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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Maisie Rowan

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders

Make crispy Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders at home with a spicy buffalo coating, juicy chicken, and a crunchy finish. Ready in minutes!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Course: Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 245
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Chicken
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken tenders
  • 1 cup finely crushed cornflakes
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooking spray
Honey Buffalo Sauce
  • 1/4 cup buffalo-style hot sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder optional

Method
 

  1. Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
  2. Season the chicken with garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Combine crushed cornflakes and panko breadcrumbs in a shallow bowl.
  4. Whisk the eggs in a separate bowl.
  5. Dip each chicken tender into the egg.
  6. Press each tender firmly into the cornflake-panko mixture.
  7. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F if recommended for your model.
  8. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil.
  9. Arrange the chicken in a single layer without overlapping.
  10. Lightly spray the tops with oil.
  11. Air fry for approximately 10–14 minutes, flipping halfway through.
  12. Check the thickest tender with an instant-read thermometer.
  13. Remove the chicken once it reaches 165°F (74°C).
  14. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
  15. Stir in the buffalo sauce and honey until smooth.
  16. Toss the cooked chicken gently with the warm sauce or brush the sauce over each tender.
  17. Serve immediately with ranch or blue cheese dressing, celery, and carrots.

Notes

For the best texture, we serve these Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders immediately after coating them with the honey buffalo sauce.
Add a small bowl of ranch or blue cheese dressing to the plate, then surround the chicken with fresh celery and carrot sticks. If we're serving them for a party, we can arrange everything on a large platter and keep extra buffalo sauce on the side.
The combination is simple, but it works: crispy chicken, spicy buffalo sauce, cooling dip, and fresh crunchy vegetables.