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Crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders Recipe With Easy Tangy Sauce

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Crispy air fryer buffalo chicken tenders with a homemade tangy buffalo sauce, delivering a healthier, flavorful twist on classic buffalo wings. Perfect for quick snacks, family dinners, or game days.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) chicken tenders or chicken breast strips, fresh or thawed
  • 1 cup (120 g) all-purpose flour or almond flour for gluten-free
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 cup (90 g) panko breadcrumbs (use gluten-free if needed)
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp black pepper
  • Cooking spray or 1 tbsp olive oil
  • ½ cup (120 ml) hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot recommended)
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Optional dipping sauce:
  • ½ cup (120 g) plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
  • 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives or parsley
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. Set up breading stations: combine flour, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper in one bowl; whisk eggs in a second bowl; place panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl or plate.
  3. Dredge each chicken tender in the flour mixture, shake off excess, dip into beaten eggs, then coat thoroughly with panko breadcrumbs. Set aside.
  4. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes.
  5. Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil. Place tenders in a single layer without touching. Spray tops lightly with cooking spray.
  6. Cook tenders for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
  7. While chicken cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan or microwave. Stir in hot sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Mix well and adjust seasoning as desired.
  8. Transfer cooked tenders to a large bowl and toss gently with the buffalo sauce to coat evenly.
  9. Serve immediately with optional dipping sauce and garnish with fresh herbs if desired.

Notes

For crispiest tenders, ensure chicken pieces are evenly sized and thoroughly dried before breading. Cook in batches to avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Use a meat thermometer to check doneness (165°F internal). Re-crisp tenders for 2 minutes in air fryer if soggy after tossing in sauce. Adjust sauce heat by modifying hot sauce or cayenne pepper amounts.

Nutrition

Keywords: buffalo chicken tenders, air fryer chicken, crispy chicken tenders, buffalo sauce, easy chicken recipe, game day snacks, healthy chicken tenders

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