Air-Fried Nashville-Style Hot Chicken Strips

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You won't get enough of the sweet-and-spicy sauce coating these air-fryer chicken tenders.

Cook Time:
6 mins
Hands On Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
26 mins
Servings:
12
Yield:
12 chicken tenderloins + 1/3 cup sauce

Ingredients

  • 1 egg, lightly beaten

  • 1 cup buttermilk

  • ½ teaspoon salt

  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 ½ pound chicken breast tenderloins

  • Nonstick cooking spray

  • ½ cup vegetable oil

  • 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar

  • 1 - 2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon chili powder

  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder

  • White bread slices and dill pickle slices (optional)

Directions

  1. In a shallow dish whisk together egg, buttermilk, salt, and black pepper. Place flour in another shallow dish. Dip chicken into flour, then into buttermilk mixture and again into flour, turning to coat. Place on a parchment paper-lined tray; let stand 10 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, coat air-fryer basket with cooking spray. Preheat air fryer at 400°F. For sauce, in a small saucepan whisk together next six ingredients (through garlic powder). Heat over medium-low until warm. Drizzle chicken with 3 Tbsp. of the sauce, stirring sauce to keep it well mixed. Working in batches, arrange coated chicken in prepared basket. Cook 6 minutes or until chicken is done (165°F), turning once. Transfer chicken to a plate; keep warm.

  3. Pour remaining warm sauce over chicken, stirring sauce to keep it well mixed. If desired, serve with bread and pickles.

    blue plate of chicken strips coated in sauce and pickle slices
    Jason Donnelly

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

206 Calories
11g Fat
10g Carbs
15g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 206
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 58mg 19%
Sodium 160mg 7%
Total Carbohydrate 10g 4%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 15g
Vitamin C 0.4mg 2%
Calcium 33mg 3%
Iron 0.9mg 5%
Potassium 214mg 5%
Folate, total 25.6mcg
Vitamin B-12 0.2mcg
Vitamin B-6 0.4mg

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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