Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
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These Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders are the perfect blend of crispy, juicy, and spicy-sweet. Coated in a seasoned cornflake crust and tossed in a buttery hot honey glaze, they’re a fun and flavorful twist on classic chicken tenders—ready in under 45 minutes!
Looking for more easy air fryer meals? Try these Air Fryer Honey Walnut Shrimp next!
These hot honey chicken tenders are crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated with a sticky, sweet, spicy glaze that makes them downright addictive. Thanks to the air fryer, you can enjoy all the crunch without deep-frying—and without sacrificing flavor!
They’re also great for meal prep, game day snacks, or casual family dinners.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make hot honey air fryer chicken tenders:
Ingredient Notes
Chicken Tenders (1.5 lbs) – Use pre-cut tenders or slice boneless skinless chicken breasts into strips.
Tip: Pat dry before breading for crispier results.
Texas Pete Hot Sauce – Tangy with moderate heat.
Swap: Frank’s RedHot for milder heat or Tabasco for more kick.
Tip: Start with less and adjust to taste if you’re spice-sensitive.
Cooking Spray – Essential for crisping in the air fryer without excess oil.
Tip: Use an oil sprayer with avocado or olive oil for better coating.
See the recipe card for full ingredient amounts and instructions.
Recipe Variations
Use less hot sauce or skip the chili powder for a kid-friendly version.
Add cayenne to the flour mixture or use extra hot sauce in the glaze.
Use gluten-free flour and cornflakes.
Serve with ranch, blue cheese, or your favorite dipping sauce.
How to Make Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Air Fryer: Step by Step
Here are quick visual instructions. Be sure to check out the full instructions with exact ingredients in the printable recipe card below.
Step 1: In a bowl, season the chicken tenders with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ tsp chili powder. Rub the seasoning evenly onto the chicken.
Step 2: In a shallow bowl, combine the flour with 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ tsp chili powder. In a second shallow bowl, season the crushed corn flakes with the remaining 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp chili powder. In a third shallow bowl, whisk the eggs until well blended.
Step 3: Dredge each chicken tender in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then coat with the seasoned corn flakes. Set aside.
Step 4: Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and spray the basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket (do not overcrowd—cook in batches if needed). Spray the tops with cooking spray.
Step 5: Cook for 8 minutes, then flip and spray again. Cook for another 8–10 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked through. (Cook time may vary depending on size of chicken tenders)
Step 6: In a small bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the honey and Texas Pete hot sauce until well combined.
Step 7: Place the cooked chicken tenders in a large bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over them and toss to coat evenly.
Step 8: Serve immediately and enjoy!
Recipe Tips and Tricks
Cook in batches for best crispiness.
You control the spice! Use more or less hot sauce based on your preference.
Reheat in the air fryer for 3–4 minutes at 350°F to maintain crispiness.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Slice boneless skinless chicken breasts into strips for the same result.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the air fryer to keep them crispy.
Yes, bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through. They won’t be quite as crispy but still delicious.
I hope you love these air fryer hot honey air chicken tenders. Please consider leaving a star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below. Thank you so much!
More Chicken Recipe Ideas
Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb uncooked chicken tenders
- 3 tsp garlic powder divided
- 3 tsp paprika divided
- 3 tsp onion powder divided
- 1 tsp salt divided
- 1 tsp black pepper divided
- 1½ tsp chili powder divided
- 2 cups corn flakes crushed
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 3 tbsp Texas Pete hot sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ cup honey
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- In a bowl, season the chicken tenders with 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ tsp chili powder. Rub the seasoning evenly onto the chicken.
- In a shallow bowl, combine the flour with 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp pepper, and ½ tsp chili powder. In a second shallow bowl, season the crushed corn flakes with the remaining 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp chili powder. In a third shallow bowl, whisk the eggs until well blended.
- Dredge each chicken tender in the seasoned flour, shaking off any excess. Dip into the egg mixture, then coat with the seasoned corn flakes. Set aside.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F and spray the basket with cooking spray. Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket (do not overcrowd—cook in batches if needed). Spray the tops with cooking spray.
- Cook for 8 minutes, then flip and spray again. Cook for another 8–10 minutes, or until golden brown and fully cooked through. (Cook time may vary depending on size of chicken tenders)
- In a small bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the honey and Texas Pete hot sauce until well combined.
- Place the cooked chicken tenders in a large bowl. Pour the hot honey sauce over them and toss to coat evenly.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
The nutritional details for recipes are estimated using MyFitnessPal and can vary with different products, measurement accuracy, and source reliability. We aim to provide accurate information but cannot guarantee the precise accuracy of the nutritional data