Hot Honey Chicken Tender
These Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and finished with the perfect combination of a little sweet and spicy hot honey. Made in the air fryer, they’re an easy weeknight dinner that comes together without deep frying.
The chicken gets coated in a flavorful seasoned breading, air-fried until golden and crunchy, then drizzled with warm hot honey. Serve them with crispy fries, a fresh salad, or your favorite dipping sauce for a meal everyone will love.
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
- Crispy without deep frying – The air fryer gives the chicken a delicious golden crust with less oil.
- Sweet and spicy – Honey adds just the right balance of sweetness and heat.
- Quick and easy – Perfect for busy weeknights.
- Great for dipping – Serve with creamy garlic sauce, or your favorite dipping sauce.
Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken Tenders
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer – Cook the chicken in batches if necessary. Overcrowding traps moisture and can prevent the breading from becoming crisp.
- Use panko breadcrumbs – They create a lighter, crunchier coating than regular breadcrumbs.
- Spray lightly with oil – A little oil helps the coating turn beautifully golden in the air fryer.
- Serve immediately – These tenders are at their crispiest right after cooking.
- Adjust the heat – Use more or less hot sauce and red pepper flakes depending on how spicy you like your chicken.
These Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are the perfect combination of crispy, juicy, sweet, and spicy. They’re easy enough for a weeknight dinner but delicious enough to serve for a party or game-day gathering.
Hot Honey Chicken Tender
2-3
servings10
minutes30
minutesIngredients
1 lb chicken tender
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
2 eggs
4 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- For Sauce
4 tbsp butter
5 tbsp sriracha hot sauce
1 tbsp honey
pinch of salt
Directions
- Pat the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Season the chicken with salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Place cornstarch in a plate, beaten eggs in another, and panko breadcrumbs in another plate.
- Dip each piece of chicken into cornstarch, then eggs, and finally panko. Press the breadcrumbs gently onto the chicken so they stick well.
- Lightly spray the basket with oil and arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer. Avoid overcrowding the basket so the hot air can circulate around each piece.
- Lightly spray top of the chicken with oil and air fry at 400F about 10-15 minutes until golden brown and cooked through, flipping halfway through. The chicken should reach 165°F in the thickest part.
- For sauce. Melt butter in a pan then add in honey and sriracha hot sauce. Warm gently and stir until smooth. Take off heat and set aside. Add red pepper flakes if you want extra heat.
- Once the chicken tenders are crispy and cooked through, brush them generously with hot honey. You can also serve the hot honey on the side for dipping.
- Enjoy while it’s warm and crispy.