Hey there, chicken lovers! If you like your meals crispy, juicy, and packed with flavor, you’re going to love these Hot Honey Chicken Tenders. I made this recipe on a busy weeknight, and it totally hit the spot. These tenders are golden and crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and that sweet-spicy honey sauce? Oh wow. You’ll want to dip everything in it.
The best part? These are made in the air fryer (less mess and no oil splatter!) and have over 50g of protein per serving, which is great if you’re trying to eat well and still enjoy big flavor. Whether you’re making dinner for the family or a fun weekend lunch, these are sure to be a hit.
Method
Mix it Up
Start by placing your chicken pieces in a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle in the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne pepper (if you like it spicy), and salt. Once the spices are added, pour in the beaten egg. Use a spoon or clean hands to mix everything together so that each piece of chicken gets coated with the egg and spices. This helps the cornflake crumbs stick better and adds lots of yummy flavor right from the beginning.
Crunch Time
Next, grab a plate and pour your cornflakes onto it. Use your hands to crush them until they turn into small, crunchy crumbs. You don’t want them too fine like powder ust crushed enough to give a nice crispy coating. If you’d rather not use your hands, you can also place the cornflakes in a zip-top bag and gently crush them with a rolling pin.
Coat & Cover
Now take each piece of your seasoned, egg-coated chicken and dip it into the crushed cornflakes. Press down lightly on each side to help the crumbs stick really well. Make sure the chicken is completely covered with cornflakes this is what gives it that awesome crunch when it cooks. Set each piece aside on a plate until all your chicken is coated and ready to go.
Air Fry Away
Time to cook! Place your crumb-covered chicken pieces into the air fryer basket. There’s no need to preheat the air fryer. Just set it to 180°C (about 350°F) and cook the chicken for 10 minutes. Make sure the pieces are not overlapping or piled on top of each other give them space so the air can move around and make everything nice and crispy. If your air fryer is small, it’s totally fine to cook them in two batches.
Sauce Magic
While the chicken is cooking, it’s the perfect time to whip up that sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. Grab a small saucepan and add the honey, hot sauce, soy sauce, garlic powder, and cornstarch. Turn the heat on low and gently stir everything together. Once the sauce starts to bubble just a little bit, turn off the heat. Keep stirring for a few seconds it will get thick and shiny as it cools. Pour it into a small bowl for dipping or drizzling over the tenders when they’re ready.
Necessary Tools
- Air fryer (or oven if needed)
- Mixing bowl
- Plate for coating
- Small saucepan
- Measuring spoons
- Spoon or tongs
- Small dipping bowl for the sauce
🍯🔥 Hot Honey Chicken Tenders (Air Fryer Magic!)
Cuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy2
servings10
minutes10
minutes20
minutesIngredients
For the Chicken:
320g chicken breast or tenderloins
80g cornflakes
½ tsp paprika
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp cayenne pepper (optional if you don’t like spicy)
1 small egg, beaten
For the Hot Honey Sauce:
2 tbsp honey
2 tbsp hot sauce
1 tsp soy sauce
¼ tsp garlic powder
1 tsp cornstarch
Directions
- Mix it Up: In a large bowl, add your chicken pieces. Sprinkle in the paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and salt. Then pour in the beaten egg and stir everything so the chicken gets a nice coating.
- Crunch Time: Crush the cornflakes with your hands on a plate until they look like coarse crumbs.
- Coat & Cover: One by one, dip each piece of chicken into the cornflake crumbs. Press down a bit so the coating really sticks.
- Air Fry Away: Place the coated chicken pieces into the air fryer basket. No need to preheat. Air fry at 180°C (about 350°F) for 10 minutes. You may need to cook in 2 batches to give the tenders space to crisp up.
- Sauce Magic: While the chicken cooks, add all sauce ingredients to a small saucepan. Heat it until it bubbles slightly. Turn off the heat and stir. The sauce will get thick and glossy, perfect for dipping.
Notes
- Don’t crowd the air fryer if the chicken overlaps, it won’t get crispy.
- Coat the chicken well with cornflakes. Bare spots won’t crisp up properly.
- Let the sauce bubble just a little too much heat can make it too thick or burn the honey.
Serving Suggestions
- Dip them in the hot honey sauce or drizzle it right on top.
- Pair with sweet potato fries, a side salad, or even rice bowls.
- Want a kid-friendly version? Leave out the cayenne and serve with ketchup or ranch.
Fun Fact
Did you know cornflakes were first made in the 1800s as a health food? Now we’re using them to make crunchy chicken tenders, what a tasty twist!
Conclusion
These Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are sweet, spicy, and oh-so crispy all without deep frying. I love how quick and fun they are to make, and the flavor is next-level. Whether it’s for dinner, game night, or just because you’re craving something yummy, this recipe is one I’ll keep coming back to. I hope you try it and love it as much as I do!
