Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders Recipe

These Rich and spicy air fryer buffalo chicken tenders are the perfect appetizers for game night!

A guaranteed crowd-pleaser every time, air fryer buffalo chicken tenders are a fabulous dish for a party. Your guests will love the way the tangy, decadent buffalo sauce soaks into the gorgeously soft chicken and creates a beautiful spicy flavor with every bite.

Not only do these healthy buffalo chicken tenders air fryer taste even better than Buffalo Wild Wing, but they’re also better for you. Air frying means that you only need a small amount of olive oil, which means these chicken tenders have less fat than the ones you would get in a restaurant.

Air fryer buffalo chicken tenders no breading are also gluten-free and suitable for people following the keto diet. You’ll love how quick and simple they are to prepare!

Ingredients you’ll need to make Buffalo Chicken Tenders

**Find the full list of ingredients along with the recipe instructions at the end of this post**

Chicken tenders: If you can’t find chicken tenders at your local butcher or grocery store, you can cut them off of the chicken breast. The tender is the name for the strip of meat beneath the breast.

Garlic powder: adds warmth and depth to the meat, making this dish pop! You can use minced raw garlic if you don’t have garlic powder.

Buffalo-style hot sauce: Buffalo sauce is the ingredient that gives these air fried buffalo chicken tenders their sweet, spicy, and slightly sour flavor! If you want to try a variation on this recipe, BBQ sauce also works well.

Unsalted butter (melted): Butter makes your chicken tenders even more succulent and turns the buffalo sauce into a glaze with a slight shine. I like to use unsalted butter because then I can control the sodium content in my food, but you could use salted butter if you want.

Salt and pepper: Salt is fantastic for bringing out the umami notes in this recipe, and pepper adds a bold and slightly hot taste.

Olive oil: As you’re using the air fryer, you’ll only need a spritz of olive oil to prevent the chicken from sticking to the basket, and you’ll get even better results than deep-frying!

Tools used to make the recipe.

• Large bowl
• Air fryer
• Oil sprayer bottle

How to make buffalo chicken tenders in air fryer?

First, add the chicken tenders, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to taste in a large bowl. 

Next, Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket and cook to 380ºF for 12 minutes turning halfway through or until an instant meat thermometer registers 165ºF.

Meanwhile, whisk together the buffalo sauce and melted butter and set aside until the chicken is done cooking. 

Finally, toss the chicken tenderloin in the buffalo sauce. Serve with blue cheese or ranch salad dressing.

Recipe Tips:

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking to prevent bacteria growth. Keep in the fridge for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
• To reheat, use the air fryer and reheat to 350ºF for 3-5 minutes or until heated thoroughly.

How long does to air fry buffalo chicken tenders?

It takes around 12 minutes at 380°F to cook buffalo chicken tenders in air fryer, 6 minutes per side. 

Cooking times can be affected by the model of the air fryer you use and the size of your chicken pieces. Therefore, you should always use a meat thermometer to check for a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving chicken.

What goes well with buffalo chicken tenders

• Steak and shrimp kabobs in air fryer
• Buffalo cauliflower air fryer (without flour)
• Air fryer bacon-wrapped brussels sprouts
• Healthy black bean and corn salsa

How to store the leftovers

Homemade buffalo chicken tenders air fryer keep well in the fridge for 3-4 days, as long as the temperature is lower than 40°F. Refrigeration slows down bacterial growth, but it doesn’t stop it, so it’s important not to wait too long before eating your leftovers! 

To keep them in the fridge, seal them in an airtight container and move them to the refrigerator within 2 hours of cooking. Then, you can serve them cold (they make a great lunchbox treat) or reheat them.

You can also keep leftovers in the freezer for 2-6 months. However, the quality will degrade the longer you leave them in the freezer, so it’s better to eat them sooner if possible. 

To freeze, lay them out on a baking sheet so they aren’t touching, and freeze for 6 hours. Then, transfer them to a container or zip-top bag. Freezing them separately first means that they won’t stick together.

How to reheat buffalo chicken tenders

To reheat, air fry buffalo chicken tenders at 350°F for 3-5 minutes. Make sure you flip them once halfway through cooking. If you are reheating from frozen, increase the time to 12 minutes.

When reheating, it’s crucial to get the meat to a safe internal temperature of 165°F before serving; otherwise, you won’t have killed off any bacteria that may have grown during storage. The best way to check for a safe internal temperature is by using a meat thermometer.

FAQ’S

More air fryer recipes you’ll love

• Air Fryer Breaded Chicken Tenders
• Air Fryer Teriyaki Chicken Tenders
• Chicken Tenders in the Air Fryer without Breading
• Air Fryer Brie Cheese Bread Bowl

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