Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Published Jan 31, 2019 Updated Jul 24, 2023
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Super Bowl is a pretty big deal at my house. We love coming together with our friends and family and I’m pretty sure it’s a day my husband looks forward to all year long. My favorite thing to do for this special day is creating flavorful and satisfying healthy recipes that don’t disappoint. My new Crispy Buffalo Tenders are heavenly and I have created both an Air Fryer and traditional oven method so that everyone, whether you own an air fryer or not can enjoy. They are also Keto, Whole30 and Paleo compliant along with being gluten and dairy free.
In my opinion, appetizers aren’t appetizers unless you have buffalo chicken tenders in the line up. These tenders are great straight from the oven or the air fryer, both methods are amazing. The almond flour mixture gives these chicken tenders so much flavor and texture that makes them the perfect crunchy game time treat or dinner/lunch option. My daughter who is 4 years old love chicken tenders but the buffalo sauce is a little intense for here, so I always put a couple back before I toss in the sauce.
My spicy ranch dressing is the perfect condiment for dipping anything in, especially these tenders. If you aren’t a fan of spicy ranch, no worries, you can grab my plain ranch recipe here. Super Bowl is this weekend and these are for sure on our menu. I love the fact that they tastes like they are actually fried and full of all the bad stuff, but actually extremely healthy and satisfying.
If you have a social gathering, football game or party coming up soon, you must give these Crispy Buffalo Tenders a try. Remember, it’s not a party without something buffalo on the menu, and these will be a real crowd please.
If you love this recipe, also check out my other mouthwatering recipes below.
Air Fryer Fried Pickles
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Peppers
Crispy Cajun Wings
My 4 Majestic Sauces
Buffalo Chicken Patties
Shop my post below
[wpurp-searchable-recipe]Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders – A savory and crispy chicken tender tossed in the perfect buffalo sauce and served with a spicy ranch dressing. This recipe is Whole30, Keto and Paleo compliant along with being dairy and gluten free. – Chicken Tenders: chicken tenders, almond flour, egg, salt, pepper, garlic powder, nutritional yeast (Optional ), Spicy Ranch: compliant mayo, salt, parsely, dried chives, dill weed, pepper, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, white wine vinager, canned unsweetened coconut milk, onion powder, Franks Hot Sauce, lime juice, Buffalo Sauce: Franks Hot Sauce, ghee, coconut aminos, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, sea salt, cayenne pepper, pepper, Oven Method: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add the egg to a bowl and beat.; Mix the almond flour along with all of the other seasoning in a separate bowl. ; Coat each chicken tender in the egg mixture, followed by rolling in the almond flour mixture, and place on the parchment paper on top of the baking pan. ; Bake for 12 minutes, then flip, and bake for another 12 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and toss in the buffalo sauce. Serve with the spicy ranch dressing. ; Air Fryer Method: Preheat air fryer to 370º F. ; Mix the almond flour along with all of the other seasoning in a separate bowl. Coat each chicken tender in the egg mixture, followed by rolling in the almond flour mixture, and place on the parchment paper on top of the baking pan. ; Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray. Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket. Make sure the tenders are not touching, air will need to flow between them as they cook. You will be cooking in 2 separate batches; Spray a little of the cooking spray on top of each tender and turn the timer on for 12 minutes. Halfway through, pause cooking and flip the tenders and spray the other side with cooking spray and finish cooking. Cook until golden brown or until the internal temperature reads 175°F. Repeat this step until all tenders are cooked. ; Remove from the air fryer and toss the tenders in the buffalo sauce. Serve with the spicy ranch dressing. ; Spicy Ranch: Add in your mayo (whole 30 version) into a mason jar. Here is my recipe for homemade mayo (1 cup of light olive oil, 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tsp lemon juice) Add all your ingredients to a mason jar and use your immersion blender to mix together until thick and creamy. ; Add the rest of the ingredients to the mayo and mix together with a spoon until combined. This ranch lasts about a week in the fridge.; Buffalo Sauce: Take a small sauce pan and place over medium heat. ; Add all ingredients to saucepan and heat until ghee is melted. ; Whisk together until combined. ; ; – – Appetizer – Main Dish – Buffalo Chicken – Keto – Paleo – Whole30 – air fryer – Appetizers – buffalo – BuffaloTenders – Chicken Tender Air Fryer – dairy free – gluten free – paleo – Snacks – whole30 – Whole30 appetizers[/wpurp-searchable-recipe]
Crispy Buffalo Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
Chicken Tenders
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 1/2 Tbsp nutritional yeast Optional
Spicy Ranch
- 1 cup compliant mayo
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp parsely
- 1 tbsp dried chives
- 2 tsp dill weed
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp white wine vinager
- 2 tbsp canned unsweetened coconut milk
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 2 tbsp Franks Hot Sauce
- 1 tsp lime juice
Buffalo Sauce
- 1 cup Franks Hot Sauce
- 2 1/2 tbsp ghee
- 1 tbsp coconut aminos
- 1 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp pepper
Instructions
Oven Method
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and add the egg to a bowl and beat.
- Mix the almond flour along with all of the other seasoning in a separate bowl.
- Coat each chicken tender in the egg mixture, followed by rolling in the almond flour mixture, and place on the parchment paper on top of the baking pan.
- Bake for 12 minutes, then flip, and bake for another 12 minutes until golden brown. Remove from the oven and toss in the buffalo sauce. Serve with the spicy ranch dressing.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat air fryer to 400º F.
- Mix the almond flour along with all of the other seasoning in a separate bowl. Coat each chicken tender in the egg mixture, followed by rolling in the almond flour mixture, and place on the parchment paper on top of the baking pan.
- Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray or olive oil spray. Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket. Make sure the tenders are not touching, air will need to flow between them as they cook. You will be cooking in 2 separate batches
- Spray a little of the cooking spray on top of each tender and turn the timer on for 12 minutes. Halfway through, pause cooking and flip the tenders and spray the other side with cooking spray and finish cooking. Cook until golden brown or until the internal temperature reads 175°F. Repeat this step until all tenders are cooked.
- Remove from the air fryer and toss the tenders in the buffalo sauce. Serve with the spicy ranch dressing.
Spicy Ranch
- Add in your mayo (whole 30 version) into a mason jar. Here is my recipe for homemade mayo (1 cup of light olive oil, 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon mustard powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 tsp lemon juice) Add all your ingredients to a mason jar and use your immersion blender to mix together until thick and creamy.
- Add the rest of the ingredients to the mayo and mix together with a spoon until combined. This ranch lasts about a week in the fridge.
Buffalo Sauce
- Take a small sauce pan and place over medium heat.
- Add all ingredients to saucepan and heat until ghee is melted.
- Whisk together until combined.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
These buffalo chicken tenders are amazing. Making them as part of my meal prep for second week in a row.
Could you use Garbanzo bean flour in place of the almond flour?
I have not tested that so I can’t give you a for sure answer. You can sure give it a try though.
This recipe is so cute!!
So crispy and flavorful! Will be making them again. We loved them!
Thank you!
Amazing! These are a game day staple. I’ve tried a few buffalo tender recipes. This is the best! The best in an air fryer.
Thank you Heather! I am so glad you love this recipe!
Omg! Just made this for lunch and WOW! Talk about blow up your taste buds!
YAY!!!! Healthy and tasty……..yes ma’am that’s my goal. So glad you enjoyed the recipe. Thanks for sharing:-)
Made these for Super Bowl Sunday – so yummy! I loved the crispness and the hot sauce was sooo good. I definitely will be making these again soon!!
Thanks Becky for the kind review. Love it when a recipe is easy, tasty and a crowd pleaser:-)
What would you suggest for subbing out the almond flour for a tree nut allergy? Do you think coconut flour would work?
It should be a nice substitute. I would add 2 tbs of either arrow root or tapioca flour so it won’t be so heavy:-)
My favorite thing is when I make something that others love and I let them know its whole 30. These are a staple in my house. amazing flout mix. When I am not on a strict whole 30 I make this into a buffalo chicken wrap in cashew flour tortillas.
🙂
Our absolute favorite! We are buffalo sauce lovers in this house and these are the best! We do switch it up some and make your awesome chili lime chicken tenders as well. This is a great recipe to make if some kids don’t like the buffalo sauce since you don’t pour the sauce on until the end.
Great Recipe! Would I be able to substitute all purpose flour for almond flour?😊
You can sure try. Don’t see why not. I can’t give you a for sure bc I have not tested it that way.