Best 5 Air Fryer Buttermilk Chicken Tender Recipes

CRISPY PARMESAN BUTTERMILK CHICKEN TENDERS (BAKED AND AIR FRYER)

Steps:

• Use a chef's knife to trim the fat from the chicken breasts and cut into tenders, about 5 per breast. Tap the thicker parts of the tenders with the flat part of the knife to even the thickness, about 1/2 inch at most.
• In a bowl or jar with a fitted lid, combine the buttermilk with half of the Worcestershire sauce, and half of the salt and pepper and paprika. Add to a gallon freezer bag with the chicken and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, watching closely as the butter melts and begins to foam and changes to a golden color with a nutty aroma. Remove the browned butter from the heat and let cook slightly.
• Combine the panko and the butter on a plate, tossing until well combined, then add the Parmesan cheese and toss. In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with the remaining Worcestershire sauce. On another plate, toss the flour with the remaining salt, pepper and smoked paprika.
• Drain the chicken and discard the buttermilk. Using tongs, work with one tender at a time and dredge the chicken through the flour to coat, then the egg, and then the panko.

AIR FRYER BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs in a shallow casserole dish. Pour buttermilk over chicken and refrigerate for 4 hours, or overnight.
• Preheat an air fryer to 380 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Mix flour, seasoned salt, and pepper in a large gallon-sized resealable bag. Dredge chicken thighs in seasoned flour. Dip back into the buttermilk, then coat with panko bread crumbs.
• Spray the basket of the air fryer with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange 1/2 of the chicken thighs in the basket, making sure none are touching. Spray the top of each chicken thigh with cooking spray.
• Cook in the preheated air fryer for 15 minutes. Flip. Spray tops of chicken again. Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, about 10 more minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Repeat with remaining chicken.

AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• For the chicken: Combine the buttermilk, Worcestershire sauce and paprika in a resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken, making sure it is completely coated. Seal the bag and place in a bowl. Let marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, stir together the panko with the Parmesan, olive oil and 1 teaspoon salt in a shallow baking dish or pie plate.
• For the dipping sauce: Stir together the mayonnaise, yellow mustard, honey and Dijon in a small bowl and set aside.
• Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 390 degrees F. Remove 1 piece of chicken at a time from the bag, shaking off excess buttermilk. Place in the panko and press gently with your hands to adhere the panko evenly. Gently shake to remove the excess and place in the air fryer basket. Repeat with enough chicken to fill the basket (about 4 pieces) and cook until golden brown and cooked through, about 7 minutes on each side. Repeat with the remaining chicken and serve warm with the dipping sauce.

IRRESISTIBLE AIR FRYER CHICKEN TENDERS

Steps:

• Place the chicken tenders in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour in the buttermilk, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Seal the bag and massage the chicken to bring the marinade together. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• When ready to cook, preheat a 2.5-liter air fryer to 375 degrees F.
• Put the chips in a second resealable plastic bag and crush with a rolling pin. Pour the chip crumbs into a shallow baking dish. Stir in the panko breadcrumbs and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
• Lift a chicken tender out of the marinade with tongs and allow the excess to drip off. Dredge the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, using your dry palm to press the breadcrumbs into the chicken until it is evenly coated. Repeat this process until all the tenders are breaded. Place the chicken tenders in the basket of the air fryer in one layer, making sure they don't touch. Spray the chicken generously with nonstick cooking spray.
• Cook until crispy on one side, about 8 minutes. Gently flip the chicken and spray with nonstick cooking spray again. Cook until crispy and deeply golden, 8 minutes more. If using a smaller air fryer, work in batches as needed.
• Place on a serving platter and serve warm with Hot Honey Mustard for dipping.
• Whisk together the mayonnaise, mustard, hot honey and hot sauce in a small bowl until incorporated. If making ahead, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. The sauce gets better with time!

AIR FRYER BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine the buttermilk, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon each garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a large bowl or resealable plastic bag. Add the chicken and thyme sprigs and let marinate 8 hours or overnight.
• Stir together the chopped thyme, flour, paprika, oregano, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cayenne and 1 teaspoon each garlic powder and onion powder in a large baking dish; season generously with salt and pepper. Drizzle about 1/4 cup of the buttermilk marinade over the flour mixture, mixing with a fork until craggy in texture.
• Remove the chicken from the marinade, letting the excess drip off. Dip in the flour mixture to coat well, then transfer to a plate.
• Preheat a 6-quart air fryer to 375˚ F. Coat half of the chicken with cooking spray; arrange in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Cook until crispy, 15 minutes, flipping halfway through. Cook the remaining chicken. Serve with potato salad and cornbread.