Hot Honey Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Crispy and flavorful chicken tenders coated in cornflakes and drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce, all made healthier in the air fryer.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tenders
- 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced into strips Ensure strips are evenly sized for consistent cooking.
- 1 large egg For the egg wash.
- 1 splash of water To mix with egg for coating.
- 2 cups crushed cornflake cereal For the coating.
- 1.5 tsp kosher salt For seasoning.
- 1 tsp black pepper For seasoning.
- 1 tsp smoked paprika For flavor.
- 0.5 tsp cayenne pepper Adjust for spiciness.
- 0.5 tsp dried thyme For flavor.
- 0.5 tsp onion powder For flavor.
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder For flavor.
- 2 Tbsp unsalted butter For the hot honey sauce.
- 0.25 cup honey For the hot honey sauce.
- 3 to 4 Tbsp hot sauce Adjust based on heat preference.
- as needed cooking oil spray To lightly coat chicken before air frying.
- as needed minced fresh parsley Optional garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Prepare cornflake crumbs by crushing cornflake cereal in a plastic bag or food processor.
- Set up two shallow bowls: one for the egg and water mixture, and another for the cornflake crumbs and seasonings.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.
Coating and Cooking
- Dip chicken tenders in the egg mixture, then coat them in the cornflake crumbs.
- Place the coated chicken in the air fryer basket, spray with cooking oil, and air fry for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165 degrees F).
Hot Honey Sauce
- For the hot honey sauce, melt butter in a saucepan, then add honey and hot sauce; simmer for a couple of minutes.
Serving
- Drizzle the hot honey sauce over the chicken tenders and garnish with parsley if desired.
- Serve hot, optionally with ranch for dipping.
Notes
Make sure to coat the chicken strips evenly for a consistent texture. Adjust the amount of hot sauce in the honey sauce based on your spice preference. For extra crunch, double coat the chicken by dipping them in the egg and cornflakes twice. Experiment with different seasonings for a unique flavor twist.