Description

Crispy and flavorful hot honey chicken tenders made in the air fryer for a quick and delicious meal. Tender chicken strips are coated in a crunchy cornflake breading, air fried to golden perfection, and drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. A perfect balance of heat and sweetness, these chicken tenders are great for snacking, lunch, or dinner and can be served with ranch for dipping.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Chicken

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips

Egg wash

1 large egg
splash of water

Cornflake breading

2 cups crushed cornflake cereal
1 1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder

Hot honey

2 Tbsp unsalted butter
1/4 cup honey
3 - 4 Tbsp hot sauce (your favorite brand)

Miscellaneous

Cooking oil spray (preferably avocado oil) for the air fryer
Minced fresh parsley for garnish (optional)

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Instructions

Prepare Ingredients: Crush 2 cups of cornflake cereal using a rolling pin or food processor until it forms crumbs. Line up two shallow bowls and an empty plate or baking sheet. In one bowl, whisk together 1 egg and a splash of water to create an egg wash. In the second bowl, combine crushed cornflakes with 1 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp dried thyme, 1/2 tsp onion powder, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder. Stir to combine.
Bread Chicken: Dip each chicken tender into the egg wash, coating all sides and letting excess drip off. Then press the chicken into the cornflake mixture to coat thoroughly. Place the breaded tenders on the prepared plate. Repeat for all chicken strips.
Preheat Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F and allow it to preheat while preparing the chicken.
Air Fry Chicken: Spray the air fryer basket lightly with oil spray. Arrange 4-5 chicken tenders in the basket in a single layer, leaving space for air circulation. Spray the tenders lightly with oil spray. Air fry for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is golden brown and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Cook in multiple batches if needed.
Make Hot Honey Sauce: While the chicken cooks, melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Once melted, stir in 1/4 cup honey and 3-4 tablespoons hot sauce. Let the sauce simmer for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Drizzle and Serve: Once the chicken tenders are cooked, drizzle them generously with the hot honey sauce. Garnish with minced fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately with ranch dressing on the side for dipping to balance the heat.

Notes

This recipe yields approximately 10 chicken tenders, serving 4-5 people.
You can substitute the homemade hot honey sauce by using store-bought hot honey and omit making the sauce.
Oven method: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place breaded chicken tenders on a wire rack over a baking sheet or on parchment paper. Bake for 20-23 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Use avocado oil spray or any other neutral oil spray for best air frying results.
Ensure chicken pieces are not crowded in the air fryer to allow even cooking and crisping.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 2 chicken tenders with sauce
Calories: 502
Sugar: 9 g
Sodium: 1714 mg
Fat: 8 g
Saturated Fat: 4 g
Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
Trans Fat: 0.2 g
Carbohydrates: 81 g
Fiber: 4 g
Protein: 28 g
Cholesterol: 107 mg