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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Strips: (Low Carb + Paleo options Included)

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This recipe for air fryer buffalo chicken strips is a healthier alternative to your typical fried buffalo chicken strips. It is made with minimal oil but you still get all the flavor and the perfect crunchy chicken strip! These air fried buffalo chicken strips are made with Panko crumbs but I have also included a paleo version so you can make your chicken strips even healthier as well as low carb!

Chicken strips are a family friendly household staple and buffalo chicken strips in the air fryer is the perfect way to make them a little tastier and healthier! Your air fryer is a great tool to heat up packaged frozen chicken strips but when you don't have those available, these homemade air fryer buffalo chicken strips will do the trick!

Ingredients

I prepared these buffalo strips two ways. One with panko crumbs which gives the chicken strips a great crispy crunch and another made with almond flour and egg which still tastes amazing but makes the recipe lower in carbs as well as paleo friendly. To make your chicken strips you will need:

  • Your favorite buffalo sauce: Frank's Red Hot sauce is a popular choice and will work fine but I am pretty obsessed with the buffalo sauce from Primal Kitchen Foods. It's made with cashew butter so it's extra creamy and it's also Whole30 complaint and low carb! (While I am an affiliate with them, this post is not sponsored in any way, I just really love that buffalo sauce!)
  • Egg: This helps the panko (or almond flour) bind to the chicken
  • Chicken tenders: You can use chicken tenders or strips or you can use boneless skinless chicken breast and cut them into strips
  • Almond flour: This is used as your first "dry" ingredient in my dry-wet-dry method (see below for instructions)

How to Make Buffalo Chicken Strips in the Air Fryer

I like to follow a dry-wet-dry method when cooking breaded chicken in the air fryer. I have found these helps keep the "breading" on my chicken tenders and gives me the best texture for my air fryer buffalo chicken strips.

almond flour egg and panko on three different plates
chicken strips coated in panko prepared for air fryer

Step 1: Set almond flour on a plate, beat an egg into a bowl and then add panko crumbs (or more almond flour if you are doing a low carb or paleo version) to another plate.

Step 2: Working in an assembly line, dip your chicken tender first into the almond flour, then the egg, then then roll into the panko crumbs until your chicken tender is coated.

Step 3: When the chicken tenders are coated, add them in a single layer to your air fryer. Spray with a little cooking spray and air fry at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes or until cooked through and no longer pink, flipping halfway though.

chicken strips coated in air fryer
into the air fryer they go!

Step 4: Remove chicken tenders from the air fryer and add to a bowl. Top with the buffalo sauce and gently toss to coat each chicken tender with sauce. Serve with celery sticks and ranch!

air fryer chicken strips with buffalo sauce

Recipe Notes and Variations

  • To make these air fryer chicken strips paleo, Whole30 and low carb, simply omit the panko crumbs and replace with more almond flour. So you will dip the chicken strip in almond flour, dip in the egg mixture and then roll once more in almond flour before adding to the air fryer.
  • To make a richer buffalo sauce you can heat up some Frank's Red Hot sauce with a little melted ghee until the mixture begins to bubble. Once it cools, add it to your chicken strips and toss to coat. (If you're using something thicker like the one from Primal Kitchen Foods, this won't be necessary)
  • When you are measuring out the amounts of dry and wet ingredients, you can use as much or as little as you need based on the amount of chicken you want to make. Sometimes I just start with the amount listed here in this recipe and add as needed. Feel free to adjust for what works for you.
  • To gauge if your chicken tender is cooked completely, I suggest cutting one of the strips open to check it out or use a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached 165 degrees internal temperature.
paleo buffalo chicken

Other Air Fryer Recipes You Will Love:

Brussel Sprouts with Bacon

Buffalo Cauliflower

Crispy Potatoes

Buffalo Potato Wedges

Smashed Potatoes

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buffalo chicken tenders dipped in ranch

Air Fried Buffalo Chicken Strips (paleo + low carb option)

★★★★★ 4.5 from 2 reviews
  • Author: Jen Lopez
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Total Time: 20 minutes
  • Yield: 3
  • Category: Air Fryer
  • Method: Air Fryer
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free
Print Recipe

Description

These air fryer buffalo chicken strips are quick, easy, delicious and a healthy way to enjoy chicken strips without frying! A paleo and low carb version is also included.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb chicken breast strips
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ¾ cup Panko crumbs - (skip for low carb or paleo option)
  • ½ cup almond flour (I use Bob's Red Mill) (Use 1 cup for paleo/low carb option)
  • ½ cup buffalo sauce (I use Primal Kitchen Foods, use code BEAUTY10 for a discount on your order!)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • ranch for dipping (I love Primal Kitchen Foods Vegan Ranch 

Instructions

  1. Place beaten egg, almond flour and panko crumbs in 3 separate plates/bowls
  2. Dip chicken strips into the almond flour, then the egg wash, and roll in panko until well coated. 
  3. Place in air fryer and spray the top of the chicken with a little cooking spray
  4. Air fry at 375 for 7-8 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 5-7 minutes or until no longer pink
  5. Remove chicken from air fryer and place in a mixing bowl. Add buffalo sauce to bowl.
  6. Toss chicken gently in buffalo sauce until well coated
  7. Serve with celery, carrots and ranch

Equipment

Notes

Nutrition facts listed for version with Panko.

Nutrition facts for Paleo/Whole30 version are: Calories: 232, Fat: 10.4, Carb: 3.3, Protein: 30.5

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4 oz chicken or ¼th of recipe
  • Calories: 273
  • Fat: 10.6
  • Carbohydrates: 11.9
  • Fiber: 1.4
  • Protein: 31.6

Keywords: air fryer, appetizer, paleo, whole30, low carb

Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. The products linked are ones I use personally and wholeheartedly recommend.
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