Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders from the Air Fryer

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders are a fast, flavorful weeknight dinner or crowd-pleasing appetizer. Cooked in the air fryer, they turn out super crispy without deep-frying in lots of oil, so they feel a bit lighter while still delivering big flavor.

Ingredients

Most of these pantry-friendly ingredients are probably already on hand, making this an easy go-to recipe.

• Chicken: 1 pound chicken tenderloins.
• Breadcrumbs: 1/2 cup seasoned whole wheat or regular seasoned breadcrumbs plus 1/2 cup panko for extra crunch.
• Buffalo Sauce: About 2 tablespoons to toss the chicken and more for drizzling at the end; use your favorite brand.
• Seasoning: Garlic powder, paprika, cayenne (to taste), salt and pepper.
• Olive Oil: A light spray of olive oil to help the breading crisp and brown.

The full ingredient amounts appear in the recipe card below.

Step-By-Step Instructions

These come together quickly—about 10 minutes to prep, then air fry or bake until golden and cooked through.

1. Preheat and mix. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes. In a shallow bowl, combine the seasoned breadcrumbs, panko, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper. Stir to blend.
2. Toss the chicken. In another bowl, toss the chicken tenders with 2 tablespoons buffalo sauce so they’re lightly coated.
3. Bread the tenders. Shake off any excess sauce, then dredge each tender in the breadcrumb mixture until evenly coated. Lay coated tenders on a plate and lightly spray both sides with olive oil spray.
4. Air fry. Arrange tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket (work in batches if needed). Air fry at 400°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping once halfway through, until they’re golden and fully cooked.
5. Serve. Serve immediately for best crispiness. Drizzle with additional buffalo sauce and pair with blue cheese or ranch for dipping.

Variations

Small tweaks let you tailor these tenders to different tastes or equipment.

• Bake in the oven. If you don’t have an air fryer, bake at 400°F for 16–20 minutes, flipping once. For extra crunch, broil 1–2 minutes at the end.
• Skip the buffalo sauce. If you prefer milder tenders, toss the chicken with olive oil or a beaten egg before breading, and serve with your favorite dipping sauce instead.
• Turn up the heat. Add extra cayenne to the breadcrumb mix or pour extra buffalo sauce over the tenders before serving for more spice.

Serving Suggestions

• Offer blue cheese or ranch dressing for dipping.
• Serve as an appetizer with carrot and celery sticks—perfect for game day or gatherings.
• Make a quick dinner with fries, a green salad, or mashed potatoes.
• Slice and add to a salad with crispy greens, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, and your choice of dressing.

More Recipes

• Air Fryer Parmesan Crusted Chicken
• Baked Chicken Nuggets
• BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
• Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
• Baked Zucchini Chips with Sriracha Aioli

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