These Airfryer chicken fingers are better (and healthier) than those from Popeyes

I may travel the world as a working food writer and sample some of the most over-the-top menus, but I always come back to the trusty chicken finger when I’m craving comfort. There’s something about that juicy meat, wrapped in a crispy casing and dipped in a… spicy sauce That always hits the spot.

Popeye’s makes a mean tender chicken, but I found an air fryer recipe for keto chicken fingers that is even better because you can eat them anytime without consuming a lot of fat, breadcrumbs, and salt. This 10 out of 10 recipe cuts the carbs from the classic chicken finger, while retaining its signature crunch and salty, fatty goodness.

The secret? Pork rinds, Parmesan cheese and an air fryer.

Here’s how to make the best keto chicken fingers ever.

What you need

• 6 chicken tenders
• 1 cup ground pork rinds
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon paprika powder
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. In a medium bowl or deep plate, combine the ground pork rinds, grated Parmesan cheese and herbs. In a separate small bowl, beat two eggs.

2. Brush each chicken finger with the eggs, then dip them in the pork rind, Parmesan, and spice mixture. Place each piece on the rack of an air fryer.

4. Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and turn on the timer for 10 minutes. Turn fingers halfway through with pliers. The chicken is ready when it reaches a golden brown exterior and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. Remove the fingers from the air fryer and let them cool for 5-10 minutes. Enjoy.

The recipe is quite simple, but there are quite a few tips to keep in mind for customization purposes. Here are some of my favorites:

• Feel free to keep the high-fat, low-carb keto theme in mind and serve these with dips like ranch or blue cheese dressing. Sauces like honey mustard and barbecue are my favorite, but they contain a lot of sugar in small amounts.
• Adjust the spice mix by adding dried herbs such as parsley or oregano.
• The cheese is not necessary if you want to remove the dairy component.
  
• If carbs aren’t an issue, reduce the pork rinds and replace the amount with panko bread crumbs to maintain the same level of crispiness.
  
• Before cooking, cut the chicken fingers into bite-sized pieces to make nuggets. These will take less time to cook.
  
• These can easily turn into buffalo chicken fingers. Let them cool slightly and gently toss them with your preferred buffalo sauce before serving.
  

As with any “fried” food, these will dry out and not taste good if reheated. Consider making smaller quantities so you can enjoy them immediately after cooking.

For more information about the air fryer, try this Salmon from the air fryer for 10 minutes or this decadent air fryer s’mores.