Air fryer buffalo chicken tenders are a restaurant classic and now you can make them at home any night of the week. They’re so quick and easy to make. All you need is frozen chicken tenders and your favorite buffalo sauce.
Frozen foods cook very easily in the air fryer, like chicken nuggets, tater tots, or crinkle cut fries. The air fryer saves us so much time and effort in the kitchen.
What are Buffalo Chicken Tenders?
Buffalo chicken tenders are chicken tenderloins that are coated in a crispy breadcrumb mixture, baked, then tossed in a spicy buffalo sauce. They’re a common bar food or appetizer in America, but they’re enjoyed all over the world. Similar to buffalo or hot sauced chicken wings, buffalo chicken tenders are often served with ranch or blue cheese dressing and veggie sticks.
Why is it called Buffalo Sauce?
It’s not actually that big of a mystery! Buffalo sauce is named after the city of Buffalo, New York, where it was first created. It’s made from a combination of hot sauce, butter, and vinegar. The sauce is tangy and spicy, and everyone seems to agree that it tastes best with chicken.
What dips go well with buffalo sauce?
Buffalo sauce is spicy, so most people prefer something cool to dip their buffalo chicken tenders in. We like ranch dressing and blue cheese dressing, and they’re the common choices. But you could also try:
- Honey mustard
- Aioli
- Avocado ranch
- Guacamole
- BBQ Sauce
Ingredients
- 8 frozen gluten-free or regular chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
How to Make
STEP ONE: Place the chicken tenders onto the baking tray. Add the number of chicken tenders you are cooking to the air fry tray.
STEP TWO: Preheat the air fryer and cook. Set the air fryer to 400°F. It only takes a couple of minutes to preheat. Place the rack into the air fryer and air fry for 4 minutes. Flip using tongs. Air fry for an additional 4 minutes.
STEP THREE: Dip chicken tenders in buffalo sauce. Add the buffalo sauce to a mixing bowl. Place the chicken tenders into the buffalo sauce using tongs to coat all sides. Place the coated chicken back onto the air fryer tray.
STEP FOUR: Air fry. Air fry the buffalo chicken tenders at 375°F for 2 minutes. Flip then cook for an additional 2 minutes.
STEP FIVE: Serve. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips and Recipe Notes:
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Leave some space between the chicken tenders.
- You can use chicken nuggets or chicken fingers in place of the chicken tenders in this recipe.
- Don’t oversauce your chicken. For the best flavor, coat your tenders so they’re covered but not seeping in the sauce.
- Serve with a salad and fries for a complete meal.
- I recommend lining your basket or tray with parchment paper to help contain the sauce and make cleaning up easier.
How to Store Buffalo Chicken Tenders
You can store these buffalo chicken tenders in the fridge for up to 3 days. Place them in an airtight container. I don’t recommend re-freezing frozen tenders, so try to eat these up within a few days of cooking them.
To reheat buffalo chicken tenders, place them back in the air fryer at 350 for about 5 minutes or until hot through. You can also microwave them for about a minute, flipping over half way through.
FAQs
Instead of buffalo sauce, you can dip your chicken in BBQ sauce, teriyaki sauce, honey garlic, mild wing sauce, sweet chili sauce, or another one of your favorite sauces. Just keep a close eye on the sauce in the air fryer. Sauces with more sugar may begin to burn.
Yes, you can! Bread your chicken tenderloins in breading (you can also use a milk or egg wash). Then, spray them lightly with cooking spray. Air fry for 6-7 minutes, flipping halfway through. Then, dip in the sauce and air fry for another 2-3 minutes. Check that the internal temperature of your chicken is at least 165° before eating.
You can spray your air fryer tray or basket with cooking spray, or you can line your basket with parchment paper.
Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Equipment
- medium-sized bowl
Ingredients
- 8 frozen gluten-free or regular chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
Instructions
- Place the chicken tenders onto the baking tray. Add the number of chicken tenders you are cooking to the air fry tray.
- Preheat the air fryer and cook. Set the air fryer to 400°F. It only takes a couple of minutes to preheat. Place the rack into the air fryer and air fry for 4 minutes. Flip using tongs. Air fry for an additional 4 minutes.
- Dip chicken tenders in buffalo sauce. Add the buffalo sauce to a mixing bowl. Place the chicken tenders into the buffalo sauce using tongs to coat all sides. Place the coated chicken back onto the air fryer tray.
- Air fry. Air fry the buffalo chicken tenders at 375°F for 2 minutes. Flip then cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Serve. Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. Leave some space between the chicken tenders.
- You can use chicken nuggets or chicken fingers in place of the chicken tenders in this recipe.
- Don’t oversauce your chicken. For the best flavor, coat your tenders so they’re covered but not seeping in the sauce.
- Serve with a salad and fries for a complete meal.
- I recommend lining your basket or tray with parchment paper to help contain the sauce and make cleaning up easier.
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