Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Strips

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Crispy, golden, and perfectly seasoned—these freezer-friendly Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Strips are about to become your new go-to for busy weeknights, easy lunches, or last-minute dinners. Below you’ll find instructions for prepping and air frying perfectly crisp chicken strips as well as freezing directions, so you always have them on hand!

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I’m not sure about you, but my kids LOVE all things crispy chicken! They love chicken fingers, chicken strips, chicken nuggets, chicken sandwiches, you name it! However, as delicious as those fast food chicken nuggets might be, they aren’t the most nutritious, or cost effective. We definitely enjoy frozen chicken nuggets from time to time, but when I can, I like to make air fried chicken strips.

If your kids are obsessed with chicken tenders too, they will love air fried chicken strips! Even my picky eater can’t get enough!

Homemade chicken strips are a total lifesaver. Pop them in the air fryer and boom—crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside perfection with zero deep frying and no drive-thru required.

Let me show you how to make a big batch and stash them in your freezer—you’ll thank yourself later!

What You’ll Need

Find the full, printable recipe with exact measurements at the bottom of this post. Read on for more details and tips!

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• Air Fryer– 5-7 quart basket
• Chicken– Chicken breast cut into 1 inch thick strips, or precut chicken tenderloins
• Eggs– helps the breadcrumbs stick
• Milk– to mix with the eggs
• All purpose flour– helps the breading to stick better
• Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs– Panko make these extra crispy!
• Seasonings– salt, pepper, paprika
• Oil or nonstick spray– to spray on the chicken strips, again for maximum crispiness!
  • If you’re looking for an oil sprayer, I have this one and I really like it!
• For Freezing: Parchment Paper, Sheet Pans, Freezer Bags

How To Make It (Air Frying Instructions)

Read on for preparing and cooking the chicken strips in the air fryer to enjoy immediately.

Start by slicing your chicken into strips—about 1 inch thick is perfect for that crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside texture.

Set up a simple dredging station using three shallow bowls:

1. First bowl: Add flour and the seasonings: salt, pepper and paprika
2. Second bowl: Whisk together the eggs and a splash of milk.
3. Third bowl: Pour in the Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs for the crunch.

Now it’s time to coat the chicken.

Think assembly line:
Dip each strip into the flour, then the egg mixture, and finally the panko breadcrumbs, making sure each piece is well coated.

Place the breaded strips into your air fryer basket in a single layer—don’t overcrowd! Lightly spray the tops with nonstick spray or a little oil for extra crispiness.

Air fry at 375°F for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.

Repeat with remaining chicken, and just like that—you’ve got perfectly crispy chicken strips made right in the air fryer.

Oven Baked Instructions

Once your chicken strips are breaded and ready to go, it’s time to get them perfectly crispy in the oven!

Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). While it heats, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it—this helps with easy cleanup and prevents sticking.

Arrange the breaded chicken strips in a single layer on the baking sheet. (Refer to the breading instructions above if you need a quick refresher.) For that extra golden crunch, lightly spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray or a mist of oil.

Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through. You’ll know they’re done when:

• The internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C)
• The breading is golden, crisp, and irresistible

Serve them hot with your favorite dipping sauce

❄️Freezing Raw Chicken Strips:

Double or triple the recipe to freeze in bulk.

Bread the chicken strips:

Set up a dredging station with 3 shallow bowls

• First bowl: Add flour and the seasonings: salt, pepper and paprika
• Second bowl: Whisk together the eggs and a splash of milk.
• Third bowl: Pour in the Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs for the crunch.

Coat the chicken: Dip each strip into the flour, then the egg mixture, and finally the panko breadcrumbs, making sure each piece is well coated.

Flash freeze: Arrange chicken strips in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid.

Once frozen, transfer the strips to a freezer bag or airtight container: Label with the date. You can freeze the chicken strips up to 3 months.

🍽️ Air Fry from Frozen (raw):

Place the frozen chicken strips into the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the tops with nonstick cooking spray or oil.

Air fry at 375°F for 15–20 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden brown.

➡️Bake from Frozen (raw):

Follow these steps:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
3. Arrange frozen chicken strips in a single layer, leaving space between each piece.
4. Bake for 25–30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown.

❄️Freezing Cooked Chicken Strips:

Bread the chicken strips:

Set up a dredging station with 3 shallow bowls

• First bowl: Add flour and the seasonings: salt, pepper and paprika
• Second bowl: Whisk together the eggs and a splash of milk.
• Third bowl: Pour in the Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs for the crunch.

Coat the chicken: Dip each strip into the flour, then the egg mixture, and finally the panko breadcrumbs, making sure each piece is well coated.

🍗Cook the chicken:

• Air fry at 375°F for 16 minutes, flipping halfway through
• Oven bake at 400°F (200°C) for 18-22 minutes

To Freeze After Cooking

1. Cool completely: Let the strips cool to room temperature after cooking.
2. Flash freeze: Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 1–2 hours until firm. This prevents them from sticking together.
3. Transfer to a freezer bag or airtight container: Label with the date. Freeze for up to 3 months.
   

To Reheat from frozen (precooked)

• Air Fry at 375°F for 8–10 minutes until heated through and crispy.
• Bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes until heated through and crispy.

Air Fry: Bake at 400°F for 15–20 minutes or air fry at 375°F for 8–10 minutes until heated through and crispy.

Did you enjoy this recipe? Take a picture and tag me @StephGigliotti on social media and #StephRealLife. I would absolutely love to see your finished dish!

⭐ Please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comment section.

Serving Ideas

This is meant to be a simple and quick weeknight dinner, so make it easy on yourself! Here’s some serving ideas:

• Fries and broccoli– could be frozen, air fried, or baked in the oven. Love Oven Baked Fries? Try this recipe.
• Mac and Cheese-Keep it simple and grab the refrigerated kind! If you have more time, try Creamy Homemade Mac and Cheese.
• Pasta salad– This could be macaroni salad or even coleslaw. Or try Caprese Pasta Salad alongside the tenders. Yum!
• Serve chicken strips over a big green salad (my personal favorite way to enjoy these chicken strips!)
• Try them dipped in Peach Ketchup! I know if sounds nuts, but I’m telling you! It’s delicious! And if you happen to have some peach or apricot preserves on hand, you could whip this up in no time!

Peach Ketchup

This makes a small cup’s worth; double or triple for a larger serving

• 2 tablespoons peach preserves (or apricot)
• 1 tablespoon hot water
• 2 tablespoons ketchup
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• Dash of worchestershire sauce

Whisk all the ingredients together in a small bowl and dunk your chicken.

Tips for the Best Strips

Want crispy, juicy chicken strips every time? Here are my go-to tips to make sure they come out golden and delicious:

Cut Evenly for Even Cooking

• Slice your chicken into strips about 1 inch wide and 4–5 inches long. Keeping them uniform ensures they cook evenly and finish at the same time.
• If your chicken breasts are especially thick, consider pounding them slightly for a more consistent thickness.

Ideal Air Fry Cooking Time & Temp.

• Temperature: 375°F (190°C)
• Cook Time: 15-18 minutes total, flipping halfway through
• Don’t skip the flip! It helps both sides get evenly crispy.
• Check the temp: Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part. Use a meat thermometer for best results

Spray Lightly

• Lightly mist the breaded strips with nonstick spray or oil just before air frying. This gives you that golden, crunchy finish without deep frying.

Don’t Overcrowd the Basket

• Arrange strips in a single layer with a little space between them. Cook in batches if needed—overcrowding leads to steaming instead of crisping.

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