These Air Fryer Chicken Fingers Are Better (and Healthier) Than Popeyes'

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I get to travel the world as a working food writer and sample some of the seriously 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 up in a crunchy shell and dipped in a tangy sauce that always hits the spot. 

Popeye's makes a mean chicken tender but I found an air fryer recipe for keto chicken fingers that's even better since you can eat them whenever without consuming loads of grease, breading and salt. This 10 out of 10 recipe cuts the carbs on the classic chicken finger while maintaining its signature crispiness 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'll need

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

Directions

1. In a medium bowl or deep plate, mix the crushed pork rinds, grated parmesan cheese and spices. In a separate small bowl, beat two eggs.

2. Coat each chicken finger with the eggs and then dredge through 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. Flip the fingers halfway with tongs. The chicken is finished when it achieves a golden brown exterior and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. 

3. Remove the fingers from the air fryer and allow them to 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 dipping sauces such as ranch or blue cheese dressing. Sauces like honey mustard and barbecue are my favorite, but they pack a ton of sugar in small quantities. 
• Customize the spice blend by incorporating dried herbs such as parsley or oregano.
• The cheese is not necessary if you want to remove the dairy component.
  
• If carbs are not a concern, scale back on the pork rinds and replace the amount with panko breadcrumbs to maintain the same level of crunchiness. 
  
• Prior to cooking, cut your chicken fingers into bite-sized pieces to create nuggets. These will take less time to cook. 
  
• These can easily turn into buffalo chicken fingers. Allow them to cool a bit and then gently toss in your preferred buffalo sauce before serving. 
  

As with any "fried" food, these will dry out and not taste good when reheated. Consider making smaller quantities to enjoy immediately upon cooking. 

For more air fryer intel, try this 10-minute air fryer salmon or these decadent air fryer s'mores.