Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders Recipe
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are a quick and easy meal that combines the sweetness of honey with savory garlic and paprika, perfectly cooked to golden perfection in your air fryer. This recipe delivers tender chicken coated in a crunchy breadcrumb layer, making it an ideal snack, appetizer, or main dish for a family-friendly meal.
- Author: Cleo
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course, Snack
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Halal
Chicken and Coating
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (panko or regular)
- Cooking spray
Honey Butter Garlic Mixture
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Make the Honey Garlic Mixture: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, melted butter, minced garlic, paprika, salt, and pepper until well combined. Set aside half of the mixture to use later as a drizzle over the cooked chicken.
- Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken tender into the honey garlic mixture, ensuring each piece is evenly coated. Then, roll the tenders in the breadcrumbs until fully covered to create a crispy outer layer.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). This high temperature helps achieve a crispy exterior while keeping the chicken juicy inside.
- Arrange and Cook: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray to prevent sticking. Arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer inside the basket, making sure they don’t overlap. Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through the cooking time until they are golden brown and cooked through.
- Finish and Serve: Once cooked, transfer the chicken tenders to a serving plate and drizzle the reserved honey garlic sauce over the top for an extra burst of flavor. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- You can substitute the regular breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
- For extra crispiness, you can double coat the chicken by dipping it back into the honey mixture and breadcrumbs again before air frying.
- Adjust the amount of garlic based on your preference; roasting garlic first can mellow the flavor.
- Make sure the chicken tenders are similar in size for even cooking.
- Serve with a side of fresh vegetables, a salad, or dipping sauces such as ranch or blue cheese for variety.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 4 oz chicken tenders)
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
Keywords: Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders, Air Fryer Chicken Tenders, Crispy Chicken, Honey Garlic Chicken, Easy Air Fryer Recipes, Quick Chicken Tenders