Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe

Introduction

Hot Honey Chicken Tenders offer a perfect balance of crispy, savory chicken with a sweet and spicy glaze. This recipe uses an air fryer for a healthier twist and a quick cooking time, making it ideal for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
• 1 cup flour
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons salt (divided)
• 1 teaspoon pepper (divided)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ cup butter
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika (for sauce)
• ¾ teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon cracked pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: In a shallow dish, combine the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon pepper, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, and garlic powder. In a second dish, beat the eggs well. In a third dish, mix the panko with the remaining 1 teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper.
2. Step 2: Dip each chicken tenderloin first into the flour mixture, then the beaten eggs, and finally press them into the panko crumbs to ensure an even coating.
3. Step 3: Spray the coated chicken tenders generously with cooking spray to help achieve a crispy texture.
4. Step 4: Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 4 minutes, then flip the tenders, spritz again with cooking spray, and cook for an additional 4-5 minutes until golden and cooked through.
5. Step 5: For the hot honey sauce, combine butter, honey, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon cracked pepper in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat, stirring frequently, until the butter melts and the sauce is smooth.
6. Step 6: Drizzle the hot honey sauce over the cooked chicken tenders or serve it on the side as a dipping sauce.

Tips & Variations

• For extra crispiness, let the coated chicken rest for 5 minutes before air frying to help the panko adhere better.
• Adjust the cayenne pepper in the sauce to control the heat level to your preference.
• Try swapping panko breadcrumbs for crushed cornflakes for a different texture.
• Serve with a cooling dip like ranch or blue cheese for contrast.

Storage

Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-4 minutes to maintain crispiness. The hot honey sauce can be refrigerated separately and gently warmed before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I bake the chicken tenders instead of air frying?

Yes, you can bake them in a preheated oven at 425°F (220°C) for about 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until crispy and cooked through.

Is the hot honey sauce spicy?

The sauce has a mild to moderate heat from the cayenne pepper, but you can adjust the amount to make it milder or spicier according to your taste.

Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 77 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Hot Honey Chicken Tenders made with an easy air-fried method. Tender chicken breast strips are coated in a seasoned flour and panko mixture, air fried to golden perfection, and drizzled with a spicy, sweet hot honey sauce for the perfect balance of heat and sweetness.

• Author: Dana
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Main Dish
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken Tenders

• 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins
• 1 cup flour
• 2 large eggs
• 2 cups panko bread crumbs
• 2 teaspoons salt (divided)
• 1 teaspoon pepper (divided)
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Hot Honey Sauce

• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cracked pepper

Instructions

1. Prepare the coating: In a shallow dish, combine flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, smoked paprika, and garlic powder. In a second shallow dish, beat the eggs. In a third shallow dish, mix panko breadcrumbs with remaining 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
2. Coat the chicken: Dip each chicken tenderloin first into the seasoned flour, then into the beaten eggs, and finally press into the panko mixture ensuring an even coating.
3. Preheat and prepare air fryer: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the coated chicken tenders in a single layer; cook in batches if necessary.
4. Air fry the chicken: Spray the coated chicken strips lightly with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 4 minutes. Flip the tenders, spritz again with cooking spray, and continue cooking for an additional 4-5 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is crispy and golden brown.
5. Make the hot honey sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, combine butter, honey, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and cracked pepper. Stir frequently until the butter is melted and the sauce is well blended.
6. Serve: Drizzle the hot honey sauce over the cooked chicken tenders or serve it on the side as a dipping sauce. Enjoy immediately for best texture and flavor.

Notes

• You can adjust cayenne pepper in the hot honey sauce to control the spiciness to your preference.
• Cooking times may vary depending on your air fryer model and size of chicken tenders.
• For extra crispiness, make sure to spray the chicken tenders with cooking oil before air frying.
• Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the air fryer to retain crispness.
• This recipe can be made gluten free by substituting gluten-free flour and gluten-free panko breadcrumbs.

Keywords: Hot Honey Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Crispy Chicken, Spicy Honey Sauce, Easy Chicken Recipe