Real Good chicken strips are coated in a parmesan and pork rind breading that crisps up nicely in an air fryer. If you want to know how to cook real good chicken strips in air fryer, the process is simple and fast.
You do not need deep frying or a lot of oil. The air fryer gives you a crunchy outside and a juicy inside in under 15 minutes.
This guide covers temps, timing, flipping, and the mistakes that make strips soggy. Read on and your next batch will come out golden.
Why Real Good Chicken Strips Work Well In An Air Fryer
Real Good chicken strips are different from standard frozen strips. The breading uses parmesan cheese and pork rind crumbs instead of wheat flour.
That matters for air frying. Pork rind breading crisps faster than traditional flour breading. It also holds up better to circulating hot air.
The result is a strip that tastes fried but is not. You get a hard, crunchy shell with tender meat inside.
- High protein and low carb per serving
- No flour breading that turns gummy
- Breading browns quickly, so timing is short
- Works from frozen with no thawing needed
How To Cook Real Good Chicken Strips In Air Fryer
Follow these steps in order. The whole cook takes about 12 to 14 minutes.
Step 1: Preheat The Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Let it run empty for 3 to 5 minutes.
Preheating is not optional here. A cold basket means the breading sticks and never gets crisp. If your model has no preheat setting, just run it empty on the regular setting.
Step 2: Arrange The Strips In A Single Layer
Place the frozen strips in the basket. Do not stack them. Do not crowd them.
Air needs to move around every piece. If the strips touch each other, the sides stay soft. Cook in batches if you have a small basket.
Leave a small gap between each strip. This one habit makes the biggest difference in crunch.
Step 3: Lightly Spray With Oil
Give the tops a quick spray of cooking oil. Avocado oil or olive oil spray both work.
You do not need much. A thin coat helps the parmesan and pork rind breading brown evenly. Skip this and the coating can look pale and dry.
Do not soak them. Too much oil makes the breading greasy and soft.
Step 4: Cook At 400 Degrees For 6 Minutes
Set the timer for 6 minutes. Do not open the basket during this first stretch.
Opening early releases heat and slows the cook. Let the air fryer do its job.
Step 5: Flip And Cook 5 To 7 More Minutes
At the 6 minute mark, pull the basket out. Flip each strip with tongs.
This ensures both sides get direct hot air. Put the basket back and cook for another 5 to 7 minutes.
Total cook time lands between 11 and 13 minutes for most air fryers. Thicker strips may need the full 13.
Step 6: Check The Internal Temperature
Chicken is safe at 165 degrees Fahrenheit internally. Use a meat thermometer on the thickest part of one strip.
Most frozen strips are fully cooked already, so you are really checking for heat and texture. But a quick temp check never hurts.
Step 7: Rest For 2 Minutes Before Serving
Move the strips to a plate and wait 2 minutes. This lets the crust set.
If you cut them right away, steam escapes and the breading softens. Two minutes is all it takes.
Air Fryer Times And Temps At A Glance
- Temperature: 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- First side: 6 minutes
- After flip: 5 to 7 minutes
- Total time: 11 to 13 minutes
- Internal temp: 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Rest time: 2 minutes
Common Mistakes To Avoid
Overcrowding The Basket
This is the number one reason strips come out soggy. One layer only. Cook two batches if needed.
Skipping The Preheat
A cold air fryer adds 2 to 3 minutes to the cook and gives you uneven browning. Always preheat.
Using Too Much Oil
A light spray is enough. Heavy oil makes the pork rind breading soft and heavy.
Cooking At A Lower Temp
Some people drop to 350 degrees to play it safe. That backfires with this breading. The parmesan and pork rind coating needs high heat to crisp. Stay at 400.
Not Flipping Halfway
The bottom side sits in the basket and gets less air. Flipping at 6 minutes fixes this.
How To Serve Your Air Fryer Chicken Strips
These strips work as a main dish or a snack. Here are a few simple ways to plate them.
- With ranch or blue cheese for dipping
- On top of a salad for a quick lunch
- Inside a low carb wrap with lettuce and tomato
- Next to air fryer fries or roasted veggies
- Cut into pieces for a party tray
Serve them right after the rest time. They taste best hot and fresh.
Storing And Reheating Leftovers
Let any leftover strips cool first. Then place them in an airtight container.
They keep in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Do not use the microwave to reheat them. It steams the breading and ruins the crunch.
Instead, reheat in the air fryer at 375 degrees for 3 to 4 minutes. They come back close to fresh.
Final Tips For Perfect Results Every Time
- Keep strips frozen until the moment they go in the basket
- Use a meat thermometer if your air fryer runs hot
- Shake the basket once at the halfway point if strips stick
- Wipe the basket between batches to remove loose crumbs
- Adjust time by 1 minute for very small or very large strips
Once you cook them this way a couple of times, you will not need the timer. You will know the look and sound of a finished strip.
The parmesan and pork rind coating is the key. High heat, one layer, and a mid cook flip are the other three. Get those right and you get crunchy chicken strips every single time.