Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders Recipe
If you’re craving something golden, crunchy, and drenched in mouthwatering flavor, you’ll fall in love with these Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders. This dish combines juicy, tender chicken with a crispy panko crust and a luscious glaze made from butter, honey, and garlic. It’s ridiculously easy to prepare with just a handful of pantry staples but tastes like something from your favorite restaurant. Whether you’re feeding a crowd, the kiddos, or just yourself, these chicken tenders are the ultimate comfort food you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gather your basics, because these are all you need to whip up Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders with intrigue and chew. Each ingredient stars in its own subtle way, striking the perfect balance of savory, crispy, and sweet. Here’s what makes each one essential:
- Chicken tenders: The tenderest part of the chicken, these cook quickly and soak up every bit of sauce.
- Salt: Elevates all the flavors and keeps things perfectly seasoned.
- Black pepper: Adds a mild kick and earthy background warmth.
- Garlic powder: Infuses savory depth right into the meat and breading.
- Paprika: Lends rich color and a gentle smoky sweetness.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation for a crunchy, even coating.
- Eggs: Help the panko stick and seal in moisture.
- Panko breadcrumbs: The secret weapon for ultra-crispiness in the air fryer!
- Olive oil spray: Ensures the crust gets beautifully golden with minimal oil.
- Unsalted butter: Gives the honey garlic sauce its luscious texture.
- Honey: Adds natural sweetness that caramelizes just enough with the heat.
- Garlic (minced): Brings bold, aromatic punch to the glaze.
- Soy sauce: Balances the honey with savory, umami-rich undertones.
How to Make Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders
Step 1: Preheat Your Air Fryer
Start by getting your air fryer nice and hot, preheating it to 400°F for about 5 minutes. This ensures the chicken tenders hit a sizzling surface right away, locking in juices and setting up that irresistible panko crunch.
Step 2: Season the Chicken
Pat your chicken tenders dry, then sprinkle them thoroughly with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Take a moment to rub those spices in so every bite is packed with bold, delicious flavor.
Step 3: Set Up Your Breading Station
Line up three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with panko breadcrumbs. Dip each tender first in flour, then dredge in egg, and finally coat evenly in panko. Gently press to help the crumbs adhere—the crispier, the better!
Step 4: Air Fry the Chicken Tenders
Arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer in your air fryer basket, leaving a little space between each one. Mist them lightly with olive oil spray for extra golden crunch. Air fry at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway. Your kitchen will smell incredible as they reach crispy perfection.
Step 5: Make the Honey Butter Garlic Sauce
While the tenders are cooking, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and stir for about a minute, just until fragrant. Mix in the honey and soy sauce, letting it simmer together for another minute or two—now you have a glossy, totally addictive sauce.
Step 6: Toss and Serve
When the Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are perfectly crisp and cooked through, brush or toss them with that glorious sauce. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor, or watch them disappear as a snack or appetizer!
How to Serve Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders
Garnishes
Gild the lily by sprinkling your chicken tenders with fresh chopped parsley, sliced green onions, or a scattering of sesame seeds for extra color and crunch. A little lemon zest or chili flakes will wake up the flavors even more.
Side Dishes
These tenders are outstanding with steamed jasmine rice, fluffy mashed potatoes, or a side of roasted vegetables. If you’re dishing them up for kids, pair with their favorite fries, honey mustard, or a cool ranch dip—the possibilities are endless.
Creative Ways to Present
You can serve Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders piled high on a platter as a shareable party appetizer, tuck them inside soft rolls for irresistible sandwiches, or slice over salads and grain bowls for a nutritious lunch. Dunk, drizzle, or stack them however you like!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Pop any leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge for up to three days. The coating will stay relatively crisp, especially if you hold off on saucing until just before serving.
Freezing
For longer storage, freeze the cooked, unsauced chicken tenders in a single layer on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer to a zip-top bag. When craving strikes, just reheat straight from the freezer and dress with fresh honey butter garlic sauce.
Reheating
To bring back the crunch, reheat the tenders in your air fryer at 370°F for a few minutes until hot. Avoid microwaving, as this will soften the precious coating. Add your honey butter garlic sauce after reheating for best texture.
FAQs
Can I use chicken breasts or thighs instead of tenders?
Absolutely! Slice breasts or thighs into long strips to mimic tenders. Just make sure they’re about the same size so they cook evenly in the air fryer.
Is there a gluten-free option for this recipe?
You can easily swap the flour and panko for your favorite gluten-free alternatives. Most grocery stores now carry gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour for a simple 1:1 substitution.
How spicy are Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders?
This recipe is pretty mild as written, with most of the flavor coming from garlic and honey. Want to turn up the heat? Add a pinch of cayenne or a dash of hot sauce to the seasoning blend or glaze.
Can I prepare these ahead and sauce later?
Definitely. Bread and air fry the chicken in advance, then reheat and toss with the honey butter garlic glaze just before serving so you don’t sacrifice any crunch.
What’s the best way to get the panko coating extra crisp?
For ultra-crispy Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders, try double-coating with panko. Simply dip in egg, then panko, and repeat with a second layer of egg and panko before air frying.
Final Thoughts
Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are pure comfort food magic—crispy, juicy, sweet, and totally craveable. If you’ve been looking for a recipe that’s big on flavor but endlessly easy, look no further. I hope you try these soon and fall in love with every delicious bite!
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Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders Recipe
- Total Time: 27 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
These Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are a delightful twist on classic chicken tenders, featuring a crispy panko coating and a sweet-savory honey garlic sauce. Perfect for a quick and flavorful family meal!
Ingredients
Chicken Tenders:
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Breading:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
Honey Garlic Sauce:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
Additional:
- Olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
- Prepare Chicken: Season chicken tenders with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika.
- Breading Station: Set up three bowls with flour, beaten eggs, and panko breadcrumbs. Coat each tender with flour, egg, and breadcrumbs.
- Air Fry: Place tenders in the air fryer basket, spray with olive oil, and air fry at 400°F for 10-12 minutes.
- Make Honey Garlic Sauce: Melt butter, add garlic, then stir in honey and soy sauce. Simmer for 1-2 minutes.
- Coat Tenders: Brush or toss cooked tenders with honey garlic sauce.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately!
Notes
- For extra crispiness, double-coat the tenders with panko.
- Adjust honey amount for preferred sweetness.
- Pair with rice or roasted vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2–3 tenders
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 26g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
