Can I cook raw chicken in an air fryer?

Of course! You can cook raw or even frozen chicken in an air fryer. I recommend cooking chicken tenders or chicken breast at 375F. It'll take about 8-10 minutes for tenders, and about 16-18 minutes for breasts, depending on their thickness.

How long can I marinate chicken tenders in buffalo sauce?

Marinate chicken tenders in spices and homemade buffalo sauce on the counter for no longer than 30 minutes or up to 24 hours in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Are chicken tenders the same as breasts?

No, chicken tenders are the tenderloin muscle attached to breasts. Tenderloins are considered white meat, like breasts, and they have a similar texture. Tenders are made by cutting the tenderloin muscle off the breast.

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders - No Breading

Name: Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders - No Breading
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 20 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 1/4 lbs. chicken tenders; 1/2 tsp. garlic powder; 1/2 tsp. paprika; 1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning; 1/2 tsp. table salt; 4 Tbsp. hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot sauce), divided; 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter (melted), divided; cooking spray

Description

Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders without breading are a quick and easy dinner or appetizer packed with flavor and tossed in a mouthwatering homemade buffalo sauce. And since these chicken strips are made without breading, they are not only super simple to prepare, they are also gluten-free and low-carb.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 1/4 lbs. chicken tenders
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp. table salt
4 Tbsp. hot sauce (such as Frank's RedHot sauce), divided
3 Tbsp. unsalted butter (melted), divided
cooking spray

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Instructions

Dry the chicken tenders well then place in a medium mixing bowl. Sprinkle with garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning and table salt and toss well to coat. Add 1 tablespoon each of the hot sauce and melted butter and toss to coat. Marinate on the counter for 10 minutes.
While the chicken marinates, preheat an air fryer to 375F. Spray with a bit of cooking spray then add the chicken in a single layer and cook for 6 minutes. Discard any excess marinade. Flip the chicken and continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches at least 165F and the chicken is browned and slightly charred, another 4-6 minutes.
While the chicken cooks, stir together the remaining 3 tablespoon hot sauce and 2 tablespoons melted butter in a medium bowl. Add the cooked chicken and toss well to coat. Serve the chicken hot.

Notes

If you can't find chicken tenderloins, you can slice chicken cutlets or breasts into thin strips.
You can marinate the chicken in the spices and hot sauce mixture in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours.
Store leftover buffalo chicken strips in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator or freeze for up to 1 month. To reheat, cook in a 375F oven until sizzling hot.
To make this recipe in the oven, turn on convection and preheat to 375F. Place the chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165F, about 12 minutes, flipping halfway.
Try serving these air fryer chicken tenders with our Avocado Aioli, Buffalo Ranch Sauce, Horseradish Aioli or Easy Sour Dream and Chive Dip.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Category: chicken
Method: air fryer
Cuisine: American