You'll love dinner with this easy Honey Hot Chicken Tenders recipe. Crispy, juicy chicken coated in a sweet and spicy sauce - perfect for the whole family.
Ingredients
- Chicken Tenders: Boneless, skinless chicken tenders are the perfect cut for this recipe. They cook quickly and have a great texture when breaded and fried. You can substitute them with boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cutting them into long strips if tenders are not available.
- Large Eggs: The egg mixture helps the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken, creating a crispy coating. You can use whole eggs or an egg substitute if needed.
- Italian Style Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and crunchier than regular breadcrumbs, giving the breaded chicken tenders an exceptional texture. You can use plain Panko, regular breadcrumbs, gluten-free flour, all-purpose flour, or corn flakes instead for that perfect crunch.
- Garlic Powder: Adds savory, aromatic flavor to the seasoning mix.
- Cayenne Pepper: Provides a kick of heat that balances the sweetness of the honey. Adjust the amount to your desired spice level. Chili flakes or Cajun seasoning can be used instead or along with cayenne.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor of this recipe.
- Olive Oil: Used for frying the chicken, giving it a crispy exterior. You can substitute another high-heat oil like peanut, vegetable or canola oil.
- Hot Sauce: Mixes with the honey to create the sweet and spicy sauce. Use your favorite brand or type of hot sauce or Sriracha from the grocery store.
- Honey: Sweetens the sauce and complements the heat from the hot sauce. Feel free to use agave nectar or maple syrup instead of honey.
Instructions
In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir until they are evenly mixed.
In a separate shallow bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them until smooth. Optionally, add a pinch of salt and pepper to the egg mixture for added flavor.
Take the chicken tenders and season them evenly with the seasoning mix you prepared in Step 1.
Dip each seasoned chicken tender into the egg mixture, making sure it’s fully coated on all sides.
In another shallow bowl, add the Italian Style Panko breadcrumbs along with the remaining seasoning and combine. Take the egg-coated chicken tenders and transfer them to the Panko mixture, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the chicken to ensure a full, even coating. For extra crunch, you can repeat the egg and Panko coating process.
Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the chicken tenders into the pan. Fry them for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Transfer the cooked tenders to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
Note: I recommend getting the oil to around 350°F-375°F.
In a small bowl, mix together the hot sauce and honey until well they are combined. If the honey is too thick, microwave it for 15 seconds and combine. Glaze the chicken with the sauce or serve it sauce on the side as a dipping sauce to preserve the crispiness of the chicken tenders.
Serve the crispy hot honey chicken tenders on their own or with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, potato wedges, or a simple salad.
Tips
- Use one hand for the egg mixture and the other for the breadcrumbs to avoid messy fingers.
- Fry the chicken in batches to maintain the oil temperature and ensure even cooking.
- Garnish the hot honey-glazed chicken tenders with chopped parsley or green onions for added flavor and color.
What To Serve With
This chicken recipe can be served with pretty much anything and everything. I even love it on a salad. It seems as I get older I am eating more salads than I ever did before and the coating tastes absolutely amazing! These tenders pair well with various sides, such as baked fries, mac and cheese, coleslaw, pickles, biscuits, and dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or aioli are also popular choices.
FAQ
Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are crispy, juicy chicken strips made from chicken tenderloins or breasts that are coated or dipped in a sweet and spicy honey glaze. They are inspired by Nashville hot chicken.
Yes, Hot Honey Chicken Tenders can be baked for a healthier version. Preheat the oven to 425°F, then place the tenders on a wire rack on top of a parchment-lined baking sheet, and bake them until they are cooked through and crispy. This usually takes around 20-25 minutes.
Video
More Honey Chicken Recipes
Do you like honey chicken? Here some recipes you may also like to try. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as we do!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Honey Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe
Equipment
- Shallow bowls (for mixing)
- Large frying pan or skillet
- Paper towels (for draining)
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Italian Style Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup olive oil or enough to cover the bottom of the pan for frying
- ¼ cup hot sauce
- ¼ cup honey
Instructions
- In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir until they are evenly mixed.
- In a separate shallow bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them until smooth. Optionally, add a pinch of salt and pepper to the egg mixture for added flavor.
- Take the chicken tenders and season them evenly with the seasoning mix you prepared in Step 1.
- Dip each seasoned chicken tender into the egg mixture, making sure it’s fully coated on all sides.
- In another shallow bowl, add the Italian Style Panko breadcrumbs along with the remaining seasoning and combine. Take the egg-coated chicken tenders and transfer them to the Panko mixture, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the chicken to ensure a full, even coating. For extra crunch, you can repeat the egg and Panko coating process.
- Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the chicken tenders into the pan. Fry them for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Transfer the cooked tenders to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Note: I recommend getting the oil to around 350°F-375°F.
- In a small bowl, mix together the hot sauce and honey until well they are combined. If the honey is too thick, microwave it for 15 seconds and combine. Glaze the chicken with the sauce or serve it sauce on the side as a dipping sauce to preserve the crispiness of the chicken tenders.
- Serve the crispy hot honey chicken tenders on their own or with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, potato wedges, or a simple salad.
Notes
The combination of crispy, juicy chicken tenders and the sweet and spicy hot honey sauce is absolutely delicious.
It's a quick and easy recipe that can be on the table in under 30 minutes.
The use of Italian Style Panko breadcrumbs creates an incredibly flavorful and crispy golden brown coating on the chicken.
You can customize the level of heat of these crispy chicken tenders by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper. STORAGE & REHEATING:
To store the Hot Honey Chicken Tenders that have been left over, let them cool completely, then put them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply place the chicken on a baking sheet in a preheated 400°F oven for 5-7 minutes until heated through and crispy.
You can also reheat them in a preheated 350°F air fryer for 5-7 minutes.
For longer storage, the fried chicken tenders can be frozen for up to 2 months. Allow them to cool completely, then place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer the frozen chicken to an airtight container or resealable bag. To reheat, bake the frozen chicken tenders at 400°F for 12-15 minutes, flipping them halfway, until they are heated through.
Kathie says
Easy. Tast.y. Healthy??
Karin and Ken says
Definitely and I’m working on more recipes just like it! Thank you for taking the time to comment and let me know! Hopefully you find some other recipes on this site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and be well. Karin