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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!

Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Strips (Freezer Friendly)

A household favorite, Air Fryer Crispy Chicken Strips are super easy and guaranteed to be a dinnertime hit!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 26 minutes
Servings: 6 servings

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound chicken tenderloins or chicken breasts
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 cups Italian Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pepper
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • Cooking spray or oil

Method
 

  1. Slice the chicken into 1 inch strips
  2. Prepare the dredging station by setting up 3 shallow bowls. In the first shallow bowl, mix together the flour and seasonings (salt, pepper, paprika)
  3. In the middle shallow bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together
  4. In the third shallow bowl, add the Italian seasoned panko breadcrumbs
  5. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, as desired. Dip each strip into the flour, then the egg mixture, and finally the panko breadcrumbs, making sure each piece is well coated.
  6. Add the breaded strips into the air fryer basket, but don’t over crowd the basket. Work in batches.
  7. Spray the chicken strips with nonstick cooking spray or oil.
  8. Air fry at 375° F for 7-9 minutes. Flip the chicken, spray the other side with cooking spray or oil and cook another 7-9 minutes, or until cooked through (mine took 16 minutes total, 8 minutes each side, but all air fryers are different and may require additional cooking time.) Check that the chicken is at an internal temperature of 165ºF before enjoying.
  9. Dip the crispy chicken strips into your favorite sauce and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 115kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 5gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 83mgSodium: 423mgPotassium: 80mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 301IUVitamin C: 0.003mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 1mg

Video

Notes

Tips for the Best Strips

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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