Crispy Chicken Fingers

These crispy chicken fingers will be your new favorite air fryer recipe. So crispy on the outside and cooked to perfection on the inside. This recipe is perfect for back-to-school lunches and just as amazing for adults as well. 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.

I used my Cosori air fryer for this recipe which saved me so much time. I love using my air fryer if I am in a rush, or simply don’t want to deal with a huge mess. 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.

Variations and Substitutions

There are a few ingredients that are optional or can be substituted:

• 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 here.
• Parmigiano reggiano cheese is optional but so delicious.

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 chicken fingers in Homemade Spicy Mayo.

Common Questions

Crispy Chicken Fingers

The Modern Nonna

This recipe is perfect for back-to-school lunches and just as amazing for adults as well. I usually enjoy these cut into strips on top of my salad, but you can serve them with homemade fries, mashed potatoes, or simply on their own with a side of ketchup.

4.20 from 5 votes

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Ingredients

• 1 pack of thinly cut chicken fillets (700grams) I bought thinly cut chicken breast fillets and cut each one into strips
• 2 eggs, whisked
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
• ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
• salt and pepper
• avocado oil spray

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. 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

Notes

You can shallow fry these chicken fingers in any neutral tasting oil, such as avocado oil. You can also bake them at 425F for 15-20 minutes, but they won’t be as crispy. If you bake them, be sure to spray them 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. 

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.

You can use Pecorino Romano cheese, or gluten-free breadcrumbs as well. I believe this recipe will work with almond flour, but I have not tried it yet. If you are interested in my air-fryer it is linked in my bio on Instagram and you can use the code Nonna15 for 15% off. This recipe makes 10 to 12 chicken fingers so feel free to double if you need to.

Can I freeze these: You most likely can but I have not personally tried freezing them. If you do, please let me know how they were in the comments. You can re-heat these chicken strips in the air-fryer for about a minute or so if you have leftovers. You can also bread the chicken fingers the night before, refrigerate, and air-fry them the following day.

Tried this recipe?Mention @themodernnonna or tag #themodernnonna!