Air Fryer Chicken Strips (Printable)

Golden-breaded chicken tenders with Parmesan crust, air-fried to crispy perfection in under 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

→ Breading

02 - 3/4 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs
03 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
04 - 1 teaspoon paprika
05 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
06 - 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
07 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
08 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Wet Mix

09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 2 tablespoons low-fat milk

→ For Air Frying

11 - Olive oil spray

# Directions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
02 - Pat chicken strips dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
03 - In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and low-fat milk until well combined.
04 - In another bowl, combine whole wheat breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
05 - Dip each chicken strip into the egg mixture, then coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to ensure adhesion.
06 - Arrange coated strips in a single layer in the air fryer basket and lightly spray both sides with olive oil spray.
07 - Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
08 - Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get that satisfying crunch without the guilt or the mess of deep frying.
  • They cook faster than ordering delivery and taste like you spent all afternoon in the kitchen.
  • Kids and adults both reach for seconds, which makes weeknight dinner planning so much easier.
02 -
  • Don't skip the oil spray, I tried it once and the breading stayed pale and soft instead of turning crispy and golden.
  • Flip them at the halfway mark or one side will be perfect and the other will stay stubbornly bland.
  • If your air fryer is small, cook in batches so the strips don't steam each other instead of crisping up.
03 -
  • Press the breadcrumb coating firmly onto each strip so it doesn't fall off mid-cook, I learned this after cleaning my air fryer basket one too many times.
  • Use a meat thermometer to check doneness instead of guessing, 75°C (165°F) means perfectly juicy chicken every single time.
  • Double the batch and freeze the uncooked breaded strips on a tray, then transfer to a freezer bag for an even faster dinner next time.
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