Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Elevate your weeknight meals with Hot Honey Chicken Tenders. Sweet, spicy with an optional homemade hot honey recipe included
Servings: 4
Equipment
- mixing bowls
Ingredients
- 1.25- 1.5 lb chicken breasts
- 1 cup dill pickle juice or any flavor you prefer
- ⅓ cup all purpose flour gluten free all purpose flour will also work
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- 3 eggs, whisked
- 4 cups corn flakes, crushed more as needed
- ⅓ cup hot honey or use store bought hot honey.
- ¼ cup oil for frying only if pan frying! more as needed
- pickles for serving optional
Instructions
- Brine the chicken. Slice the breasts into tenders (equal sizes). Add the chicken tenders to a gallon sized ziplock or a large bowl with the pickle juice. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or overnight (no more than 24 hours).
- Dredge The Chicken: Make a dredging station with three plates, shallow bowls or paper plates. Eggs, flour, and cornflakes in three separate bowls/plates. Dip the chicken tenders in the flour/seasonings mix, then dunk in whisked eggs, then cornflakes. Add the battered chicken to a parchment lined baking sheet until ready to cook.
- Choose Cooking Method. Air fry, pan fry or bake the tenders. All details are below in the recipe card. Pan Fry; add the oil to a pan, bring the oil to heat and add tenders in (about 4-6 can fit at once) let them cook for about 6-7 minutes on each side, turning often. Place cooked tenders on a paper towel or plate, continue until all are cooked. Air Fryer; Set to 350º. Spray the battered tenders with cooking spray. Cook for 15-18 minutes, flip halfway through. Bake; Place the tenders on a parchment lined baking sheet. Spritz with cooking spray. Cook on 375º for about 16-18 minutes. Flip halfway through.
- Drizzle With Hot Honey. Once the tenders are cooked through (165º F), let them cool for a few minutes generously drizzle them with hot honey, serve with spicy pickles if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Brine the tenders. You can skip the pickle juice brine, but i cannot recommend it enough! It softens the tenders and gives them such a unique flavor.
- Don't overcook the tenders. Use a digital thermometer to be sure they are cooked to 165º internally.
- Taste the hot honey as you go, be sure you don't add too much heat with the hot honey. Taste it before drizzling on the tenders.
- To Store, The tenders will keep well for 3-4 days in the fridge – reheat in the microwave, in the air fryer or in the oven. Freeze for up to 2 months in an airtight ziplock.
Nutrition
Serving: 4 tenders | Calories: 576kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 213mg | Sodium: 1599mg | Potassium: 655mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 795IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 10mg