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Air Fryer Pancake Chicken

Air Fryer Pancake Chicken

5 from 13 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 22 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

Crispy, kid-approved chicken coated in seasoned pancake mix and crunchy cereal crumbs, air-fried to golden perfection in just 25 minutes. Sweet, savory, and addictive.

Ingredients 

  • 1 lb chicken tenders, or boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into strips and pounded to ¼ inch
  • ⅓ cup pancake mix, Kodiak Cakes, Krusteaz, or Bisquick
  • 1 cup crushed cereal, Corn Flakes, Heritage Flakes, or Cap'n Crunch
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
  • Cooking spray, avocado or olive oil

Instructions

  • Pat the chicken dry thoroughly with paper towels. If using breasts, pound to ¼-inch thickness.
  • Set up breading station: In Bowl 1, whisk pancake mix, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne. In Bowl 2, whisk eggs until frothy. In Bowl 3, add crushed cereal.
  • Bread the chicken: Dredge each piece in pancake mix (shake off excess), dip in egg, then press into cereal crumbs to coat completely.
  • Air fry: Spray air fryer basket with cooking spray. Place chicken in a single layer (don't overlap). Spray the tops generously with cooking spray. Cook at 340°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
  • Serve immediately with maple syrup, ranch, honey mustard, or your favorite dipping sauce.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

Notes

  • For extra crispy: double-dip in egg and cereal before air frying.
  • Oven option: Bake at 425°F on a wire rack for 18–22 minutes, flipping halfway.
  • Make-ahead: Bread chicken up to 24 hours ahead and refrigerate covered.
  • Reheating: Air fry at 375°F for 3–5 minutes to restore crispiness.
  • Internal temp: Chicken is safe to eat at 165°F. Always use a thermometer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 145kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 19gFat: 4gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 116mgSodium: 570mgPotassium: 335mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 30mgIron: 2mg