Crispy Chicken Fingers
on Oct 13, 2022, Updated Mar 27, 2024
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These Crispy Chicken Fingers will be your new favorite air-fryer recipe. They are so crispy on the outside and cooked to perfection on the inside. This recipe is perfect for back-to-school 🎒 lunches but adults will love them, too. I used my Air Fryer for this recipe which saved me so much time. I love to cut these into strips and enjoy them on top of a 🥗 salad, but they’re also delicious on their own with a side of ketchup.
Why You’ll Love Crispy Chicken Fingers
I love using my air fryer if I am in a rush, or simply don’t want to deal with a huge 🧽 clean-up. As you know, frying in oil can be messy and time consuming and air-frying takes that away as it uses 95% less oil to achieve that similar crisp. These Crispy Chicken Fingers come together quickly and the results are tender, juicy pieces of 🍗 chicken with a perfectly crisp crust.
How to Prepare Crispy Chicken Fingers
🔪 First, use a knife to slice each chicken cutlet into 2 or 3 strips, depending on how large they are.
🥣 Next, assemble three bowls and prepare the dredging station in this order: flour in one bowl, whisked eggs in the second bowl, and the breadcrumbs and grated cheese in the last bowl. Season each bowl with salt and pepper. 🧂🫒👩🍳
🥚 Now, take each chicken strip and dip it into the flour, shake off the excess, proceed to dip into the egg mixture, and then the breadcrumbs. Continue to do this with each chicken strip until they are all breaded.
🌡️ Nest, preheat your air-fryer.
🥑 Spray each chicken strip with avocado oil spray on each side and place it in the air fryer basket.
⏲️ Finally, air-fry at 415F (210C) for 9 to 10 minutes, flipping the chicken strips halfway through the cooking time. Enjoy warm!
Nonna’s Tip
I purchase my chicken already cut thin into cutlets as it makes life easier, but you don’t have to. You can absolutely butterfly a few chicken breasts, pound them thin and then slice into strips.
Variations and Substitutions for Crispy Chicken Fingers
- Panko bread crumbs can be substituted with Italian store-bought or homemade bread crumbs. I like Panko here for its larger crumb and the crunchiness it imparts.
- You can use any neutral, high-smoke point oil to make these Crispy Chicken Fingers.
- Parmigiano Reggiano cheese is optional but so delicious.
- I haven’t tried it, but I believe these Crispy Chicken Fingers would still be delicious made with almond flour and gluten-free breadcrumbs.
Similar Recipes
Best Served With
- These would be incredible served with a side of Crispy Parmesan Crusted Smashed Potatoes and their yogurt dipping sauce.
- Try dipping these Crispy Chicken Fingers in Homemade Spicy Mayo.
- Use the Crispy Chicken Fingers a topping or side for a simple salad, such as my Simple Green Salad.
Common Questions
You can shallow fry these chicken fingers in any neutral oil, such as avocado oil. You can also bake them at 425F (220C) for 15 to 20 minutes, but they won’t be as crispy. If you bake them, be sure to spray them with oil on each side and flip them halfway through baking so that they get an even crisp. You can also bake them on a wire rack so that the air can circulate.
Yes, you can easily use gluten-free breadcrumbs in this recipe. I haven’t tried this recipe with almond flour, but I’m sure it would work well!
Yes, these Crispy Chicken Fingers can certainly be made dairy-free. The Parmesan is totally optional OR you can substitute with your favourite non-dairy grated cheese.
Feel free to buy regular chicken breast but you will have to fillet it and cut it thin. I purchase mine already cut thin into cutlets as it makes life easier, but you don’t have to. You can absolutely butterfly a few chicken breasts, pound thin and cut into strips.
This Crispy Chicken Fingers recipe is fantastic for meal prep. You can bread them the night before and then refrigerate, and air-fry them the following day. You can also easily double or triple the amount and store them uncooked and breaded in the freezer. Then, simply let them defrost in the fridge overnight or through the work day and they’re ready to go for dinner time!
This is the air-fryer that I use and love to make this Crispy Chicken Fingers recipe.
Crispy Chicken Fingers
Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Working with one chicken cutlet at a time, cut it into 2 to 3 strips, depending on how large it is.
- Assemble three bowls and prepare the dredging station in this order: flour in one bowl, whisked eggs in the second bowl, and the breadcrumbs and grated cheese in the last bowl. Season each bowl with salt and pepper.
- Take each chicken strip and dip it into the flour, shake off the excess, proceed to dip into the egg mixture, and then the breadcrumbs. Continue to do this with each chicken strip until they are all breaded.
- If your air fryer has preheating instructions or a preheat button, please be sure to do that first. Spray each chicken strip with avocado oil spray on each side and place it in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 415F for 9 to 10 minutes, flipping the chicken strips over once halfway through the cooking time. Enjoy warm!
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I love any recipe that I can do in the air-fryer. My kids absolutely loved these too. I added some grated parm to the mixture and they came out so crispy, but still juicy inside!