Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe

Nashville hot chicken has become a beloved American culinary icon, renowned for its fiery, bold flavors and crispy, golden crust. Originating from Nashville, Tennessee, this dish combines tender, juicy chicken with an intensely spiced cayenne pepper-based paste that creates a perfect balance of heat and flavor. Traditionally served as a hefty, deep-fried piece of bird slathered in spicy oil, Nashville hot chicken has captured the hearts of food lovers everywhere, inspiring countless variations and adaptations.

However, while the traditional version delivers undeniable crunch and spice, the deep-frying process can be intimidating and less accessible to home cooks who want a healthier, quicker, and less messy alternative. Enter the air fryer—a kitchen appliance that has revolutionized how we achieve crispy, fried-like textures without submerging food in oil. Using hot circulating air, an air fryer produces crunchy exteriors and tender interiors with significantly less fat and fewer calories, making it a perfect tool for recreating Nashville hot chicken tenders in a more health-conscious way.

This recipe takes the classic Nashville hot chicken experience and reimagines it as crispy, flavorful chicken tenders made right in your air fryer. Each tender is coated in a seasoned buttermilk marinade, dredged in a spiced flour mixture, air fried to golden perfection, and then generously brushed with a spicy, smoky Nashville hot sauce. The result is an irresistible combination of juicy chicken, crunchy crust, and mouth-tingling heat that rivals the original, but with less oil and cleanup.

Whether you’re craving a fiery snack, a crowd-pleasing appetizer, or a bold main course, these air fryer Nashville hot chicken tenders deliver. They’re perfect for game day, family dinners, or casual gatherings, offering all the flavor and texture of traditional hot chicken with the convenience and speed of air frying.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll find everything you need to make this dish from scratch—from selecting the best chicken tenders and creating the perfect marinade to mastering the air fryer technique and balancing the heat in the signature hot sauce. We’ll also cover tips for serving, pairing suggestions, variations to adjust spice levels, and ideas for sides to complete your meal.

Whether you’re a seasoned cook looking to expand your air fryer repertoire or a beginner eager to tackle spicy fried chicken at home, this recipe provides step-by-step instructions, troubleshooting advice, and expert tips to help you succeed. By the end, you’ll have a deep understanding of Nashville hot chicken’s roots and how to craft this spicy, crispy treat with ease and confidence.

Get ready to fire up your air fryer and enjoy a healthier, delicious take on a Southern classic—without sacrificing any of the flavor or crunch.

Detailed Instructions for Air Fryer Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders

1. Gather and Prepare Your Ingredients

For the best results, start with quality ingredients:

• Chicken tenders (about 1½ pounds) — fresh, trimmed of excess fat and patted dry

• Buttermilk — 1½ cups for marinating

• Hot sauce — your favorite, like Frank’s RedHot, to add into the marinade and the finishing sauce

• Flour — 1½ cups all-purpose, for dredging

• Spices for dredging: smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper

• Butter — ¼ cup, for mixing with hot sauce to brush on cooked tenders

• Oil spray — for misting chicken before air frying

2. Marinate the Chicken Tenders

• In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of hot sauce.

• Submerge the chicken tenders completely in the marinade.

• Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, ideally 4 hours or overnight for maximum tenderness and flavor penetration.

Pro Tip: The acidity of the buttermilk tenderizes the chicken, while the hot sauce adds a subtle background heat.

3. Prepare the Dredging Mixture

• In a shallow dish, combine the flour with:

  • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika

  • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper (adjust to heat preference)

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon black pepper

• Whisk well to evenly distribute spices.

4. Dredge the Chicken

• Remove tenders from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off.

• Coat each tender thoroughly in the seasoned flour mixture.

• Press gently so the flour adheres well, ensuring a crispy crust.

5. Preheat the Air Fryer

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.

• Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil to prevent sticking.

6. Air Fry the Chicken Tenders

• Place chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Avoid overcrowding to ensure even cooking.

• Lightly mist the tenders with oil spray.

• Cook at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through.

• The chicken is done when the coating is golden and crisp and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

Note: Cooking times may vary based on air fryer model and tender size.

7. Prepare the Nashville Hot Sauce

• In a small saucepan, melt ¼ cup butter over low heat.

• Stir in 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper (adjust for heat), 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, ½ teaspoon salt, and 1 tablespoon hot sauce.

• Mix well and warm until combined and fragrant.

8. Brush the Chicken with Hot Sauce

• As soon as the tenders come out of the air fryer, generously brush them with the prepared Nashville hot sauce.

• For extra heat, you can toss tenders in the sauce instead.

9. Serve Immediately

• Serve the tenders hot, garnished with pickles and fresh herbs if desired.

• Offer dipping sauces like ranch or blue cheese dressing on the side to balance the heat.