Description
These crispy hot honey chicken tenders are coated in a crunchy buttermilk batter and drizzled with a sweet, spicy glaze. The perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and crunch makes them a must-try for any occasion!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Tenders:
- 1 lb chicken tenders, boneless and skinless
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Oil for frying (vegetable or peanut oil)
For the Hot Honey Sauce:
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: In a mixing bowl, whisk together buttermilk, salt, and black pepper. Add chicken tenders, ensuring they are fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 4 hours for more flavor.
- Prepare the Breading: In a separate bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and coat in the flour mixture. For extra crispiness, dip back into the buttermilk and dredge again in the flour mixture.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat oil to 350°F (175°C) in a deep fryer or heavy-bottomed pan. Fry tenders in batches for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown and fully cooked (internal temp: 165°F/74°C). Transfer to a wire rack to drain excess oil.
- Make the Hot Honey Sauce: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter. Stir in honey and hot sauce, whisking until smooth. Simmer for 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Coat the Chicken: Drizzle or brush the hot honey sauce over the crispy tenders. Let sit for a minute to absorb flavors before serving.
Notes
- For a milder version, reduce the hot sauce and omit the cayenne.
- Want extra spice? Add red pepper flakes to the honey sauce.
- Air Fryer Option: Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Best served immediately for maximum crunch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes (including marinating setup)
- Marinating Time: 30 minutes (inactive time, but included in total)
- Cook Time: 20 minutes (frying in batches + making sauce)
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Per Serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 19g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: hot honey chicken tenders, crispy chicken, spicy honey glaze, fried chicken, easy chicken tenders