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Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders are spicy, delicious, and easy to pull off. Made with simple spices, chicken, and a quick homemade buffalo sauce, they’re a great option when you want chicken tenders without breading, flour, or a greasy mess.

air fryer buffalo chicken tenders with dipping hot sauce and creamy blue cheese dressing

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This air fryer buffalo chicken recipe has earned a permanent spot in our meal rotation for a few simple reasons:

No flour or breading needed: You still get bold buffalo flavor and juicy chicken without the extra steps or ingredients.
Simple, real ingredients: Just chicken, pantry spices, and a quick homemade buffalo sauce, nothing complicated or fussy.
Fast and weeknight-friendly: Everything comes together quickly in the air fryer in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients You’ll Need

These quick notes will help you get the best results when making buffalo chicken tenders in the air fryer. Be sure to check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.

Chicken breast tenderloins: cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer. Remove the tendons for the best texture.
Natural Ancient Sea Salt
Black pepper
Smoked paprika: adds a subtle smoky depth that complements the buffalo flavor.
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Avocado oil: a high–smoke point oil that helps prevent sticking and supports even cooking. Olive oil works well too

Buffalo Sauce

Frank’s Red Hot Wing Sauce: a classic buffalo sauce with balanced heat and tang.
Unsalted butter: creates a smooth, rich sauce while keeping salt levels in check.

ingredients for air fryer buffalo chicken tenders

How to Make Air Fryer Buffalo Chicken Tenders (No Breading)

Making air fryer buffalo chicken tenders with no breading is simple and straightforward. Use the step-by-step photos below as a visual guide to see how the recipe comes together in just a few easy stages.

Prep the chicken and seasoning

Start by mixing your spices so they’re ready to go. Take a moment to remove the tendons from the chicken tenderloins, then preheat the air fryer so it’s hot and ready.

Add the chicken to a large bowl with the oil and spices, tossing until everything is evenly seasoned.

removing the tendons of the chicken; tossing chicken tenderloins with spices and oil

Air fry until juicy and cooked through

Arrange the seasoned chicken in a single layer in the air fryer basket, so the hot air can circulate properly. Cook until the tenders are fully cooked and lightly browned on the outside.

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When the chicken tenders are almost done cooking, make the buffalo sauce.

arranged chicken tenders in an air fryer; mixed sauce ingredients in a small bowl

Finish with buffalo sauce and serve

Once the tenders are done, toss them in the sauce and let them rest briefly so the flavor sets. Serve right away, with extra sauce on the side if you like dipping.

pouring sauce over cooked chicken; chicken tenders coated in spicy sauce

Pro Tips That Save Time & Add Flavor

To make these tenders juicy, flavorful, and easy to enjoy, keep a few simple tricks in mind:

Remove the tendons: they stay tough and chewy even after cooking, so taking them out ensures every bite is tender.
Give the chicken space: avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cooking in a single layer (or in batches) helps the tenders brown evenly. If I’m in a rush and want to skip this step, I just rotate my chicken more often.
Coat while hot: toss the chicken in the buffalo sauce as soon as it comes out of the fryer so it clings beautifully.
Extra flavor boost: let the chicken rest for a minute after tossing in the sauce; it allows the flavors to settle for a richer taste.
Skillet option: if you prefer, you can cook the seasoned chicken through in a skillet and still get the same juicy, saucy results.

Swaps & Variations

This recipe is easy to adjust, so you can tailor it to your tastes and kitchen. A few ways to personalize it:

Protein swaps: Chicken breast tenderloins work, but you can also cut regular chicken breasts into tenders or use chicken thighs like I do in my air fryer buffalo chicken thighs recipe. Just adjust cooking time so it’s cooked through.
Veggie pairings: Serve with air-fried or roasted veggies like broccoli, bell peppers, or zucchini for a simple, balanced meal.
Budget-friendly tip: Bone-in chicken pieces, like thighs or drumsticks, are usually less expensive than tenderloins. They can be cooked with the same seasoning and sauce, but will take a bit longer to cook through.
Extra flavor: Add a pinch of cayenne to the sauce for more heat, or sprinkle fresh herbs over the finished tenders for a bright, fresh touch.

tender air fryer buffalo chicken tenders on a serving plate with hot sauce and homemade blue cheese dressing

What to Serve With This

Whether you want to make this a meal or serve as an appetizer, here are some of my favorite recipes from the site to serve these with:

Storage & Reheating

These buffalo chicken tenders are just as tasty the next day, and storing them is simple:

Store: place leftovers in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat: pop them in the microwave for about a minute or in the air fryer at 375°F for 3–5 minutes until warmed through.
Sauce tip: If you saved extra buffalo sauce, you can drizzle it over the tenders after reheating or use it as a dipping sauce on the side.