Air Fried Vegetarian "Chicken Tenders"

Great-grandma's timeless recipe for crispy fried 'chicken.' The best part: because it is adapted for an air fryer, it's a healthier version compared to its fried cousin! Serve with honey-mustard sauce for dipping.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 647 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3 eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¾ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon chili powder
• cooking spray
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Pour flour onto a large plate. Place eggs in a shallow bowl. Combine bread crumbs, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper, chili powder, and salt in another shallow bowl.

Step 2

Coat imitation chicken strips in flour, dip into eggs, then dredge in bread crumb mixture, and place on a plate.

Step 3

Heat an air fryer to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).

Step 4

Place a row of coated strips in the air fryer basket. Spray with a light coat of cooking spray.

Step 5

Cook strips in the air fryer for 6 minutes. Open fryer to flip strips with tongs. Continue cooking until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes more.