Honey Hot Chicken Tenders

by Kayla Berman on December 17, 2024 0 comments

If you’re looking for an easy and delicious protein-packed snack, you’ve got to try my Honey Hot Chicken Tenders! Crispy homemade chicken strips are drizzled with a sauce that’s a little bit sweet, a little bit spicy, and a whole lotta yummy for a meal that’s finger-lickin’ good.

I don’t know about you, but I’m legit obsessed with my air fryer. In mere minutes, I can whip up any number of delightfully crispy treats that taste like they’re naughty but are secretly nice. My 5-minute air fryer pizza, air fried ravioli, and air fryer bang bang shrimp all come to mind, but really, that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.

On those days when I’m craving fast food that’ll make me feel better for about a second and then make me regret it for hours, I turn to my trusty little countertop appliance to bust out some actually good stuff. And that, my friends, is how these hot honey chicken tenders came to be.

A friend introduced me to the magic of Popeye’s hot honey chicken, and from the very first bite I was hooked. Crispy fried chicken doused in a sticky sweet-n-spicy sauce? Sign 👏me 👏up! Well, except for the whole big-chain-fast-food-actually-fried part. This super simple DIY brings all that “treat yo’self” energy to the table with none of the guilt.

Want some more health-ified crispy chicken inspiration? Try my copycat McDonald’s crispy chicken snack wrap, buffalo chicken flatbread, and baked chicken nuggets next!

Why You’ll Love This Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe

All-Natural – I enjoy the occasional fast food indulgence as much as the next gal, but I’m not a huge fan of all the “extras” they add—like artificial colors, emulsifiers, and preservatives. Heck, I couldn’t even find the Popeye’s ingredient list! Luckily, when you make your own spicy sweet chicken tenders, you get full control over what goes in them. I only use real ingredients I can pronounce!
Versatile & Customizable – Whether you’re looking for a snack attack or need a full-on meal, these delightful little tenders are here for you. Serve them solo, add some sides, or wrap them up in a tortilla depending on your cravings. You can also vary how spicy they are based on your personal heat preference!
Healthy Indulgence – These little guys might taste like a cheat day meal, but they’re actually pretty virtuous. Air frying keeps fat to a minimum, they’re chock-full of protein, and like I mentioned above, they’re all natural. What more could you want??

Nutritional Deep Dive

With 497 calories per serving, these spicy honey chicken tenders are more than capable of acting as a meal. They’re also packed to the brim with a whopping 47 grams of protein—enough to keep you satisfied for hours on end. And, with only 9 grams of fat per serving, you’ve got some wiggle room to add in yummies like a creamy dipping sauce or french fries.

The one thing to keep an eye on here is the carb count—57 grams per serving, with no fiber. Now, granted—this is assuming you use every single bit of the breading ingredients, which is a virtual impossibility. That said, you’ve got options:

To cut back on carbs, swap in crushed pork rinds for the Panko. As an added bonus, this will also give you a little boost of protein.
For fewer calories, go a little easier on the sauce. You could also opt to make my air fryer chicken tenderloins to skip out on the breading.
If you need more fiber, try using whole wheat Panko and pair with other high-fiber foods like brown rice, a whole grain wrap, or roasted veggies.

Ingredient Spotlight: When it comes to health foods, not many folks would think of honey. But you might be surprised what this liquid gold brings to the table—it’s been used in holistic healing practices for centuries, and with good reason! Honey is rich in antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acid, both of which have been associated with lower risk of chronic disease like cancer and heart disease. Furthermore, it’s a potent antimicrobial and antibacterial, has powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and can improve both blood sugar and cholesterol levels. Sweet, indeed!

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you don’t need a bunch of stuff to make this honey hot chicken tenders recipe. In fact, I’d bet you already have most of what you need on hand! Here’s what to grab:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts – While you’re welcome to purchase pre-butchered chicken tenders, it’s usually far more expensive than just buying whole breasts and slicing them yourself!
Large Eggs & Milk – While some recipes call for just eggs, I like to thin out my egg wash with a bit of milk and season it with hot sauce, echoing the Southern buttermilk fried chicken method.
Panko Breadcrumbs – Unlike traditional American breadcrumbs, these Japanese ones are lighter and flakier, meaning they crisp up much better.
All-Purpose Flour – Feel free to swap in cornstarch or potato starch if needed.
Honey & Hot Sauce – You’re welcome to use any variety of either. Note that certain types of honey (e.g. acacia) have much lower glycemic index values than others (e.g. clover), so if you’re watching your blood sugar, keep that in mind. Also, I personally recommend using a vinegar based hot sauce (e.g. Crystal or Cholula) rather than a thicker one like sriracha, but that’s just me.
Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, Paprika – Using three types of chili powders helps to bolster the spicy flavor we’re after. For an extra spicy take, use hot Hungarian paprika.
Garlic Powder & Onion Powder – For adding allium sweetness that plays beautifully against the hot honey sauce.
Kosher Salt & Cracked Black Pepper – Because every meal needs basic seasoning!
Olive Oil Spray – Feel free to make your own spray bottle using your favorite olive oil—it’s cheaper and less wasteful that way, plus the lack of propellants ensures it won’t damage your air fryer basket’s non-stick coating.

How To Make Honey Hot Chicken Tenders

You’ll love how quickly these spicy honey glazed chicken strips come together:

Step 1: Make Hot Honey Sauce. Combine the honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, chili powder and salt in a saucepan over medium low heat. Warm for about 5 minutes, then remove from heat and allow to steep while you make the chicken.

Step 2: Make Breadcrumb Mixture. Combine the panko, flour, 1 teaspoon of salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder and ½ teaspoon of black pepper in a wide bowl. Stir well.

Step 3: Make Egg Wash. In a second wide bowl, add the beaten egg, milk, hot sauce and remaining salt and pepper. Whisk together.

honey, hot sauce, and seasonings added to a small silver saucepan to make the spicy hot honey sauce.

breadcrumbs, flour, and seasonings added to a bowl to make the chicken breading mixture before stirring together.

Step 4: Bread Tenders. Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, then into the panko mixture. Press the panko to the outside to make it stick. Set the coated chicken tenders on a baking sheet. Spray the chicken tenders with olive oil spray.

raw chicken tender in the saffron yellow egg wash mix flavored with hot sauce.

dredging station set up with a single chicken tender that had already been dipped into the egg wash bowl at the top of the frame covered in the breadcrumb mixture in the middle of the frame with a plate of raw, naked tenders in the very bottom corner of the frame.

Step 5: Air Fry Chicken Tenders. Preheat the air fryer to 390F. Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer in a single layer, leaving some space between them. Cook for 8-9 minutes, flipping halfway through. Chicken is done when the internal temperature measures 165ºF.

Step 6: Drizzle the honey sauce over the chicken tenders and serve. Enjoy!

6 raw breaded chicken tenders in the base of an air fryer.

6 homemade spicy chicken tenders in the base of an air fryer.

Optional Variations

Need to make some adjustments? I gotchu, boo! Here are a few easy adaptations to try:

Gluten-Free – Swap in cornstarch, potato starch, or fine rice flour for the AP flour and use your favorite gluten-free Panko or breadcrumbs of choice.
Dairy-Free – Use your favorite unsweetened dairy-free milk (e.g. almond or soy).
More/Less Spicy – If you love your spicy foods to ring a 5-alarm fire bell, feel free to dial up the heat. Try adding more cayenne to your dredging mix, add crushed red pepper flakes to your hot honey sauce, and opt for an extra spicy hot sauce. To dial things back a bit, use less cayenne (or swap in a milder option like paprika) and opt for a milder hot sauce.
Shortcut – There are plenty of premade hot honey brands on the market these days (they are a bit pricey—you’ve been warned!), so feel free to swap one in to cut back on prep.
Different Sauce – Crispy air fried chicken tenders are a delight no matter what sauce you serve them with! Have fun experimenting with BBQ, Chik-fil-a-style Polynesian sauce, Greek yogurt ranch, or honey mustard instead!

Expert Tips

Cut Your Own Tenders – The per pound cost of whole boneless, skinless chicken breasts is usually at least a dollar cheaper than pre-sliced tenders. First, freeze the chicken for about 10-15 minutes before starting to firm it up; this will make it easier to handle. Next, slice horizontally through the breast (hamburger bun-style) starting at the thickest side. Pound the chicken cutlets out into an even thickness, then slice into strips for DIY tenders!
Even, Steven – Make sure the tenders are the same thickness and cook them in a single, even layer in the air fryer basket to make sure none of them get overcooked or dried out.
A Note on Liners – I totally understand the impulse to use parchment paper or an air fryer liner to help make cleanup easier, but make sure you do it right. Don’t block the vents and make sure there are plenty of holes to allow for proper airflow!
Use a Thermometer – Chicken and other poultry needs to reach an internal temperature of 165ºF to be considered safe. Invest in a quality instant read thermometer to make sure you hit this mark! You’re welcome to pull it from the air fryer 2-3 degrees shy of your target; crossover cooking as it rests should cover the gap.
Save the Sauce – To ensure your honey buffalo chicken tenders stay nice and crisp, don’t add the sauce until right before serving. Alternatively, serve it on the side for dipping so the breading doesn’t get soggy.

Serving Suggestions

I love eating these hot honey air fryer chicken tenders as they are with nothing else—they’re seriously that good. That said, they also play well with others! Here are a few of my favorite ways to gussy them up:

Homemade Happy Meal – Serve your chicken strips alongside a plate of crispy air fryer french fries for a dipping duo made in hog heaven. Don’t forget to bring along a fun toy to play with as you relive your childhood.
Wrap it Up – Take a note from the McDonald’s snack wrap playbook and tuck these spicy air fried chicken tenders into a tortilla with lettuce, cheese, and extra hot honey sauce. For a lower-carb option, use lettuce wraps or this high-protein cottage cheese flatbread instead.
Salad Surprise – Add a boost of protein to your favorite salad by slicing these hot honey chicken strips to sprinkle over the top. They’re particularly yummy with this crunchy cucumber sweet pepper salad.
Veg Out – Since you’ve got your protein on lock with chicken, add some color to your plate. Honey garlic green beans, honey sriracha brussels sprouts, and this Chinese-inspired smashed cucumber salad are all great picks.

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Allow any leftover air fryer spicy chicken tenders to cool completely on a wire rack, preferably undressed with no sauce, then transfer to an airtight container or zip-top bag. This will help their breading remain crispy.
Store the tenders and the sauce in separate containers in the fridge for up to 5 days (the sauce should last much longer). You can also freeze the tenders for up to 3 months.
To reheat, toss the tenders in a preheated 300ºF air fryer for about 5 minutes (closer to 7-8 minutes if frozen), or until heated through to 165ºF.

FAQs

What is honey chicken sauce made of?

It depends on the recipe, but mine is made with just honey, hot sauce, dried cayenne, chili powder, garlic powder, and salt!

What goes well with hot honey chicken tenders?

If it’d be on the menu at a fast food spot or a place like TGI Fridays, you’re probably going in the right direction. Think french fries, tater tots, or onion rings. For healthier options, go for crunchy veggies, preferably tossed in some kind of sweet and/or spicy garlicky sauce. Hop on up to the serving suggestions section for lots of ideas!

How do you make chicken tenders that are juicy but fully cooked?

First, timing is everything. In an ideal world, you’d pull the tenders from the air fryer when they hit an internal temp of 163ºF, then let them rest under a loosely tented piece of foil for about 5 minutes so transfer cooking heat can bring them the rest of the way to 165ºF.
Second, make sure your chicken pieces are even—if they aren’t, the thin parts will overcook and dry out before the thicker parts can hit their food-safe temperature of 165ºF.
Finally, if you really want them to be juicy, consider brining your tenders for at least an hour or up to 24 hours; you can use a simple salt-sugar-water solution, or get fancy with other flavors if you like. Pat them dry before the breading process so everything will stick as planned.

How do you make breaded chicken tenders that are crispy, not soggy?

Air frying chicken tenders that have been breaded is by far my favorite method, as the hot air circulates around the breading, helping it to crisp up. If you don’t have an air fryer and need to use the oven, make sure to use the rack insert on your baking sheet to allow any juices to drip out and the hot air to crisp them the whole way round.

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