I always loved planning a fun dinner for my sons on their first day back to school after summer vacation. Over the years, I have created all sorts of things, and this year while my sons are off in the working world, they are my inspiration for tonight's dinner. Air Fryer Chicken Fingers are delicious. These tenders are lightly breaded and then take a whirl in the air fryer. Minutes later, they are crisp and golden and delicious! I love how they are also so much healthier than frying in oil. I know my boys would devour these, and if by some crazy chance we had leftovers, I would pack them for their school lunch the next day.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Chicken Fingers:
2 pounds chicken tenders
3 eggs + 3 tablespoons water, lightly beaten
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 cup unflavored panko
3/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
cooking spray
Time-Saving Tip: Bread the chicken and refrigerate it until ready to cook.
Let's see what we need.
We're ready to cook.
Set up a workstation. Combine the panko and bread crumbs in a medium-sized bowl. Add the flour to a second bowl, and beat the eggs and water in a third bowl. Dip each tended in the flour and shake off the excess. Then dip in a piece of chicken in the egg mixture and then flour mixture. Continue until all of the tenders are coated. Transfer the chicken to a parchment-lined sheet pan and coat both sides with cooking spray.
Preheat the air fryer to 400-degrees. Once heated, coat the rack with cooking spray. Add some of the tenders and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over and cook for an additional 5 minutes. If the tenders were prepared in advance and refrigerated, the cooking time might need to be increased.
They're ready! Air Fryer Chicken Fingers are irresistible. Crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. These are great for dinner, lunch and gameday snacking.
Enjoy!
Air Fryer Chicken Fingers:
2 pounds chicken tenders
3 eggs + 3 tablespoons water, lightly beaten
1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 cup unflavored panko
3/4 cup flour
3 tablespoons parmesan cheese
cooking spray
Set up a workstation. Combine the panko and bread crumbs in a medium-sized bowl. Add the flour to a second bowl, and beat the eggs and water in a third bowl. Dip each tended in the flour and shake off the excess. Then dip in a piece of chicken in the egg mixture and then flour mixture. Continue until all of the tenders are coated. Transfer the chicken to a parchment-lined sheet pan and coat both sides with cooking spray.
Preheat the air fryer to 400-degrees. Once heated, coat the rack with cooking spray. Add some of the tenders and cook for 5 minutes. Turn the chicken pieces over and cook for an additional 5 minutes. If the tenders were prepared in advance and refrigerated, the cooking time might need to be increased.
Time-Saving Tip: Bread the chicken and refrigerate it until ready to cook.