Are you craving that perfect crunch of chicken fingers without the greasy guilt of deep frying? Well I’ve got some good news for ya! Your air fryer is about to become your new best friend. I’ve spent countless hours perfecting the art of air-fried chicken fingers, and I’m excited to share everything I’ve learned about getting that perfect golden exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
Whether you’re cooking fresh homemade chicken fingers or heating up frozen ones from the store, timing is everything. Let’s dive into the world of air fryer chicken fingers and discover exactly how long to cook them for perfect results every time!
The Basics: Cooking Times for Chicken Fingers in an Air Fryer
The cooking time for chicken fingers in your air fryer depends on several factors. Here’s a quick reference guide to get you started:
For Fresh Chicken Fingers:
- Temperature: 400°F (200°C)
- Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes
- Flip halfway through cooking
For Frozen Chicken Fingers
- Temperature: 390°F-400°F (200°C)
- Cooking Time: 12-18 minutes
- Flip halfway through cooking
Remember, these are just starting points! The actual cooking time will vary based on:
- The thickness of your chicken fingers
- Your specific air fryer model
- How crispy you like them
- Whether they’re fresh or frozen
Factors That Affect Cooking Time
1. Thickness of the Chicken Fingers
This is probably the most important factor. Thicker chicken fingers (around 1 inch) will need more time than thinner ones (about 1/2 inch). If you’re making homemade chicken fingers, try to cut them into uniform sizes so they cook evenly.
2. Your Air Fryer Model
Not all air fryers are created equal! Some models heat up quicker or circulate air more efficiently than others. The first few times you make chicken fingers, keep a close eye on them and note how your specific air fryer performs.
My COSORI air fryer tends to cook things a bit faster than my friend’s model, so I’ve learned to check my chicken a minute or two early.
3. Fresh vs. Frozen
Frozen chicken fingers will naturally take longer to cook. The good news is you don’t need to thaw them first! Just pop them straight from the freezer into your preheated air fryer.
4. Desired Crispiness
Do you like your chicken fingers just barely golden, or do you prefer them extra crunchy? The longer they cook, the crispier they’ll get. Just be careful not to overcook them, or the inside will dry out.
How to Cook Fresh Chicken Fingers in an Air Fryer
If you’re making chicken fingers from scratch, here’s my foolproof method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for about 5 minutes.
- Prepare your chicken fingers – season them and coat with your preferred breading.
- Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Don’t overcrowd!
- Spray lightly with oil for extra crispiness (optional but recommended).
- Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Check internal temperature – it should reach 165°F (74°C) for food safety.
- Let rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.
Cooking Frozen Chicken Fingers
Store-bought frozen chicken fingers are super convenient, and they turn out amazing in the air fryer! Here’s what to do:
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (this step is optional but helps with even cooking).
- Place frozen chicken fingers in a single layer in the basket.
- Cook for 12-15 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through.
- Check for doneness – they should be golden brown and reach an internal temp of 165°F.
Pro tip: If your frozen fingers are extra thick, you might need to add an additional 2-3 minutes to the cooking time.
My Favorite Buttermilk Chicken Fingers Recipe
Want to make chicken fingers from scratch? Here’s my go-to recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1½ pounds chicken tenderloins
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2½ teaspoons paprika (divided)
- 2½ teaspoons kosher salt (divided)
- ½ teaspoon dried dill
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1½ teaspoons black pepper (divided)
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
- Oil spray
Instructions:
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Marinate the chicken: In a large bowl, combine chicken tenders, buttermilk, 1½ teaspoons paprika, 1½ teaspoons salt, dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours.
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Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
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Set up breading station:
- Bowl 1: Mix flour, remaining paprika, dried parsley, and cayenne pepper
- Bowl 2: Beaten eggs
- Bowl 3: Mix breadcrumbs, remaining salt, and remaining black pepper
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Bread the chicken: Take each tender from the marinade, dredge in flour, dip in egg, and coat with breadcrumbs.
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Arrange chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket and spray both sides with oil.
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Cook at 400°F for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
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Remove when done and serve!
Tips for Super Crispy Chicken Fingers
Want to make sure your chicken fingers are extra crispy? Here are my top tips:
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Don’t overcrowd the basket – Air needs to circulate freely around each piece.
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Use panko breadcrumbs – They’re lighter and crispier than regular breadcrumbs.
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Spray with oil – A light mist of cooking spray makes a big difference in crispiness.
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Pat chicken dry – Excess moisture is the enemy of crispiness! Before breading, pat your chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
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Add cornstarch to your breading – A tablespoon of cornstarch mixed with your flour or breadcrumbs creates an ultra-crispy crust.
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Flip halfway through – This ensures even cooking on all sides.
How to Tell When Chicken Fingers Are Done
Food safety is super important when cooking chicken! Here’s how to make sure your chicken fingers are fully cooked:
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Use a meat thermometer – The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C).
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Check the color – Cut into the thickest part; the meat should be white with no pink.
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Look at the exterior – The coating should be golden brown and crisp.
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Time it right – Follow the recommended cooking times based on thickness.
If you’re ever in doubt, it’s better to cook for an extra minute or two. Better safe than sorry!
Serving Suggestions
Now that you’ve got perfectly cooked chicken fingers, what should you serve them with? Here are some ideas:
Dipping Sauces:
- Honey mustard
- BBQ sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Spicy mayo or sriracha mayo
- Buffalo sauce
- Garlic aioli
Side Dishes:
- Air-fried french fries (duh!)
- Fresh veggies like carrot and cucumber sticks
- Coleslaw
- Potato salad
- Garden salad
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Got leftovers? Lucky you! Here’s how to store and reheat them:
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Cool completely before storing.
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Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
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Freeze for longer storage – They’ll keep for 2-3 months in the freezer.
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Reheat in the air fryer – 350°F for 4-5 minutes will restore that amazing crispiness!
The microwave works too, but your chicken fingers won’t be as crispy. Trust me, the extra minute or two in the air fryer is totally worth it!
Common Mistakes to Avoid
I’ve made plenty of mistakes while perfecting my air fryer chicken finger technique. Learn from my fails:
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Not preheating – Always preheat your air fryer for best results.
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Overcrowding the basket – This leads to steaming instead of crisping.
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Forgetting to flip – Turn those tenders halfway through cooking!
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Using too much oil – A light spray is all you need.
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Ignoring internal temperature – Always check that 165°F for safety.
Final Thoughts
Air fryer chicken fingers are one of those perfect weeknight dinners that everybody loves. They’re quick, relatively healthy compared to deep-fried versions, and so darn tasty!
The key takeaways for perfect chicken fingers are:
- Cook fresh chicken fingers at 400°F for 10-12 minutes
- Cook frozen chicken fingers at 400°F for 12-18 minutes
- Always flip halfway through
- Check for an internal temperature of 165°F
- Don’t overcrowd the basket
Once you’ve mastered the basic timing, feel free to get creative with your seasonings and coatings! The air fryer opens up a world of possibilities for crispy, delicious chicken fingers without the extra oil and calories of deep frying.
Have you tried making chicken fingers in your air fryer? What’s your favorite breading or seasoning mix? Drop me a comment below – I’m always looking for new flavors to try!
Bread the chicken tenders
- Prepare the breading station. Whisk 4 large eggs in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, combine all purpose flour and salt. In the final shallow bowl, add the panko breadcrumbs.
- Season the chicken. Cut the boneless skinless chicken breasts into 4-6 inch strips. Toss the strips of chicken with the chicken seasoning, until they’re fully covered.
- Bread the chicken. Start by placing each strip of seasoned chicken in the egg mixture. Once it’s fully covered in the egg, allow any excess to drip off before transferring the chicken to the bowl of flour. Cover the chicken completely in the flour, then add it back to the bowl of whisked eggs. Once fully covered in the egg again, dip the chicken in the breadcrumbs, pressing down slightly on all sides to make sure the chicken is fully covered in the breadcrumbs. Transfer the breaded chicken to a cutting board, then repeat with all of the remaining pieces of chicken.
Air fry the chicken tenders
- Preheat an air fryer to 400°F. Add the breaded chicken strips to the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure there’s room around each piece of chicken for the air to circulate.
- Spray the chicken strips with cooking spray, then cook at 400°F for 4-6 minutes.
- Open the air fryer, flip the chicken, spray with cooking spray and cook for an additional 4-6 minutes.
- Remove the chicken from the air fryer and place it on a wire rack while cooking the rest of the chicken strips in the air fryer.
- When breading chicken, always use one hand for the wet ingredients and one hand for the dry ingredients. This will prevent clumping, keep your hands from becoming coated in the breading, and it will help keep the breading ingredients separated. My Dad taught me this trick growing up, making his famous Captain Crunch Fried Chicken together! Speaking of, you can use this recipe to make an air fryer version of the Captain Crunch chicken, using crushed Captain Crunch cereal instead of the breadcrumbs.
- To make gluten free air fryer chicken tenders, replace the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend, or rice flour. Use gluten-free panko bread crumbs, instead of traditional panko.
- This recipe makes approximately 12 chicken tenders. If you’d like to double the recipe and freeze some for later, simply click the 2X button in the recipe card below. The ingredient amounts will automatically update for the new serving size.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can make this recipe in the oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F. If your oven has a convection setting, I recommend using that. Place the chicken tenders on a wire rack, on top of a foil-lined baking sheet. Spray with cooking spray. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes, or until they’re golden brown.
- You can try other seasonings besides the chicken seasoning to add different flavors to the chicken tenders. Use my famous Chicken Wing Seasoning or Cajun Seasoning to add spice to the tenders!
This recipe makes approximately 12 chicken tenders. Store battered, uncooked chicken tenders in a freezer-safe container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
You can cook the frozen chicken tenders directly from frozen in the air fryer by adding 2 minutes to the cooking time. So the chicken tenders will need to cook for 6-8 minutes per side at 400°F.
Store cooked chicken tender leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container. Reheat them in the air fryer at 400°F for 2-3 minutes to keep them crispy.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders Recipe
FAQ
How long do you cook chicken fingers in an air fryer?
Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Place desired amount of chicken fingers in fry basket leaving ½” space between each piece. Cook for 14-16 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F, flipping half way through cooking time. Keep frozen until ready to cook. Appliances vary, adjust cook time accordingly. Uncooked.
Can you cook frozen chicken fingers in an air fryer?
This recipe for Air Fryer Frozen Chicken Fingers results in perfectly cooked chicken that can be served plain or with ketchup for an easy dinner. If you need a quick and easy dinner recipe, consider purchasing frozen breaded chicken strips (also called chicken fingers). Then, simply use your air fryer to heat them up.
How long do you air fry chicken tenders?
In two batches, without overfilling basket, air fry chicken tenders, turning basket halfway during cook time, 10-12 minutes, or until chicken is golden brown and cooked through.Prepare rice according to package directions. Stir mayonnaise with remaining sweet chili sauce and sriracha until blended.
How long to cook frozen chicken fingers in an air fryer?
Place chicken tenders in an air fryer basket, making sure the pieces don’t overlap. Cook in the air fryer at 360 degrees F (180 degrees C) for 15 minutes.
How long do you cook chicken tenders in the air fryer?
Set to Air Fry at 400°F for 15 minutes. Cook until chicken is evenly browned on both sides (flipping halfway through) and the internal temperature registers 165°F. Serve immediately.
How long for chicken in an air fryer at 400 degrees?
Place chicken in a single layer in the air fryer. Cook at 400° for 8 minutes, then flip chicken over and continue cooking for 5-12 more minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken is 165° F at the thickest part of the breast. (The cook time will depend on the size of your chicken breasts.)Jun 24, 2024
How long to cook uncooked frozen chicken fingers?
Chicken breast tenders should be cooked until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Frozen chicken takes about 50% longer to cook than thawed chicken, typically around 30-45 minutes.