Ingredients
Method
1. Prep the air fryer
- Preheat your air fryer to 385°F.
2. Season the chicken
- Slice the chicken breasts into tender-sized strips. Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
3. Bread the chicken
- Set up three bowls, one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with crushed cornflakes.
- Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour, then dip it into the egg, then press it firmly into the crushed cornflakes until coated on all sides.
4. Air fry
- Place the coated chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Lightly spray them with oil and make sure there is space around each piece so they cook evenly.
- Air fry at 385°F for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
5. Toss in hot sauce
- Once cooked, lightly toss the chicken tenders with hot sauce of choice until coated.
6. Make the dipping sauce
- In a small bowl, mix together the mayo, chili crunch, and honey until smooth and well combined.
7. Serve the Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
- Serve the crispy hot chicken tenders right away with the dipping sauce on the side.
Notes
Tips: Use chicken breasts sliced into thick strips if you want a more substantial tender with a meatier bite.
Tips: Crush the cornflakes enough so they stick well, but do not crush them into a powder. A rough texture gives the tenders a crispier finish.
Tips: Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave room around each piece so the chicken cooks evenly and crisps up properly.
Tips: Spray the tenders lightly with oil before cooking so the coating browns better.
Tips: Toss the chicken gently in the hot sauce after cooking so it gets coated without losing too much crunch.
Substitutions: You can use chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breast if you want a more traditional tender shape.
Substitutions: Any mayo works for the dipping sauce.
Substitutions: Use your favorite hot sauce depending on how spicy you want the final chicken.
Substitutions: You can swap honey for hot honey if you want a little extra sweet heat in the sauce.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: You can skip tossing the tenders in hot sauce and just serve the sauce on the side to better control how much is used.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: Use a lighter mayo if you want to reduce calories in the dipping sauce.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: Pair the tenders with a simple salad or roasted vegetables.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: You can also make smaller portions and serve these as part of a higher protein meal with fruit or vegetables on the side.
Make Ahead and Storage: You can slice and season the chicken ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 day before breading.
Make Ahead and Storage: The dipping sauce can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Make Ahead and Storage: Store leftover cooked chicken tenders in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F until warmed through and crisp again.
Tips: Crush the cornflakes enough so they stick well, but do not crush them into a powder. A rough texture gives the tenders a crispier finish.
Tips: Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Leave room around each piece so the chicken cooks evenly and crisps up properly.
Tips: Spray the tenders lightly with oil before cooking so the coating browns better.
Tips: Toss the chicken gently in the hot sauce after cooking so it gets coated without losing too much crunch.
Substitutions: You can use chicken tenderloins instead of chicken breast if you want a more traditional tender shape.
Substitutions: Any mayo works for the dipping sauce.
Substitutions: Use your favorite hot sauce depending on how spicy you want the final chicken.
Substitutions: You can swap honey for hot honey if you want a little extra sweet heat in the sauce.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: You can skip tossing the tenders in hot sauce and just serve the sauce on the side to better control how much is used.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: Use a lighter mayo if you want to reduce calories in the dipping sauce.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: Pair the tenders with a simple salad or roasted vegetables.
Lower Carb or Weight Loss Tips: You can also make smaller portions and serve these as part of a higher protein meal with fruit or vegetables on the side.
Make Ahead and Storage: You can slice and season the chicken ahead of time and keep it covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 day before breading.
Make Ahead and Storage: The dipping sauce can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Make Ahead and Storage: Store leftover cooked chicken tenders in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F until warmed through and crisp again.