Air Fryer Ranch Chicken
Crisp, juicy fried chicken…with no frying.
I’ve had my air fryer for a while now, and I’ve really put it through its paces. I’ve used it to make not-fried versions of all kinds of goodies, from Zucchini Fries to Buffalo Wings.
This is the perfect way to cook chicken breast because it heats through quickly and doesn’t dry out like it can in the oven. After about 15 minutes in the air fryer to cook them to perfection: tender and juicy on the inside, with a crisp, flavorful coating.
Recipe Notes:
What changes can I make to this Air Fryer Ranch Chicken? As with all great recipes, this recipe is quick and easy but still versatile. Here are a few easy ways to adapt this recipe to fit your needs.
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- Marinate the chicken longer. If you know in the morning that you will want to make this amazing chicken dish for dinner or maybe even for the next day, feel free to throw the chicken and buttermilk together and let it marinate in the fridge for up to 24 hours. You don’t want to leave it out on the counter for that long but it will be fine in the refrigerator and even get more tender the longer it marinates. Don’t marinate it for longer than 36 hours however or the chicken may begin to get tough instead.
- Switch some or all of the parmesan cheese out for more breadcrumbs. Sometimes you don’t have all the ingredients or aren’t feeling the parmesan flavor, as long as you have enough coating for your chicken, you will be just fine. Substitute any or all of the parmesan cheese for extra breadcrumbs.
- Use another flavoring. You can easily switch out the ranch dressing mix for your favorite flavoring mixture including an italian dressing mixture, a lemon garlic mixture or any other flavoring you have on hand. You can even use a Tablespoon or two of your own spices instead of a pre-packaged mixture.
- Add extra color and crisp to your chicken by turning the temperature up to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. This is a great method for people who really love crispy, crunchy breading.
- Use a different cooking method. I love my air fryer but there are moments when I just want a real and truly fried-in-grease piece of chicken. You can heat about 1 inch of oil in a skillet or pan and cook the chicken in it for 2-3 minutes per side. It will cook fast but make sure that it has reached 165 degrees Fahrenheit in the middle before you serve it. Another alternative to the Air Fryer is a traditional oven. You can cook this chicken in the oven at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12-18 minutes, flipping the pieces at the halfway point. Be sure you are checking the internal temperature before serving since all ovens cook slightly differently.
Air Fryer Ranch Chicken
- Place the chicken tenders and the buttermilk in a large plastic sealable bag. Remove as much air as possible and slosh chicken around in the buttermilk.
- Let the chicken marinate on the counter for 45 minutes.
- In a large, shallow bowl whisk together the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and dry ranch salad dressing mix until well combined.
- Remove a chicken tenderloin from the bag and press it into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Flip the chicken tenderloin and press it gently into the mixture on the other side until the chicken is completely coated and then place it in the air fryer.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you have an even layer of chicken in your air fryer with a little space in between each piece. Do not overcrowd your air fryer or the chicken will take longer to cook and will not color evenly. I cooked the chicken in two batches.
- Cook chicken in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-16 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees and the coating is a light brown. Flip the chicken after about 6 minutes, or once the top has gotten light brown and crispy, to get an even color and crisp on the chicken.
- Serve hot with a dipping sauce, optional.
More Easy Chicken Recipes
Air Fryer Ranch Chicken
After about 15 minutes in the air fryer to cook these Air Fryer Ranch Chicken are tender on the inside, with a crisp, flavorful coating.
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Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken breast tenderloins
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup plain japanese style panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 1 ounce package dry ranch salad dressing mix
- Dipping sauce optional side
Instructions
- Place the chicken tenders and the buttermilk in a large plastic sealable bag. Remove as much air as possible and slosh chicken around in the buttermilk.
- Let the chicken marinate on the counter for 45 minutes.
- In a large, shallow bowl whisk together the panko breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese and dry ranch salad dressing mix until well combined.
- Remove a chicken tenderloin from the bag and press it into the breadcrumb mixture.
- Flip the chicken tenderloin and press it gently into the mixture on the other side until the chicken is completely coated and then place it in the air fryer.
- Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you have an even layer of chicken in your air fryer with a little space in between each piece. Do not overcrowd your air fryer or the chicken will take longer to cook and will not color evenly. I cooked the chicken in two batches.
- Cook chicken in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-16 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees and the coating is a light brown. Flip the chicken after about 6 minutes, or once the top has gotten light brown and crispy, to get an even color and crisp on the chicken.
- Serve hot with a dipping sauce, optional.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 1266mg | Potassium: 538mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 241IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 199mg | Iron: 1mg
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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Damn this looks delicious, but I don’t have an air fryer .