Crispy air-fried chicken tenders coated in seasoned panko and drizzled with spicy, sweet hot honey sauce. A crowd-pleasing comfort dish that’s bold, crunchy, and packed with flavor.
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:
1½ pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into tenders
1¼ cups panko breadcrumbs
⅓ cup all-purpose flour
1½ 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
1. In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, cayenne, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt. Warm over medium-low heat for 5 minutes, then set aside.
2. In a bowl, mix panko, flour, 1 tsp salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and ½ tsp pepper.
3. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, hot sauce, and remaining salt and pepper.
4. Dip each chicken tender in egg mixture, then press into breadcrumb mixture to coat well.
5. Place breaded tenders on a baking sheet and spray lightly with olive oil.
6. Preheat air fryer to 390°F. Cook tenders in batches for 8–9 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and internal temp reaches 165°F.
7. Place cooked tenders on a wire rack. Drizzle with warm hot honey sauce before serving.
For extra crunch, keep tenders warm on a rack in a low oven while finishing batches.
Store cooked tenders and sauce separately; reheat in air fryer or oven to maintain crispiness.
Great for game night, salads, or sandwiches.
Find it online: https://recipesunfolded.com/hot-honey-tenders/