Description
Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders bring a crispy spicy flavor with juicy chicken inside. This easy dinner recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or family dinner featuring crispy air fryer chicken tenders and authentic nashville hot sauce recipe.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ pounds chicken tenders theyre called mini chicken fillets in the UK
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoon vinegar-based hot sauce
- 1½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon salt
- ½ cup vegetable or canola oil
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cayenne powder
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 4 white toast slices
- bread and butter pickle chips
Instructions
- Mix buttermilk and hot sauce in a bowl and submerge the chicken, cover with plastic wrap and chill for 1-24 hours or if short on time, just dip chicken in the buttermilk mixture then coat in seasoned panko.
- Turn the air fryer on to 390°F 200°C and let it heat.
- Season the panko with salt and pepper, coat the chicken pieces and arrange them inside the air fryer.
- Spray the chicken lightly with oil and air fry for 9-10 minutes for tenders, flipping halfway through, until internal temperature reaches 165°F 73°C.
- While the chicken cooks, warm the oil in a saucepan and stir in brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and chili powder quickly then take off the heat to avoid smoking or microwave all ingredients until oil becomes hot but not boiling.
- Use a pastry brush to coat the hot chicken with the prepared Nashville sauce and serve on toast with pickle chips.
Notes
- Season the breadcrumbs well, dont skimp on the salt as that makes a huge difference
- Buttermilk can be substituted with plain yogurt diluted with a splash of water
- Use any vinegar-based hot sauce such as Franks, Louisiana, or sriracha
- Make sure that the chicken is well coated in the breadcrumbs or panko
- The Air Fryer wont turn the breading golden and dark as it air fries, but applying the sauce will
- When making the Nashville sauce, dont omit the brown sugar as it adds SO much to the flavor! Baste the chicken with the Nashville sauce while the chicken is still hot
- If you wait until everything has cooled down, you might end up with greasy chicken
- Keep the chicken warm in the oven if youre air frying chicken in batches I could only fit 6 tenders at a time
- But make sure youre using an oven-proof wire rack that does not melt in the oven
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 568kcal
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 2402mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 25g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 41g
- Cholesterol: 115mg