Crispy Air Fryer Chicken Fingers

These air fryer chicken fingers are guaranteed to impress even the fussiest of eaters. Perfect as a quick snack or easy dinner.

Air fryer chicken fingers

Ingredients

  • Chicken breasts.You could use boneless chicken thighs or store-bought chicken tenders/tenderloins too.
  • Flour. Use gluten-free all purpose flour if you’re gluten intolarant.
  • Spices: Smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and black pepper.
  • Eggs. 
  • Panko breadcrumbs. Any bread crumbs can be substituted but Panko definitely delivers a super crispy crust. Crushed corn flakes or crackers are a good alternative.
  • Oil (optional).

Chicken fingers in panko breadcrumbs

How to make chicken fingers

  1. Bread the chicken: Slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips. Place the flour and half of the seasoning in one bowl and mix well. Whisk the eggs into another bowl. Finally, mix the panko breadcrumbs with the remaining spices in another bowl. Alternatively use ziploc bags for the dry ingredients. Dredge the chicken first in the flour, then in the egg and finally in the breadcrumb mixture.
  2. Cook the chicken: Place the chicken in the air-fryer basket in a single layer. Depending on how much chicken you’re cooking, you might need to do this in batches. Drizzle or spray with olive oil (optional). Set the temperature to 200ºC/390ºF and air fry for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, flip the chicken fingers over and cook for another 3-5 minutes until crisp and golden. If you don’t have an air fryer, these chicken fingers can be baked at 220ºC until crisp and golden or fried in vegetable oil.
  3. Serve: Remove the chicken fingers once cooked and serve with lemon wedges and dipping sauces of your choice.

Crispy chicken strips

Can I make this ahead?

The chicken strips can be breaded up to hour before cooking. Bread the chicken then place on a wire rack set over a sheetpan in the fridge. They can also be frozen for up to 3 months. Freeze the chicken on a sheetpan until frozen solid then transfer to a freezer bag or freezer-safe container and cook the frozen chicken tenders in the air fryer. Cooked chicken fingers can be kept in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheated in the air fryer.

What to serve with chicken strips

These air fryer chicken tenders are delicious as an easy snack or lunch with your favorite dipping sauce (BBQ sauce, Ranch dressing, honey mustard, etc) but adding potatoes or a salad will turn them into a delicious meal. Air fryer French fries, baked fries or potato wedges is a good idea as is a fresh corn salad.

  1. Easy oven baked fries
  2. Summer grilled corn salad
  3. Maple-mustard dipping sauce

Air fryer chicken strips

Air fryer recipes

  1. Air fryer crumbed mushrooms
  2. Cilantro Lime Air Fryer Chicken Wings
  3. Easy Airfryer Chicken Breast
Air fryer chicken fingers

Crispy Air fryer chicken fingers

These chicken fingers made in the Air fryer are guaranteed to impress even the fussiest of eaters. Perfect as a quick snack or easy dinner.
4.75 from 16 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer recipe, Chicken fingers, Chicken fingers recipe
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Calories: 285kcal
Author: Alida Ryder
Servings: 4

Ingredients

  • 4 chicken breasts
  • cups flour
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 tbsp oil (optional)

Instructions

  • Slice boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips.
  • Place the flour and half of the seasoning in one bowl and mix well. Whisk the eggs into another bowl. Finally, mix the panko breadcrumbs with the remaining spices in another bowl.
  • Coat the chicken first in the flour, then in the egg and finally in the breadcrumbs. 
  • Place the chicken in the air fryer basket. Drizzle or spray with olive oil (optional).
  • Set the temperature to 200ºC/390ºF and cook for 10 minutes.
  • After 10 minutes, turn the chicken fingers over and cook for another 3-5 minutes until crisp and golden. If you don't have an Air fryer, these chicken fingers can be baked at 220ºC until crisp and golden or fried in vegetable oil. 
  • Remove the chicken fingers once cooked and serve with lemon wedges and dipping sauces of your choice.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 1437mg | Potassium: 526mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 645IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 2mg