Air Fryer Cornflake Chicken Fingers Recipe

Cornflakes: These provide the crispy coating for the chicken fingers. Make sure they are crushed finely for even coating.

Chicken breast: Use boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into strips for the best results.

All-purpose flour: This helps the coating stick to the chicken strips.

Eggs: Beaten eggs act as a binding agent to help the cornflakes adhere to the chicken.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the chicken fingers.

Black pepper: Adds a bit of heat and depth to the seasoning.

Paprika: Provides a subtle smoky flavor and a touch of color.

When coating the chicken strips, ensure that each piece is evenly covered with the flour mixture, beaten eggs, and crushed cornflakes. This will help achieve a consistent crispiness and golden color during air frying. To prevent the cornflakes from becoming soggy, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket and cook the chicken in batches if necessary.

• crushed cornflakes - Substitute with panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs provide a similar crunchy texture and can be seasoned to mimic the flavor of cornflakes.

• crushed cornflakes - Substitute with crushed pretzels: Crushed pretzels offer a salty, crunchy coating that pairs well with chicken.

• chicken breast - Substitute with turkey breast: Turkey breast is a lean protein similar to chicken and can be cut into strips for a comparable texture and flavor.

• chicken breast - Substitute with tofu: Firm tofu can be cut into strips and provides a vegetarian alternative with a similar texture when cooked.

• all-purpose flour - Substitute with whole wheat flour: Whole wheat flour adds a slightly nutty flavor and more fiber, making it a healthier option.

• all-purpose flour - Substitute with almond flour: Almond flour is a gluten-free alternative that adds a subtle nutty flavor and works well for coating.

• beaten eggs - Substitute with buttermilk: Buttermilk can help the coating adhere to the chicken and adds a slight tangy flavor.

• beaten eggs - Substitute with plain yogurt: Plain yogurt can be used to coat the chicken, providing moisture and helping the coating stick.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty flavor along with a bit of umami, enhancing the overall taste.

• salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can be used as a direct substitute for regular salt, offering a slightly different mineral content and flavor.

• black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat but with a slightly different flavor profile, often described as more earthy.

• black pepper - Substitute with cayenne pepper: Cayenne pepper adds a spicier kick and can be used if you want to increase the heat level.

• paprika - Substitute with smoked paprika: Smoked paprika adds a smoky flavor in addition to the mild heat and color of regular paprika.

• paprika - Substitute with chili powder: Chili powder can provide a similar color and a bit more heat, adding complexity to the flavor.

• Allow the chicken fingers to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make them soggy.
• For short-term storage, place the chicken fingers in an airtight container. Line the container with a paper towel to absorb any excess moisture.
• Store the container in the refrigerator. The chicken fingers will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, freeze the chicken fingers. Arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the freezer until fully frozen. This prevents them from sticking together.
• Once frozen, transfer the chicken fingers to a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
• When ready to reheat, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C). Place the frozen chicken fingers in the basket in a single layer.
• Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are heated through and crispy.
• For best results, avoid microwaving the chicken fingers as this can make them lose their crispiness.

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover chicken fingers in a single layer in the basket. Cook for 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are heated through and crispy.

• For a quick oven method, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Arrange the chicken fingers on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake for 10-12 minutes, turning once, until they are hot and crunchy.

• If you prefer the microwave, place the chicken fingers on a microwave-safe plate. Cover them with a damp paper towel to retain moisture. Heat on high for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through. Note that this method may not retain the crispiness as well as the air fryer or oven.

• For stovetop reheating, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of olive oil or butter. Place the chicken fingers in the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until they are warmed through and crispy.

• To use a toaster oven, preheat it to 375°F (190°C). Place the chicken fingers on the toaster oven tray. Bake for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway, until they are hot and crunchy.

• Air fryer: Essential for cooking the chicken fingers to a crispy perfection without deep frying.

• Shallow dish: Used to hold the crushed cornflakes for coating the chicken strips.

• Shallow dish: Another shallow dish is needed to mix the flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.

• Baking sheet: Used to place the coated chicken strips before transferring them to the air fryer.

• Cooking spray: Helps to prevent the chicken strips from sticking to the air fryer basket.

• Mixing bowl: Needed for beating the eggs.

• Tongs: Useful for flipping the chicken strips halfway through cooking.

• Measuring cups: Used to measure out the cornflakes, flour, and other ingredients accurately.

• Measuring spoons: Needed to measure the salt, pepper, and paprika.

• Knife: Used to cut the chicken breast into strips.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for cutting the chicken breast.

Pre-measure ingredients: Measure and prepare all ingredients ahead of time to streamline the cooking process.

Use parchment paper: Line the baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup.

Crush cornflakes in advance: Crush the cornflakes and store them in an airtight container to save time when coating the chicken strips.

Batch cooking: Cook multiple batches of chicken fingers at once if your air fryer is large enough to accommodate them.

Preheat air fryer: Preheat the air fryer while you prepare the chicken to reduce overall cooking time.