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Healthy Crispy Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tender Cups

Healthy Crispy Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tender Cups - featured image
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These Healthy Crispy Air Fryer Ranch Chicken Tender Cups deliver a crispy, zesty ranch coating paired with juicy chicken tenders, made healthier and faster in the air fryer. Perfect for family gatherings, potlucks, or a quick weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450g) chicken tenders, trimmed of excess fat
  • 1 cup (100g) panko breadcrumbs (Japanese-style preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning mix (store-bought or homemade)
  • 1/4 cup (60g) plain Greek yogurt (dairy-free alternative: coconut yogurt)
  • 1/4 cup (25g) finely grated Parmesan cheese (dairy-free alternative: nutritional yeast)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Olive oil spray
  • Muffin tin or silicone cups for shaping

Instructions

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
  2. In a shallow bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs, ranch seasoning, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, and onion powder until well combined.
  3. In another bowl, whisk eggs with Greek yogurt until smooth.
  4. Lightly salt and pepper the chicken tenders. Cut into smaller pieces if needed to fit into muffin tin or silicone cups.
  5. Dip each chicken piece into the egg-yogurt mixture, letting excess drip off, then press firmly into the panko mixture to coat well.
  6. Spray muffin tin or silicone cups lightly with olive oil spray. Press each coated tender into the cups, shaping them into nests.
  7. Place the tin or cups into the air fryer basket and cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes. Check at 10 minutes and spray lightly with olive oil if they look dry.
  8. Ensure chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C) and the cups are golden brown and crispy. Add a few more minutes if needed.
  9. Let the tender cups rest for 3-5 minutes before serving to allow the coating to set.

Notes

[‘Do not skip the Greek yogurt in the egg mixture for moist, tender chicken.’, ‘Press the panko coating firmly to prevent it from falling off during cooking.’, ‘Spray the cups lightly with olive oil to enhance crispiness without adding grease.’, ‘Avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to ensure even crisping.’, ‘If panko browns too fast, reduce temperature by 10-15°F and cook longer.’, ‘Can be baked in a convection oven at 425°F (220°C) for 18-22 minutes on a wire rack, flipping halfway.’, ‘Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes.’]

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken, ranch chicken, crispy chicken tenders, healthy chicken recipe, easy chicken recipe, gluten-free chicken, dairy-free chicken

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/healthy-crispy-air-fryer-ranch-chicken-tender-cups-recipe-to-try-today/