Crispy Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken

5 from 60 votes

Crispy Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken

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.

Prep Time10

Cook Time20

Total Time30

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Author: Brianna May

Equipment

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*
1/2 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 1/4 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*, 1/2 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.

Nutrition