How to cook chicken goujons in air fryer
If you’re looking for a quick and healthy way to enjoy homemade chicken goujons, look no further than your air fryer. Air frying is a cooking method that uses circulated hot air to cook food, giving it that crispy texture we all love without the need for excessive oil. In this article, we’ll show you how to make delicious chicken goujons in your air fryer, so you can enjoy a guilt-free treat anytime.
Step 1: Preparing the Chicken
Start by cutting boneless, skinless chicken breasts into thin strips, about 1 inch wide. This will ensure that they cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer. Once you have your chicken cut, season it with your favorite spices and herbs. You can use a simple mix of salt, pepper, and paprika, or get creative with different seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, or Italian herbs. Whatever flavor profile you prefer, make sure to coat the chicken well for maximum flavor.
Pro Tip: For extra tenderness and juiciness, you can marinate the chicken strips in buttermilk or yogurt for at least 30 minutes before cooking.
Preparing the Ingredients
Before you start cooking your chicken goujons in the air fryer, it’s important to make sure that your ingredients are prepared and ready to go. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 500g chicken breast, cut into thin strips
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 eggs
Start by cutting the chicken breast into thin strips. This will ensure that they cook quickly and evenly in the air fryer. Set the chicken strips aside.
In a separate bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. This will be the coating for your chicken goujons, giving them a delicious crispy texture.
In another bowl, beat the eggs. This will be used as a binder to help the breadcrumb mixture adhere to the chicken.
With your ingredients prepared and ready, you’re now ready to start cooking your chicken goujons in the air fryer.
Season the chicken
Before cooking the chicken goujons in the air fryer, it’s important to season them properly to enhance the flavor. You can use a variety of seasonings, spices, and herbs based on your personal preference. Here’s a simple and delicious way to season the chicken:
Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions:
- Pat the chicken strips dry with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.
- In a small bowl, mix together the salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Season the chicken strips evenly with the spice mixture. Make sure to coat both sides of each strip.
Note: You can adjust the amount of seasonings based on your taste preferences. Feel free to add more or less of any spice or herb.
Once the chicken strips are properly seasoned, they are ready to be cooked in the air fryer to perfection!
Cut the chicken into strips
In order to make tasty chicken goujons in an air fryer, it is important to start with properly cut chicken strips. Follow these steps to prepare the chicken:
Ingredients:
- 500g boneless chicken breasts
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions:
- Begin by washing the chicken breasts under cold running water, then pat them dry using paper towels.
- Place the chicken breasts on a clean cutting board and, using a sharp knife, cut them into long, thin strips. Aim for a width of about 1.5-2 centimeters.
- Once all the chicken breasts are cut into strips, transfer them to a shallow bowl or plate.
- In a separate small bowl, mix together the salt and black pepper.
- Sprinkle the salt and pepper mixture evenly over the chicken strips, making sure each piece is well-seasoned.
- Gently toss the chicken strips to ensure that the seasoning is evenly distributed.
- Cover the bowl or plate with plastic wrap and let the chicken marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This will enhance the flavor of the chicken.
Once the chicken strips have finished marinating, they are ready to be cooked in an air fryer using your favorite chicken goujon recipe. Enjoy!
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Use a sharp knife | A sharp knife makes cutting easier and cleaner, resulting in uniform strips. |
| Keep fingers clear | When cutting, make sure your fingers are not in the way to avoid accidents. |
| Consistency is key | Aim for strips of similar width to ensure even cooking. |
| Pat dry the chicken | Removing excess moisture helps with browning and crisping in the air fryer. |
Prepare the dry coating
To give your chicken goujons a crispy and flavorful coating, you will need to prepare a dry mixture of breadcrumbs, herbs, and seasonings. This coating will not only add a delicious crunch to your chicken, but it will also help the goujons cook evenly and retain their moisture.
Gather the ingredients
For the dry coating, you will need:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (preferably panko)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Mix the ingredients
In a shallow bowl or plate, combine the breadcrumbs, dried thyme, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well using a fork or whisk to evenly distribute the herbs and seasonings. This mixture will create a flavorful coating for your chicken goujons.
Pro Tip: For an extra kick of flavor, you can add grated Parmesan cheese or cayenne pepper to the dry coating mixture. Adjust the seasonings to suit your preference.
Note: If you want to make a larger batch of dry coating, you can double or triple the ingredients accordingly.
Cooking the Chicken Goujons
Now that you’ve prepared all the ingredients for your chicken goujons, it’s time to cook them in the air fryer. Follow these simple steps to achieve crispy and delicious chicken goujons:
- Preheat your air fryer to 200°C (390°F).
- Lightly coat the basket of the air fryer with cooking spray to prevent the chicken from sticking.
- Take a chicken goujon and dip it into the beaten egg mixture, ensuring it is fully coated.
- Next, coat the chicken goujon in the bread crumb mixture. Ensure that it is evenly covered on all sides.
- Place the coated chicken goujon onto the basket of the air fryer.
- Repeat steps 3-5 with the remaining chicken goujons, ensuring they are not overlapping in the basket.
- Once all the chicken goujons are in the air fryer, spray them with some cooking spray to help them crisp up.
- Cook the chicken goujons for 10 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time to ensure even browning.
- Check the chicken goujons for doneness. They should be golden brown and crispy on the outside, and cooked through on the inside.
- Remove the chicken goujons from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving.
Your homemade chicken goujons are now ready to be enjoyed! Serve them with your favorite dipping sauce, such as ketchup or mayonnaise, and enjoy the crispy, flavorful goodness.
Preheat the air fryer
To begin preparing your chicken goujons in the air fryer, you will first need to preheat the appliance. Preheating is essential to ensure that your chicken cooks evenly and becomes crispy.
Start by plugging in your air fryer and finding the temperature control. Set the temperature to 200°C (400°F) and let the fryer preheat for about 5 minutes.
Importance of preheating
Preheating the air fryer is crucial because it allows the appliance to reach the desired temperature before cooking. This ensures that your food will start cooking immediately and helps to achieve a perfectly crispy result.
Advantages of preheating
There are several advantages to preheating the air fryer. Firstly, preheating ensures that the cooking time is accurate, as the fryer is already at the desired temperature. This helps to prevent undercooking or overcooking your chicken goujons.
Preheating also helps to create a sear on the chicken, resulting in a delicious crispy crust. This is especially important when cooking chicken goujons, as their breading benefits from the initial high heat of the fryer.
By preheating the air fryer, you can also minimize the risk of food sticking to the basket. The heat of the preheated fryer helps to create a non-stick surface, making it easier to remove the cooked chicken goujons without any trouble.
Overall, taking the time to preheat your air fryer is a simple step that can greatly enhance the cooking process and ensure that your chicken goujons turn out perfectly crispy and delicious.
Coat the chicken with the breading
After drying the chicken with a paper towel, it’s time to coat it with the breading mixture. Follow these steps:
Ingredients:
| 2 cups of breadcrumbs |
| 1 teaspoon of salt |
| 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper |
| 1/2 teaspoon of paprika |
| 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder |
Instructions:
- In a shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Dip each piece of chicken into the breading mixture and press gently to make sure the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken.
- Flip the chicken and coat the other side as well.
- Repeat the process with all the chicken pieces.
- Place the breaded chicken onto the air fryer basket in a single layer.
Coating the chicken with the breading mixture is an essential step in achieving crispy and flavorful chicken goujons. The combination of breadcrumbs and spices adds a delicious crunch and enhances the overall taste of the chicken. Make sure to coat both sides of each chicken piece for an even coating.
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