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.
Servings: 8 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.