
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
Easy and delicious! Best I’ve tried!
Tina thank you for trying them and taking the time to comment! I’m so glad you liked them!!❤️
Hi there! I’m so sorry you are frustrated! I cook about 5 chicken strips in my smaller fryer but in my larger air fryer I can fit 7-8. Depending on the size of your chicken strips you could fit more maybe less and it depends on the size of your air fryer. Just don’t put too many in or they will take much longer to cook if the fryer is crowded. You can look at some of the photos in the blog post to see how mine look in my air fryer and how far spaced out they are. As far as them sticking to the air fryer – spray the basket or tray with cooking spray … mine has a non-stick surface so mine do not stick and the cooking spray ensures this. you can spray the chicken strips as well before cooking them (you will brush oil or butter on them during cooking). If your chicken strips are thicker they may need to cook longer, and depending on how hot your air fryer cooks they may even need to be cooked at a lower temperature if you find they are getting crispy but not done in the center. Every air fryer cooks different so you may need to adjust it accordingly! Let me know if you have anymore questions!