Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders
These Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are a crispy, flavorful, and easy-to-make dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer. The chicken tenders are coated with a sweet and savory honey butter garlic sauce, breaded to perfection, and air fried until golden brown and juicy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- Cooking spray
Honey Butter Garlic Sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare the Honey Butter Garlic Mixture: In a mixing bowl, whisk together honey, melted butter, minced garlic, paprika, salt, and black pepper until well combined. Reserve half of this mixture to drizzle over the chicken tenders after cooking.
- Coat the Chicken Tenders: Dip each chicken tender into the honey garlic mixture, ensuring it is well coated. Then roll it in breadcrumbs, pressing lightly to ensure the breadcrumbs stick well and create a good crust.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray to prevent the tenders from sticking.
- Arrange and Cook: Place the coated chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping. Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through cooking, until they are golden brown and fully cooked. The internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C) to ensure safety.
- Add Extra Flavor & Serve: Once cooked, drizzle the reserved honey garlic mixture over the hot chicken tenders. Serve immediately while warm and enjoy the crispy, flavorful goodness.
Notes
- Use panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture.
- If you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake the tenders at 425°F (220°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Adjust seasoning to your taste preferences by varying the amount of salt, pepper, or garlic.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to guarantee doneness.
- For a lower calorie option, use a sugar-free honey substitute.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz (about 3 tenders)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Air fryer chicken tenders, honey butter chicken, garlic chicken tenders, crispy chicken, easy chicken recipe, air fryer recipes
