If you’re looking for a quick, easy, protein-filled entrée, this Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken will be right up your alley! Since you're using less oil than a deep-fried version, turning these air-fried chicken breasts into a healthy meal is easy. This air fryer chicken is crispy, flavorful, and great for family dinners.
This yummy air fryer cornflake chicken is easy to pair with sides and veggies for a filling meal. Even without deep frying these boneless skinless chicken breasts, the cornflake coating provides a deliciously crispy crust. Bonus – air frying the chicken breast means you'll use much less oil, so it's a healthier swap than regular chicken tenders.
I kept the seasoning simple for this recipe, so you can adjust the flavor to your liking. This also means you can make this dish with nearly any side. A few of my favorite sides with this cornflake chicken breast dish include Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes, Creamy Zucchini Risotto on the Stove, and Savory Bacon and Cheddar Cheese Muffins.
Another favorite easy air fryer recipe I love is these Air Fryer English Muffin Pizzas.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Crispy – Using an air fryer for this cornflake fried chicken ensures a crispy exterior in every bite.
- Moist – A vinegar-inclusive batter helps create a juicy, moist air fryer cornflake chicken recipe.
- Versatile – Since this dish has simple seasoning, you can pair these air fryer tenders with nearly anything.
- Easy – This chicken tender recipe only requires a handful of ingredients.
- Picky eater approved – You can never go wrong with chicken tenders, so even the pickiest of eaters will love this protein-rich dish!
- Great for meal prep – These air fryer chicken tenders are easy to cook ahead of time. Then, you can separate them into airtight containers for lunch/dinner during the week.
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Vinegar: I recommend using vinegar with a milder flavor, like white wine vinegar, so it doesn't take away from the taste of the chicken breast and seasonings. However, you can use flavored vinegar for air fryer cornflake chicken if that's what's on hand. Note – you will have a taste difference when using stronger vinegar.
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Spices: You can adjust the seasoning for these air fryer crispy chicken tenders as you see fit. For example, if you prefer Italian flavors, use an Italian seasoning mixture instead of the listed spices.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
How to Make Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken
Quick Overview
- Combine chicken and batter ingredients.
- Mix cornflakes with seasoning.
- Crush cornflake mixture.
- Set up the breading station.
- Dip chicken.
- Place chicken in the air fryer.
- Cook chicken.
Step by Step Instructions
Spray chicken generously to create a crispy crust.
Avoid overcrowding the air fryer to avoid soggy/undercooked chicken tenders.
Step 1: In a large bowl, combine the chicken tenders, egg, milk, vinegar, and about ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Set aside.
Step 2: Pour the cornflakes and the remaining salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper into a large zip-top baggie a food processor. Crush. Some larger pieces of cornflakes can remain, but most should be crushed into a fine crumb.
Step 3: Set up your breading station. Pour the cornflake mixture into a shallow dish. Gather the chicken and your air fryer basket. Using one hand for the wet mixture and one for the dry, remove one chicken tender at a time and dip it into the cornflake mixture.
Step 4: Press the cornflakes onto the chicken so it is completely coated.
Step 5: Gently place the chicken tender in the air fryer basket. Repeat this process until your air fryer is full. Do not overcrowd the basket. I usually cook these in 2 batches. Spray generously with cooking spray oil.
Step 6: Air fry at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes (flipping halfway through & spraying again with oil) or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees and the outside is golden brown. Be gentle when flipping and removing the chicken tenders so the breading does not fall off.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
Garnish with chopped fresh herbs or a sprinkle of shredded cheese (like parmesan cheese) for a flavor boost.
I like pairing this air fryer cornflake chicken with some type of vegetable and a carb (like bread) for a more filling meal. Here are some ideas:
- Easy Pesto Orzo Salad
- French Onion Mac & Cheese
- Fresh Green Bean Casserole with Bacon
- Smashed Potatoes
- Instant Pot Southern Green Beans
Expert Tips
- Use an egg. The cornflakes are less likely to stick to the chicken breast tenders without an egg coating. This egg layer also helps the cornflakes and seasoning stick to the chicken pieces in the first place.
- Crush the cornflakes. For the best results, ensure the cornflake crumbs are fine (a few larger bits are okay). If the cornflake pieces are too large, they won’t stick to the outside of the chicken tenders and can fall off in the air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Overcrowding the air fryer can prevent the chicken from cooking evenly. This issue can cause the air fryer cornflake chicken to take much longer to cook. Or, it can leave you with undercooked chicken. Additionally, it’s more likely that your tenders will be soggy instead of crispy.
- Spray with oil. Cooking oil spray is dual purpose in this recipe. It helps create a crispy crust on the outside of the chicken tenders. It also prevents the tenders from sticking to the inside of the air fryer.
Additions & Variations
- Gluten-free – Use gluten-free cornflakes or bread crumbs to make this a gluten-free recipe.
- Italian Seasoning – Since you can easily alter the seasoning for this recipe, you can turn these chicken tenders into an Italian recipe. Pair them with a marinara dipping sauce for additional flavor.
- Chicken Thighs - If you want even juicier air fryer cornflake chicken, you can use boneless skinless chicken thighs. This swap will change the nutrition for the recipe slightly since chicken thighs have a higher fat content than breasts.
- Leftovers – These cornflake chicken tenders are easy to prep for weekly meals. If you notice the leftovers are not as crispy after sitting in the fridge, you can air fry them for 3-4 minutes per side at 375°F until they crisp up.
Recipe FAQs
A few reasons may contribute to your air fryer being soggy. If you overcrowd the air fryer, it can steam the tenders instead of cooking them. Additionally, not using an oil spray can make the difference between soggy and crispy tenders.
Usually, the culprit behind hard air-fried chicken is overcooking the tenders. If you're unsure whether your air fryer cornflake chicken tenders are done, you can use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. They should be at 165°F when fully cooked.
Yes, you can use cornstarch for air fryer recipes. Similar to using cornstarch on pan-fried/deep-fried chicken, coating air fryer fried chicken with cornstarch will help to provide a crispy crust.
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Crispy Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken
Ingredients:
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into about 10 tenders
- 1 egg
- 1 Tablespoon milk
- 2 teaspoons vinegar*
- 1 teaspoon EACH Morton kosher salt, chili powder, granulated garlic, & onion powder*
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 cups cornflakes cereal
- cooking oil spray
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, combine the chicken tenders, egg, milk, vinegar, and about ¼ teaspoon of the salt. Set aside.1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into about 10 tenders, 1 egg, 1 Tablespoon milk, 2 teaspoons vinegar*
- Pour the cornflakes and the remaining salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and pepper into a large zip-top baggie a food processor. Crush. Some larger pieces of cornflakes can remain, but most should be crushed into a fine crumb.1 teaspoon EACH Morton kosher salt, chili powder, granulated garlic, & onion powder*, ½ teaspoon smoked paprika, 3 cups cornflakes cereal, freshly ground black pepper
- Set up your breading station. Pour the cornflake mixture into a shallow dish. Gather the chicken and your air fryer basket. Using one hand for the wet mixture and one for the dry, remove one chicken tender at a time and dip it into the cornflake mixture.
- Press the cornflakes onto the chicken so it is completely coated.
- Gently place the chicken tender in the air fryer basket. Repeat this process until your air fryer is full. Do not overcrowd the basket. I usually cook these in 2 batches. Spray generously with cooking spray oil.cooking oil spray
- Air fry at 400 degrees for about 10 minutes (flipping halfway through & spraying again with oil) or until the chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees and the outside is golden brown. Be gentle when flipping and removing the chicken tenders so the breading does not fall off.
Notes:
- Vinegar: I recommend using vinegar with a milder flavor, like white wine vinegar, so it doesn't take away from the taste of the chicken breast and seasonings. However, you can use flavored vinegar for air fryer cornflake chicken if that's what's on hand. Note – you will have a taste difference when using stronger vinegar.
- Kosher Salt: All of my recipes are tested with Morton kosher salt unless noted otherwise. It is the best salt for everyday cooking because of its size and flavor. If using table salt, the amount should be reduced. I highly recommend picking up some kosher next time you are at the store!
- Spices: You can adjust the seasoning for these air fryer crispy chicken tenders as you see fit. For example, if you prefer Italian flavors, use an Italian seasoning mixture instead of the listed spices.
- Use an egg. The cornflakes are less likely to stick to the chicken breast tenders without an egg coating. This egg layer also helps the cornflakes and seasoning stick to the chicken pieces in the first place.
- Crush the cornflakes. For the best results, ensure the cornflake crumbs are fine (a few larger bits are okay). If the cornflake pieces are too large, they won’t stick to the outside of the chicken tenders and can fall off in the air fryer.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket. Overcrowding the air fryer can prevent the chicken from cooking evenly. This issue can cause the air fryer cornflake chicken to take much longer to cook. Or, it can leave you with undercooked chicken. Additionally, it’s more likely that your tenders will be soggy instead of crispy.
- Spray with oil. Cooking oil spray is dual purpose in this recipe. It helps create a crispy crust on the outside of the chicken tenders. It also prevents the tenders from sticking to the inside of the air fryer.
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