These Buffalo Chicken Tenders are crunchy on the outside, and juicy on the inside, and pack the perfect amount of heat. They are a great meal that the whole family will love, and they don't take a lot of effort so you can make them as an easy weeknight meal.
One of the best things about this recipe is that it comes together with a few simple steps and you don't have to worry about heating up the oven since the air fryer does all the work. You can't get an easier recipe than this one.
We love to serve these crispy buffalo chicken tenders as an appetizer on game day, or as a meal when we want something a little different. No matter when you serve them your family will love them.
If you are looking for a dippable side dish that pairs well with these buffalo chicken tenders give these Baked Potato Wedges a try. They are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside and they taste great.
Why You’ll Love These Buffalo Chicken Tenders
- One great thing about this recipe is that you only need simple ingredients to make them. You most likely already have these ingredients on hand.
- And, you can control the amount of heat in your tenders so they can suit your family's tastebuds.
- The buffalo sauce is full of flavor and adds a great kick and creates a sticky sauce that takes these chicken tenders to a whole other level.
- Plus, they are great as an appetizer, snack, or meal.
Ingredients Brand Suggestions and Notes
Get all the info on the following ingredients in the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- chicken tenders
- gluten-free flour - We use Bob’s Red Mill Sweet Rice Flour
- cornstarch - cornstarch is naturally gluten free and dairy free
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- parsley- you can use fresh parsley if you have it, but can use dried if needed like we did
- pepper- fresh cracked black pepper
- large eggs- both egg whites and the yolks
- hot sauce - use your favorite gluten and dairy free brands, this is one of our favorites and it has a variety pack to choose from
- Buffalo sauce - Primal Kitchen No Dairy Buffalo Sauce is a favorite of ours, it doesn't have xanthan gum but does contain cashew butter
Helpful Tools
Knife or fork
Paper towel
How To Make These Buffalo Chicken Tenders
- Remove the tendon from the chicken, by dripping the tendon with a paper towel, and then place a knife edge or fork on the tendon forcefully against the cutting and pull the tendon out of the chicken.
- And then, in a shallow bowl whisk together the eggs and hot sauce until well combined to make an egg wash.
- And, in another shallow dish mix the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, and spices to make your breading.
- Dip each tender into the breading coating it on both sides.
- And, then dip it into the egg mixture.
- Then dredge it in the flour mixture again. Make sure that your tenders get fully coated with each dredging step.
- Place the tenders in a well-oiled air fryer basket.
- Then air fryer at 400 degrees f for 10 minutes flipping halfway.
- Brush the tenders with buffalo sauce and air fryer for another 2 and ½ minutes. Flip them, brush them again, and then air fryer for another 2 ½ minutes.
- Remove the tenders and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Storage
Store the leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container or storage bag in the fridge for up to three days
. You can also freeze the cooked tenders in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to three months.
Thaw them in the fridge overnight before reheating then per the directions above.
Recipe Variations
Chicken breasts: If you can't find chicken tenderloins at your grocery store, you can slice chicken breasts into thin strips and use those instead.
Crispy Chicken Tenders: If you want extra crispy chicken tenders you can dredge them in gluten-free panko breadcrumbs for the final breading instead of the flour mixture.
Low carb: For a low carb option use almond flour for the first dredge and then crushed pork rinds for the second dredge.
Tips & Tricks
- Make sure to spray your air fryer basket well with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray so that your chicken tenders do not stick.
- Or, you could also line your basket with parchment paper instead.
- This recipe will give you medium heat for your chicken pieces. If you want more heat use a spicy buffalo sauce or for less heat use a mild sauce.
- Our family loves to serve these tenders with dairy-free blue cheese dressing or dairy free ranch dressing.
- You can make homemade buffalo sauce with dairy-free butter if you want to make sure that your sauce is safe for your family.
- Next time you could also try to add additional seasonings to the flour mixture for more flavor such as black pepper, cayenne pepper, or even garlic powder.
- Serve these tasty tenders with some TikTok Pasta Chips for a fun dinner!
FAQ
Check the temperature of the largest piece of chicken with a meat thermometer. The temperature of fully cooked chicken tenders should reach 165 degrees f when they are done.
You can reheat the chicken tenders in the air fryer at 350 degrees for 3-5 minutes or in the oven on a baking sheet at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
We love to serve celery sticks, fries, or even a side salad with these homemade buffalo chicken tenders.
These buffalo chicken tenders are best served right when you first make them. But if you make them a little early, you can warm them back up as discussed above in the oven or in the fryer for a few minutes until warmed through again.
Other Air Fryer Recipes
Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs chicken tenders
- ½ cup gf flour see brand suggestion in post
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon parsley
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce see brand suggestion in post
- ½ cup Buffalo sauce see brand suggestion in post
Instructions
- Remove the tendon from the chicken, by dripping the tendon with a paper towel, and then place a knife edge or fork on the tendon forcefully against the cutting and pull the tendon out of the chicken.
- And then, in a shallow bowl whisk together the eggs and hot sauce until well combined to make an egg wash.
- And, in another shallow dish mix the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, and spices to make your breading.
- Dip each tender into the breading coating it on both sides.
- And, then dip it into the egg mixture.
- Then dredge it in the flour mixture again. Make sure that your tenders get fully coated with each dredging step.
- Place the tenders in a well-oiled air fryer basket.
- Then air fryer at 400 degrees f for 10 minutes flipping halfway.
- Brush the tenders with buffalo sauce and air fryer for another 2 and ½ minutes. Flip them, brush them again, and then air fryer for another 2 ½ minutes.
- Remove the tenders and serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce.
Notes
- These Nutritional Facts are ESTIMATED. Your actual nutritional info with this recipe may vary depending on the brands you choose.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer
These Nutritional Facts are ESTIMATED. Your actual nutritional info with this recipe may vary depending on the brands you choose. “Eating Gluten and Dairy Free” is not a registered dietician or nutritionist. The provided nutritional info above is based on a generic calculator, if you want more accurate info, use your nutritional calculator of choice where you can choose brands and get more info that way.
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