Air Fryer Chicken Fingers Recipe

Homemade chicken fingers, anyone?! This recipe is a simple, delicious, easy-prep meal to throw in the air fryer! Five minutes of prep, 8 minutes in the air fryer, and voila, you’ve got a satisfying, crowd-pleasing meal that kids and adults will love.

When taste and nutrition join forces

I love this recipe because my kids have always been a big fan of chicken nuggets/tenders- it’s a source of protein we can almost always agree on! But I don’t typically want them deep fried in oil, so I came up with this easy air fryer version that gives you the same protein-rich, delicious chicken nugget experience at home without the frying. I think you’ll love how simple the prep is, how crispy and delicious they turn out, and the way this meal can feed a family in minutes!

Ingredients Needed

All you need is:

• 1 lb chicken tenders
• 1/2 cup classic French breadcrumbs
• 3/4 cup Fiber One cereal, crushed (measure then crush)
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• Cooking spray

Note: These are my starting quantities, but you may not use all of the breadcrumb mixture or butter. I found that I had some left over after all my dipping/breading, but this amount will give you enough to make sure you can coat all the chicken pieces well.

How to make these chicken fingers

1. Melt butter in dish large enough to dip the chicken tenders in.
2. Add breadcrumbs, crushed cereal, Parmesan, salt and powdered sugar to shallow dish and stir together.
3. Dip chicken in melted butter, then coat completely with breading mixture.
4. Turn air fryer on to 400° F.
5. Spray tops of chicken lightly with cooking spray
6. Cook chicken (in batches) for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for 3 more minutes or until fully cooked through.
7. Serve with fruit, veggies, potato wedges- anything you like on the side with your chicken fingers!

Prefer nuggets?

You can follow the same recipe to make them into chicken nuggets instead. You’ll just need to slice the tenders into nugget-sized pieces before you dip the chicken in the butter and coat it with the breadcrumb mixture. These will cook up a little faster so I’d check them after about 6 minutes total to see if they are done!

No air fryer?

I know it can be a hassle to get another kitchen appliance, but this one is going to be your favorite, I just know it! Crispy food is where it’s at, and this is the best way to get the perfect crispiness without having to use a ton of oil.

This is the one I have, I love it! It also comes in a larger size if you are usually cooking for a crowd. And if you prefer a toaster oven/air fryer combo (who can blame you), this is the one I’d recommend!

But if you want to make this recipe NOW and you don’t have an air fryer, I would recommend cooking in the oven. Bake at 425 for about 15-20 minutes for tenders. If you have a cookie sheet, put that on top of a baking sheet and spray it with cooking spray, then put the tenders on there to bake. That way the air can get all around and make both sides equally crispy!

Recipe FAQs

Do I have to use cereal?

No, you don’t have to include the Fiber One cereal- you could just use breadcrumbs. But I personally like the added boost of fiber and the crunch/texture the cereal gives!

Can these be chicken tenders or chicken breasts?

Absolutely- whatever shape you prefer- nuggets or tenders, even full chicken breasts if you want- these will work great! You will likely need to adjust cook time for larger or thicker cuts.

Powdered sugar?!

Trust me! It sounds odd, I know, but adding the little hint of sweetness in the ‘batter’ is so nice when it’s all cooked up, and what makes it resemble the Chick-Fil-a taste!

Expert Tips

Make sure you use separate surfaces (and wash your hands between) for when you’re preparing your raw chicken versus when you’re handling cooked chicken! Food safety is so important when it comes to raw meats!

Larger cuts of chicken may take additional time in the air fryer versus smaller cuts, so keep that in mind if you’re choosing small nuggets or an entire crusted chicken breast!

But what about snack time?

If “snack” is a word you hear your kid say at LEAST 20 times a day, I bet you could use some more ideas for easy storebought snacks that are nutritious, too! 

Download my FREE toddler and kid friendly snack guide!

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