Homemade Crispy Chicken Tenders
Chicken tenders are as American as apple pie, maybe even more because I would bet that American households consume more chicken tenders than apple pie. No scientific evidence to prove it, just a hunch. Chances are your family (especially your kids) enjoy a deep-fried piece of yardbird on occasion. No shame in that, any foods, including fried can fit into a healthy lifestyle. However, if there is a better alternative to fixing a family favorite at home, then why not give it a try?
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed our Ninja Foodie, and I am in no way compensated or encouraged by the company to promote their kitchen device or recipes. It is just the best birthday present the husband has gotten me in a while, and we all benefit from it.
One of the main selling points for the Ninja Foodie for our family was the addition of the air fryer along with the crockpot, sauté feature and pressure cooker. It seemed like a no-brainer to have them all in one.
I’ll admit, I haven’t played with the air fryer as much as the pressure cooker, but that all changed last night. And, I feel I’ll get more comfortable now that these chicken strips were a huge hit.
***If you don’t have an air fryer, don’t click away.
You can still make this recipe in your oven.***
The ingredients are simple, low in sodium, and already pantry stables.
You’ll need:
1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken strips
3 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 - 3/4 cup Panko crumbs
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
Next prepare your mixtures:
Beat the 3 eggs in a bowl
Add the oil, salt, pepper, and seasoning into bread crumbs and mix well.
Prepare your chicken strips by dunking them:
First into the eggs.
Next into the flour.
Finally into the bread crumb mixture, coating well.
Repeat till with all the tenders.
Setup your air fryer. Turn it to 330 F and cook for 12 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken strips reads 165F.
*** OVEN USERS *** Preheat your oven to 375F and cook for 20-25 minutes or until internal temperature of the chicken strips reads 165F.
Look how pretty those tenders turned out! I’ll admit they were juicier and crispier than I would have guessed. And they rate well, too.
Remember, main meals should aim for 4-6 different food groups to be balanced. The chicken strips give you a protein, and the breading does add some carbohydrates but not enough to be a full serving. The green beans on this plate is a vegetable win. You can round out this meal by adding sliced apples and a glass of milk for the kids (or even mac-n-cheese). I’ll be eating the leftovers on a salad. It’s Yum Y’all!
“Enjoy good health, good food and take time for the good things! ”