Crispy & Flavorful Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders: Your Go-To Quick Meal!
Are you searching for a delicious, quick, and easy meal that satisfies your cravings for something spicy and satisfying? Look no further than these incredible Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders! In just under 20 minutes, you can whip up a batch of perfectly crispy, flavor-packed chicken tenders that are a healthier alternative to their deep-fried counterparts. Whether you’re planning a casual family dinner, preparing game day appetizers, or simply looking for a new weeknight favorite, this recipe for Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders is an absolute winner. Plus, with a simple ingredient swap, it’s incredibly easy to make them entirely gluten-free!
Our inspiration for these buffalo chicken tenders came from our popular Air Fryer Buffalo Cauliflower Wings. We adapted the zesty, spicy flavor profile to create these succulent chicken tenders, and the result was nothing short of perfection. They boast that ideal balance of heat and tanginess, encased in a wonderfully crunchy coating, all thanks to the magic of the air fryer.
I distinctly remember making these for my son, opting not to warn him about the “kick” – a fun experiment, indeed! I’ve never seen him move so fast for a glass of milk, but despite the surprise spice, he absolutely loved them. This is high praise from a child who has always been notoriously picky, proving just how irresistible these tenders truly are. Even if you have a discerning eater in your household, these buffalo chicken tenders might just become their new favorite!
Why Choose the Air Fryer for Buffalo Chicken Tenders?
The air fryer has revolutionized home cooking, and for good reason. When it comes to dishes like chicken tenders, it offers a multitude of benefits:
- Unmatched Crispy Texture: The air fryer circulates hot air rapidly, creating an incredibly crispy exterior on your chicken tenders without the need for excessive oil. This gives you that satisfying crunch reminiscent of deep-frying, but with far less fat.
- Faster Cooking Time: Air fryers heat up quickly and cook food efficiently. These tenders are ready in less than 20 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights when you need a speedy meal.
- Healthier Alternative: By using significantly less oil than traditional frying methods, air frying allows you to enjoy your favorite fried foods with fewer calories and less fat. It’s a guilt-free indulgence!
- Easy Cleanup: Most air fryer baskets are non-stick and dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze compared to dealing with pots of hot oil.
- Even Cooking: The consistent airflow ensures that each chicken tender cooks evenly, preventing dry spots or undercooked areas.
These advantages make the air fryer the ultimate tool for achieving delicious, perfectly cooked buffalo chicken tenders every time.
Essential Ingredients for Your Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Crafting these delectable chicken tenders requires a handful of simple, readily available ingredients. The beauty of this recipe lies in its straightforward nature, allowing the bold buffalo flavor to truly shine.
- Chicken Tenderloins: We recommend boneless chicken tenderloins for their consistent size and quick cooking. You can also use boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch thick strips if tenderloins aren’t available.
- Butter: Melted butter is crucial for creating the rich base of the buffalo sauce coating, helping it adhere to the chicken and adding a depth of flavor.
- Buffalo Sauce: The star of the show! Use your favorite brand of classic buffalo sauce. Adjust the amount to control the heat level to your preference.
- Regular or Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs are essential for that signature crispy coating. Choose regular breadcrumbs for a classic tender, or opt for gluten-free panko breadcrumbs for a celiac-friendly version. We’ll delve deeper into gluten-free options shortly.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a savory aromatic depth to the breading, complementing the buffalo flavor beautifully.
- Salt: Enhances all the flavors in the recipe.
- Pepper: A touch of black pepper adds a subtle spice and rounds out the seasoning.
- Grapeseed Oil Spray: Used to lightly coat the chicken and the air fryer basket, ensuring maximum crispiness and preventing sticking. Olive oil spray can also be used.
With these ingredients at hand, you’re well on your way to a fantastic meal!
Expert Tips for Perfectly Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders:
Achieving restaurant-quality results at home is easy with a few key tips:
1. Master the Breading Process: The Dry Chicken Secret
This is arguably the most critical step for ensuring your breading sticks and stays crispy. Before dipping your chicken tenderloins into the buffalo sauce mixture, it is absolutely essential to completely pat them dry with paper towels. Any excess moisture on the chicken’s surface will prevent the breading from adhering properly, leading to a soggy, falling-off coating once cooked. Take your time with this step – a thoroughly dry chicken tender means a perfectly coated and crispy bite every time. For more in-depth techniques on how to ensure your breading sticks, you can refer to additional resources like this article on breading chicken.
2. Don’t Overcrowd the Air Fryer Basket
For truly crispy results, it’s vital to cook the chicken tenders in a single layer without overlapping. Overcrowding the air fryer basket restricts the hot air circulation, which is key to achieving that desired crispiness. If you have a larger batch of chicken, cook it in two or more batches. This ensures that each tender gets ample exposure to the circulating hot air, resulting in even cooking and a golden-brown crunch.
3. Air Fryer Temperature and Timing May Vary
Just like ovens, not all air fryers are created equal. Different brands and models can have slight variations in heating power and efficiency. Therefore, while our recipe provides a general cooking time and temperature (12 to 15 minutes at 390°F in a Ninja Air Fryer), it’s important to monitor your chicken closely. Keep an eye on it, especially during your first time making this recipe. The goal is a beautifully golden-brown exterior and a fully cooked interior.
4. Always Check for Doneness with a Meat Thermometer
The most important safety and quality check for any chicken dish is its internal temperature. Chicken is safely cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C). Use an instant-read meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the largest tenderloin to verify doneness. This ensures your chicken is not only safe to eat but also juicy and tender, not overcooked and dry.
5. Consider Oil Spray for Optimal Crispiness
While the buffalo sauce and breading provide a good base, a light spray of grapeseed or olive oil on the breaded chicken tenders before air frying can enhance their crispiness and help achieve a beautiful golden color. Grapeseed oil is often preferred for air frying due to its higher smoke point, but olive oil spray works perfectly fine too.
6. Flip Halfway Through Cooking
For truly even crisping and cooking, it’s a good practice to flip the chicken tenders halfway through the air frying process. This ensures both sides get direct exposure to the circulating hot air, resulting in a uniformly golden and crunchy coating.
Can You Make This Recipe Gluten-Free? Absolutely!
Making Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders gluten-free is incredibly simple and requires just one key swap: use gluten-free breadcrumbs. The market now offers a fantastic variety of gluten-free breadcrumb options that perform just as well, if not better, than their traditional counterparts in the air fryer. Many gluten-free panko breadcrumbs, for instance, create an exceptionally crispy crust.
I personally have great success using Ian’s Original Panko Breadcrumbs for this recipe, and they deliver a consistently delicious and crispy result.
Beyond the breadcrumbs, it’s also crucial to verify that your buffalo sauce is gluten-free. While most buffalo sauces are naturally gluten-free, it’s always a good habit to check the ingredient label, especially if you have a severe gluten sensitivity or allergy. Some brands might contain hidden gluten-containing ingredients. For peace of mind, you can also explore recipes for easy gluten-free buffalo sauce to make your own at home.
With these simple considerations, everyone can enjoy these spicy, crispy tenders!
Serving Suggestions & Pairing Ideas
These Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders are incredibly versatile and can be served in many ways, making them perfect for any occasion. Here are some ideas to complete your meal:
- Classic Pairing: Serve them alongside crispy Air Fryer French Fries for a classic American comfort food experience. Sweet potato fries also make a great alternative.
- Dipping Sauces: The tenders are fantastic on their own, but pairing them with a cooling dipping sauce takes them to the next level. Blue cheese dressing and ranch dressing are traditional favorites that perfectly complement the heat of the buffalo sauce. A simple Greek yogurt dip with a squeeze of lemon and fresh herbs can also be a delicious and lighter option.
- Main Course Meal: Turn them into a fulfilling meal by adding a fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette, or a side of steamed vegetables like broccoli or green beans for a balanced dinner.
- Game Day & Party Appetizer: Arrange them on a platter with celery and carrot sticks, alongside your favorite dips, for an irresistible party snack that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
- Buffalo Chicken Wraps or Salads: Chop the cooked tenders and use them as a flavorful topping for a crisp salad, or wrap them in a tortilla with lettuce, tomato, and a drizzle of ranch for a quick lunch.
The possibilities are endless! Experiment with your favorite sides and dips to customize your buffalo chicken tender experience.
How Do You Store and Reheat Leftover Chicken Tenders?
Proper storage and reheating ensure that your delicious Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders remain tasty and crispy even as leftovers.
- Storage: Once cooled to room temperature, place any leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container. They will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. This makes them a great option for meal prepping throughout the week.
- Reheating in the Air Fryer: For the best results and to restore that desirable crispiness, reheating in the air fryer is highly recommended. Preheat your air fryer to 340°F (170°C). Place the tenders in a single layer in the basket and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until heated through and crispy again. You might need to add an extra minute or two depending on your air fryer model and how many tenders you are reheating.
- Reheating in the Microwave: While the microwave won’t restore the crispiness, it’s a quick option for heating the tenders if you’re in a hurry. Place them on a microwave-safe plate and heat for 1 minute, or until warm. Be careful not to overheat, as this can make the chicken tough.
- Freezing (for longer storage): If you want to store them for a longer period, you can freeze cooked tenders. Once completely cooled, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and flash freeze for about 1-2 hours until solid. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container, removing as much air as possible. They can be stored for up to 2-3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway, until heated through and crispy.
Enjoying your tenders again is just a few minutes away!
More Buffalo Sauce-Inspired Recipes to Try:
If you’ve fallen in love with the zesty, spicy flavor of buffalo sauce, then you’ll definitely want to explore these other fantastic air fryer recipes:
- Air Fryer Buffalo Shrimp: A quick and flavorful seafood option, perfect for appetizers or a light meal.
- Air Fryer Buffalo Wings: The classic game day snack, made perfectly crispy in your air fryer.
- Air Fryer Cauliflower Wings: A delicious vegetarian alternative that delivers all the buffalo flavor without the meat.
These recipes demonstrate the incredible versatility of buffalo sauce and the efficiency of air frying!
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
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Ingredients
- 8 Chicken Tenderloins Boneless
- 4 Tbsp Butter Melted
- 1/2 Cup Buffalo Sauce
- 1 Cup Gluten-Free or Regular Breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp Garlic Powder
- 1 Tsp Salt
- 1/2 Tsp Pepper
- Grapeseed or Olive Oil Cooking Spray
Instructions
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In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and your chosen buffalo sauce until well combined. This will form the flavorful wet coating for your chicken. Set this mixture aside.
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In a separate, shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs (regular or gluten-free), garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix these dry ingredients thoroughly to ensure the seasoning is evenly distributed for a consistent flavor in every bite.
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Prepare your chicken: Lay the chicken tenderloins on a clean surface and pat them completely dry with paper towels. This crucial step ensures the buffalo sauce and breading adhere properly to the chicken, preventing it from slipping off during cooking or eating.
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Begin breading: Dip each chicken tenderloin first into the buffalo sauce mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Let any excess sauce drip off. Immediately transfer the saucy tenderloin to the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure a full and even coating on all sides. Once breaded, lightly spray the chicken with grapeseed or olive oil cooking spray. Arrange the coated chicken pieces in a single layer in your air fryer basket, ensuring they are not touching to allow for optimal air circulation. You may need to cook in batches.
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Cook for 12-15 minutes in the air fryer at 390°F (199°C). For even crisping, flip the chicken tenders halfway through the cooking time. The chicken is done when it’s golden brown and has reached an internal temperature of at least 165°F (74°C) when measured with a meat thermometer.
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Once cooked to perfection, carefully remove the hot buffalo chicken tenders from the air fryer basket. Serve them immediately with your favorite dipping sauce, such as blue cheese or ranch, and enjoy!
Notes
It is imperative that you fully dry the chicken with paper towels before breading it. This ensures the breading adheres firmly to the chicken and prevents it from falling off, giving you a perfectly crispy tender every time.
Nutrition
Conclusion
In conclusion, these Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders offer an irresistible combination of spicy kick, savory chicken, and satisfying crispiness, all achieved with minimal fuss and effort. They’re not only incredibly quick to prepare, making them ideal for busy schedules, but also offer a healthier way to enjoy your favorite comfort food. Whether you’re feeding a crowd, a picky eater, or simply treating yourself, this recipe is guaranteed to impress. Don’t forget the versatile gluten-free option, ensuring everyone can partake in the deliciousness. So, fire up your air fryer and get ready to enjoy a fantastic meal that truly brings the flavor!