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Ultra Crispy Air Fryer Hot Honey Chicken Tenders

A close-up of crispy, glazed hot honey chicken tenders piled high on a white plate, glistening under natural light.
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Make ultra crispy hot honey chicken tenders in your air fryer. These tenders stay juicy inside and feature a balanced sweet and spicy hot honey glaze, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or game day appetizer.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1.5 cups Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • Cooking spray or oil for air fryer
  • For the Hot Honey Glaze:
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

Instructions

  1. Prepare the chicken: Place the chicken strips in a bowl and cover them with buttermilk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Mix well and let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours.
  2. Set up the dredging station: In one shallow dish, place the flour. In a second dish, whisk the egg. In a third dish, place the Panko breadcrumbs.
  3. Coat the chicken: Remove chicken pieces from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off. Dredge each piece first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip it into the egg mixture, then press firmly into the Panko breadcrumbs to coat completely.
  4. Preheat the air fryer: Set your air fryer to 390°F (199°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil.
  5. Air fry the tenders: Arrange the coated tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not overlap. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or oil. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C). Work in batches if necessary to maintain crispiness.
  6. Make the hot honey glaze: While the chicken cooks, combine the honey, hot sauce, apple cider vinegar, and smoked paprika in a small saucepan. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring until the mixture is smooth and just begins to simmer. Remove from heat immediately.
  7. Glaze the tenders: Once the chicken tenders are cooked, transfer them to a large bowl. Pour the hot honey glaze over the tenders and toss gently until they are evenly coated.
  8. Serve immediately: Serve your crispy hot honey chicken tenders right away for the best texture.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, you can lightly spray the coated tenders with oil just before placing them in the air fryer basket.
  • If you do not have an air fryer, you can bake these at 400°F (200°C) for 18-20 minutes, flipping halfway, or shallow fry them in oil heated to 350°F (175°C) until golden.
  • Serve these sweet and spicy chicken tenders with ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://dishicious.com/hot-honey-chicken-tenders-recipe/