Description
Crispy hot honey chicken tenders air-fried to perfection with cornflake crumbs. A quick, easy recipe featuring a homemade hot honey glaze that balances sweet and spicy. Serve with optional garnish for an irresistible, restaurant-style main course.
Ingredients
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (slice into 1-inch strips)
1 large egg (add a splash of water for wash)
2 cups crushed cornflake cereal (or panko as a substitute)
1½ tsp Kosher salt (or fine sea salt)
1 tsp black pepper (freshly ground recommended)
1 tsp smoked paprika (regular paprika works)
½ tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
½ tsp dried thyme (swap with oregano if preferred)
½ tsp onion powder (garlic powder works)
½ tsp garlic powder (use fresh garlic sparingly)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted
¼ cup honey
3–4 Tbsp hot sauce (Frank’s RedHot or alternative)
Avocado oil spray (or any high-heat cooking spray)
Optional: fresh parsley (or chives/cilantro for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat air fryer at 375°F (190°C) for 3 minutes.
Beat egg in a shallow dish with a splash of water.
In another dish, mix crushed cornflakes with salt, pepper, paprika, cayenne, thyme, onion, and garlic powders.
Dip chicken strips in egg wash, then press into crumb mixture, coating evenly.
Spray both sides lightly with avocado oil to ensure crispiness.
Arrange tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket (avoid overcrowding).
Air fry for 8 minutes, flip, and cook 2 minutes more until golden and crisp.
Meanwhile, mix honey, hot sauce, and melted butter in a bowl.
With 3 minutes of cooking time left, brush sauce onto chicken.
Garnish with parsley/chives before serving.
Notes
Use a shallow dish for egg wash and crumb mixture to streamline coating.
For juicier tenders, substitute chicken thighs.
Adjust hot sauce amount to taste (e.g., BBQ sauce for variation).
Reapply hot honey sauce after cooking if wanted for extra sweetness.
Air fryer capacity may require cooking in batches (10 minutes per batch).
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat in air fryer for 2–3 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 10
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 chicken tender
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 3g
- Saturated Fat: 1.4g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg