Description
This Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders recipe offers a perfect balance of crispy, tender chicken coated with a flavorful honey garlic sauce. Using the air fryer ensures a healthier preparation while maintaining a deliciously crunchy texture. Ideal for a quick dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer, these chicken tenders are coated in seasoned flour, dipped in eggs, breaded with panko, then air fried to golden perfection before being tossed in a sweet and savory honey garlic glaze.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Breading
- 1 lb (450g) chicken tenders
- 1 cup (120g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup (120g) panko breadcrumbs
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
Honey Garlic Sauce
- â…“ cup (113g) honey
- ¼ cup (60ml) soy sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated (optional)
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water
Instructions
- Prepare the flour mixture: In a bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, and garlic powder thoroughly. This seasoned flour mixture will be the first coating for the chicken tenders to add flavor and help the egg wash stick.
- Beat the eggs: In a separate bowl, beat the two eggs until smooth. This will act as the binding agent between the flour and breadcrumb layers for a crispy crust.
- Get the breadcrumbs ready: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a third bowl. These will give the chicken tenders their signature crunchy coating when air fried.
- Coat the chicken tenders: Dip each chicken tender first into the seasoned flour, ensuring full coverage, then into the beaten eggs, and finally into the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Repeat for all tenders.
- Preheat and prepare the air fryer: Spray the air fryer basket lightly with cooking spray or olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Place the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket without overcrowding.
- Air fry the chicken tenders: Cook at 400°F (200°C) for about 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is cooked through and the coating is golden and crispy.
- Make the honey garlic sauce: While the chicken cooks, heat a small saucepan over medium heat and combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, and grated ginger (if using). Bring to a simmer.
- Thicken the sauce: Stir in the cornstarch slurry (cornstarch mixed with water) and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the sauce thickens to a glossy glaze.
- Toss chicken in sauce: Once the chicken tenders are done, transfer them to a bowl and pour the honey garlic sauce over them. Toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve and enjoy: Serve the honey garlic chicken tenders immediately, garnished with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired, alongside your favorite dipping sauce or sides.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, use panko breadcrumbs as they crisp up better than regular breadcrumbs.
- If you don’t have fresh ginger, you can omit it or substitute with a pinch of ground ginger powder.
- Ensure the air fryer basket is not overcrowded to allow even cooking and crisping.
- Adjust the sauce thickness by adding more or less cornstarch slurry to your preference.
- To make it gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour and panko with gluten-free alternatives.
