Description
These Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are golden, crunchy, and drizzled with a sweet-spicy glaze. Made with a buttermilk marinade and a cornstarch-enhanced breading for maximum crunch, they’re a flavorful crowd-pleaser perfect for dinner or game day!
Ingredients
Scale
For the Chicken Tenders:
- 1.5 lbs chicken tenders or boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp paprika
For the Breading:
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch (for extra crispness)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and pepper to taste
For the Hot Honey:
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 tbsp hot sauce (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Instructions
- In a bowl, whisk together buttermilk, salt, pepper, and paprika. Add chicken strips and marinate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight for best flavor).
- In a separate bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
- Remove chicken from marinade, allowing excess to drip off, and coat in the flour mixture. Press to adhere well.
- Heat oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 5–6 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels.
- In a small saucepan, heat honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes over low heat until warm and slightly runny.
- Drizzle hot honey over crispy chicken tenders and serve immediately.
Notes
- For oven-baked: Bake at 425°F on a wire rack for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Air fryer option: Cook at 400°F for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Try with ranch or blue cheese for dipping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Appetizer
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: undefined
- Unsaturated Fat: undefined
- Trans Fat: undefined
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: Crispy Chicken Tenders, Hot Honey Chicken, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Spicy Chicken Strips, Game Day Snacks