Irresistible Extra Crispy Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders in 20 Minutes
Crispy, spicy Nashville hot chicken tenders made in the air fryer for a healthier twist on the classic dish.
- Prep Time: 35 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Total Time: 52 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
Instructions
- Marinate chicken tenders in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes.
- Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
- Coat each tender in the flour mixture, shaking off excess.
- Preheat air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
- Place tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Cook for 10 minutes, flip, then cook another 5-7 minutes until crispy.
- Mix hot sauce, melted butter, and brown sugar in a bowl.
- Toss cooked tenders in the sauce until fully coated.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, spray tenders lightly with oil before air frying.
- Adjust cayenne pepper for more or less heat.
- Let tenders rest for 5 minutes after saucing for better flavor absorption.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tender
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 65mg