Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Air Fryer

Upgrade your weeknight dinners with our easy Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Air Fryer. Crispy, flavorful, and a snap to make! Follow along for a sweet and amazing dish that'll have everyone asking for more. Let's make tasty dinners stress-free – introducing Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Air Fryer Recipe!

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders is a yummy and simple dinner choice. They're crispy, go well with jasmine rice or veggies, and add a burst of flavor whether it's a family dinner or guests are over. Great appetizers, game day eats or any get-togethers, you can air fry or bake.

This dish draws inspiration from another recipe featured on this site, Honey Garlic Chicken Bites, and makes a great combination with the amazing green beans side dish.

Jump to:

• What you need
• How to make Honey Garlic Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Substitutions
• Equipment
• How to reheat and store air fryer chicken tenders
• Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Air Fryer - FAQ
• Related
• Other chicken recipes
• Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Air Fryer
• Food safety

What you need

• Chicken tenders
• Corn flakes
• Garlic powder
• Paprika 
• Eggs
• Salt 
• Pepper
• Avocado oil spray

Honey Garlic Sauce (Honey Sauce)

• Butter
• Garlic 
• Honey
• Soy sauce

See recipe card for quantities.

How to make Honey Garlic Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

Prepare the Chicken Tenders:

• Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C).
• In a shallow dish, crush the corn flakes to create a coating for the chicken tenders.
• In a separate shallow bowl or small bowl, whisk eggs and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
• Dip each chicken tender into the egg mixture, ensuring it is fully coated.
• Roll the coated chicken tender in the crushed cornflakes, pressing gently to adhere the flakes to the chicken.

Air Fry the Chicken Tenders:

• Place the coated chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer, leaving space between each.
• Spray with avocado oil spray
• Cook in the preheated air fryer for about 10-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.

Prepare the Honey Garlic Sauce:

• While the chicken is cooking, make the honey garlic sauce.
• In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter.
• Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
• Stir in honey and soy sauce, continuing to cook until the sauce thickens slightly.

Coat the Chicken Tenders:

• Once the chicken tenders are cooked, transfer them to honey garlic sauce pan.
• Gently toss the hot honey chicken tenders in the sauce until they are well coated.

Serve:

• Serve the Sticky Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders hot, garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired.

Substitutions

• Chicken Tenders: Can be substituted with boneless, chicken strips, chicken fingers skinless chicken breasts cut into strips or even tofu strips for a vegetarian option.
• Corn Flakes: Crushed breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, or crushed crackers can be used as a substitute for a crispy coating.
• Garlic Powder: Fresh minced garlic, onion powder or garlic paste can be used as a substitute for garlic powder for more garlic flavor. Adjust quantities to taste.
• Paprika: Smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, or chili powder can be used as alternatives, depending on the desired level of heat and flavor.
• Eggs: For an egg substitute in the coating, you can use a mixture of buttermilk, yogurt, or even non-dairy alternatives like almond milk or soy milk. This helps the coating adhere to the chicken.
• Salt: Substitute with sea salt, kosher salt, or any preferred salt type based on personal taste preferences.
• Pepper: Black pepper can be replaced with white pepper or red pepper flakes for a bit of heat. Adjust amounts to taste.

Simple Honey Garlic Sauce

• Butter: Vegan (plant-based) butter, coconut oil, or ghee can be used as substitutes for butter, depending on the flavor profile you desire.
• Garlic: Garlic powder or minced shallots can be used as a substitute for fresh garlic. Adjust quantities to taste.
• Honey: Maple syrup, agave nectar, or brown rice syrup can be used as alternatives to honey. Keep in mind that each of these has a distinct flavor, so choose based on your preference.
• Soy Sauce: Tamari, coconut aminos, or liquid aminos can be used as a substitute for soy sauce. Tamari is a gluten-free alternative, while coconut aminos offer a sweeter taste.

Equipment

• Air fryer
• Mixing bowls
• Knife
• Cutting board
• Measuring spoons

How to reheat and store air fryer chicken tenders

Storing Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders:

• Refrigeration:
  • Allow the chicken tenders to cool to room temperature before storing.
  • Place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap.
  • Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freezing (for longer storage):
  • If you want to store them for a more extended period, arrange the tenders in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  • Freeze until solid and then transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container, removing as much air as possible.
  • Label with the date for up to 2-3 months of freezer storage.

Reheating Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders:

• Oven Method:
  • Preheat your oven to around 350°F (175°C).
  • Place the chicken tenders on a baking sheet.
  • Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until they reach the desired internal temperature. To prevent drying, you can cover them with foil.
• Air Fryer:
  • Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
  • Place the tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
  • Reheat for about 2-3 minutes until crispy, shaking the basket halfway through.
• Microwave (for a quicker option):
  • Place a damp paper towel over the tenders to retain moisture.
  • Microwave on medium power in short intervals, checking and flipping them until heated through.

Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Air Fryer - FAQ

Related

Looking for other air fryer recipes like this? Try these:

Other chicken recipes

These are my favorite chicken recipes

Print

Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.