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Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Tenders: Easy Weeknight Dinner

A stack of crispy, glazed hot honey chicken tenders piled on a white plate, one is broken open showing white meat.
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Make these crispy hot honey chicken tenders for a quick, flavorful dinner. The chicken stays juicy inside with a crunchy coating, covered in a sweet and spicy homemade hot honey glaze. This recipe works well baked or air fried.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 cups panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken tenders in a medium bowl. Pour buttermilk and egg over the chicken. Stir to coat completely. Let the chicken marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
  2. Prepare your breading station. In one shallow dish, mix the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. In a second shallow dish, place the panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Remove chicken tenders one at a time from the buttermilk mixture, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each tender thoroughly in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, press firmly into the panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
  4. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 Celsius) or your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 Celsius). Lightly spray a baking sheet or air fryer basket with cooking spray.
  5. Arrange the coated tenders in a single layer on the prepared sheet or basket. Bake for 18-22 minutes, flipping halfway through, or air fry for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74 Celsius).
  6. While the chicken cooks, prepare the hot honey sauce. In a small saucepan, combine the honey, hot sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth and slightly bubbling. Remove from heat.
  7. Once the chicken tenders are cooked and crispy, immediately place them in a large bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over the tenders and toss gently until every piece is coated in the sweet heat glaze.
  8. Serve your hot honey chicken tenders immediately.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness when baking, lightly spray the tops of the coated tenders with cooking spray before placing them in the oven.
  • If you prefer a deeper flavor in the glaze, gently warm the honey mixture before adding the hot sauce.
  • You can substitute panko with crushed cornflakes for a different type of crunch.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://mdlatdmm.com/hot-honey-chicken-tenders-crispy-easy-recipe/