Hot Honey Tenders Recipe: Crispy, Spicy & Sweet

Why Everyone’s Talking About Hot Honey Tenders

When it comes to irresistible comfort food, nothing quite matches the bold, sweet-heat kick of hot honey tenders. These crispy, golden chicken tenders drizzled with spicy honey sauce strike the perfect balance of crunchy, juicy, sweet, and fiery. Whether you’re hosting game night, prepping a quick family dinner, or just craving something special, this dish delivers a truly unforgettable flavor experience. If you love classic chicken tenders and fries, you’ll be amazed at how this recipe takes it to the next level.

At Recipes Unfolded, led by our passionate culinary inspirator Sonia, we create a space where traditional cooking meets modern techniques and smart digital solutions. With extensive experience in both home and professional kitchens, Sonia is dedicated to making the culinary arts accessible to American families. Her Nordic-European heritage, paired with her deep knowledge of American palates, brings recipes that feel familiar yet exciting. As the founder of Recipes Unfolded, she specializes in elevating classic American comfort foods with subtle global influences blending time-honored methods with practical tools already in your kitchen.

What Makes Hot Honey Tenders So Addictive?

The magic lies in the contrast: crispy panko-coated chicken tenders, perfectly seasoned and cooked to a golden crunch, meet a luscious drizzle of warm honey infused with hot sauce, cayenne, garlic, and chili powder. Every bite delivers layers of texture and flavor tender, juicy chicken enveloped in a crackling crust and bathed in a sticky-sweet, fiery glaze. It’s no wonder this dish has quickly become a favorite on restaurant menus and dinner tables alike. If you enjoy bold and flavorful chicken dishes, this recipe belongs in your collection.

The Story Behind the Hot Honey Craze

Hot honey as a condiment burst onto the culinary scene thanks to its creator, Mike Kurtz, who introduced it as “Mike’s Hot Honey” in New York pizzerias. The trend took off, sparking a nationwide obsession. Its sweet heat pairs beautifully not only with pizza but with fried chicken, biscuits, roasted vegetables, and even cheese boards. Home cooks and chefs alike fell for its hypnotic balance of flavors making dishes both more exciting and surprisingly comforting.

In this recipe, you’ll learn how to recreate this thrilling flavor combination right at home using everyday ingredients. Stay tuned as we dive into the ingredients, tools, and step-by-step instructions that will make your hot honey tenders truly spectacular.

Ingredients & Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

Before you start making your hot honey tenders, let’s make sure you have everything ready. Having your ingredients and tools prepped will make this recipe quick, easy, and enjoyable.

Key Ingredients for the Perfect Crunch and Heat

For the hot honey sauce:

• ½ cup honey
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ¼ teaspoon chili powder
• Pinch of salt

For the chicken tenders:

• 1 ½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into tenders
• 1 ¼ cups panko breadcrumbs
• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt, divided
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ¼ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• Olive oil spray

These pantry-friendly ingredients come together to create incredible layers of flavor and texture.

Essential Tools for Air Fryer Success

You don’t need fancy gadgets just a few basics to get started:

• Air fryer: A must for that crispy finish without deep frying
• Baking sheet: To hold your breaded tenders before cooking
• Two wide bowls: For the wet and dry coatings
• Tongs: To flip tenders easily while cooking
• Meat thermometer: To ensure your chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F

With these tools and ingredients at your fingertips, you’re ready to move on to the fun part cooking up these hot honey tenders to perfection!

How to Make Hot Honey Tenders Step by Step

Now that you have everything ready, it’s time to turn those simple ingredients into a mouthwatering dish. Follow these steps for perfectly crispy, spicy, and sweet hot honey tenders.

Preparing the Hot Honey Sauce

Start by making the irresistible sauce that gives this dish its signature kick:

1. In a small saucepan, combine the honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and a pinch of salt.
2. Place over medium-low heat and warm gently for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Remove from heat and let the sauce steep while you prepare the chicken. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully.

Breading and Cooking the Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Method)

Next, get your chicken perfectly breaded and cooked:

1. In a wide bowl, mix the panko breadcrumbs, flour, 1 teaspoon salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
2. In another wide bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, milk, hot sauce, and the remaining salt and pepper.
3. Dip each chicken tender first in the egg mixture, then into the panko mixture. Press firmly to coat well.
4. Arrange the breaded tenders on a baking sheet and spray lightly with olive oil spray.
5. Preheat your air fryer to 390°F.
6. Place the tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each. Cook for 8–9 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Helpful Hack: How to Keep Your Tenders Extra Crispy

Here’s a handy tip: After cooking, place the hot tenders on a wire rack set over a baking sheet instead of a plate. This prevents the bottom from steaming and softening, keeping every bite crispy. You can also keep them warm in a low oven while finishing the next batch! For more easy meal ideas with chicken, check out our wraps recipe.

Drizzle the warm hot honey sauce over the cooked tenders just before serving, and enjoy every sensational bite.

Serving & Storing Tips

You’ve cooked up these sensational hot honey tenders now here’s how to serve and store them like a pro.

Delicious Ways to Serve Hot Honey Tenders

Hot honey tenders are incredibly versatile and can be enjoyed in so many ways:

• Serve them as the star of the show with a side of coleslaw, fries, or roasted veggies.
• Slice and layer them in sandwiches with pickles and lettuce.
• Add them on top of a fresh salad for a spicy-sweet crunch.
• Pair with dipping sauces like ranch or blue cheese to cool down the heat.

For gatherings, arrange them on a platter with toothpicks and extra hot honey sauce on the side they’ll disappear fast!

How to Store and Reheat Without Losing the Crunch

If you have leftovers, don’t worry they store beautifully:

• To store: Let tenders cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3 days.
• To reheat: Preheat your oven or air fryer to 375°F and heat tenders for 5–7 minutes until warmed through and crisp again. Avoid the microwave, which makes the breading soggy.

Pro tip: Store the hot honey sauce separately and drizzle just before serving to maintain the crispy texture. If you want more creative chicken recipes, you’ll find plenty of inspiration here

Hot Honey Tenders

These crispy golden chicken tenders are drizzled with a spicy-sweet hot honey sauce, creating a perfect balance of crunch, juiciness, sweetness, and heat a modern twist on classic comfort food.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Main

Cuisine American

Servings 4 people

Calories 520 kcal

Equipment

• Air Fryer
• Baking Sheet
• Tongs
• Meat Thermometer

Ingredients

  

Hot Honey Sauce

• 1/2 cup honey
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• pinch of salt

Chicken Tenders

• 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into tenders
• 1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt divided
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 1 tsp black pepper divided
• 2 large eggs beaten
• 1/4 cup milk
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• olive oil spray

Instructions

 

• In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, cayenne, garlic powder, chili powder, and a pinch of salt. Warm over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, then set aside.
• In a wide bowl, mix panko, flour, 1 tsp salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, hot sauce, and remaining salt and pepper.
• Dip each chicken tender into egg mixture, then coat in panko mixture, pressing to adhere. Place on a baking sheet and spray lightly with olive oil spray.
• Preheat air fryer to 390°F. Arrange tenders in basket in a single layer and cook for 8–9 minutes, flipping halfway, until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
• Drizzle warm hot honey sauce over cooked tenders and serve immediately.

Notes

For best texture, rest cooked tenders on a wire rack over a baking sheet instead of a plate to keep them crispy. Store sauce separately and drizzle before serving. Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days; reheat in oven or air fryer.

Keyword Chicken, comfort food, Spicy

FAQs

Final Thoughts: Try This Irresistible Recipe Tonight!

There you have it a foolproof recipe for crispy, sweet, and spicy hot honey tenders that will impress anyone at your table. These tenders are perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to party platters, and their bold flavor combination will keep everyone coming back for more.

There you have it a foolproof recipe for crispy, sweet, and spicy hot honey tenders that will impress anyone at your table. These tenders are perfect for everything from weeknight dinners to party platters, and their bold flavor combination will keep everyone coming back for more.

At Recipes Unfolded, we’re always excited to help you discover new ways to make comfort food feel special. If you enjoyed this recipe, don’t forget to check out our other easy chicken dinners to keep your culinary creativity flowing. Happy cooking!

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