Description
These Air Fryer Honey Butter Chicken Tenders are perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, coated in a flavorful buttermilk marinade and dusted with a crunchy flour and cornmeal mixture. Drizzled with a luscious honey butter sauce with a hint of heat from optional hot sauce, this recipe offers a deliciously easy and healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken tenders using the air fryer.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Marinade
- 1 pound chicken tenders
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Coating
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornmeal
Honey Butter Sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
Others
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
Instructions
- Marinate the Chicken: Place the chicken tenders in a large bowl. Pour the buttermilk over the chicken, ensuring all pieces are well-coated. Add garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper to the buttermilk. Mix until the chicken is evenly coated in the marinade, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight.
- Prepare the Coating Mix: In a separate bowl, combine the all-purpose flour and cornmeal. Mix well and set aside.
- Make Honey Butter Sauce: In a small saucepan, melt the unsalted butter over low heat. Remove from heat and stir in honey. Add hot sauce if desired, mix well, and set aside.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: After marinating, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes.
- Coat the Chicken Tenders: Remove chicken from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off. Dredge each tender in the flour and cornmeal mixture, pressing gently for an even coating. Place the coated tenders on a plate or baking sheet.
- Prepare the Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil spray. Arrange chicken tenders in a single layer in the basket, avoiding overcrowding. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray.
- Cook the Chicken Tenders: Cook for 10-12 minutes in the air fryer, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature of 165°F/75°C).
- Toss with Honey Butter Sauce: Remove cooked tenders from the air fryer and place in a large bowl. Drizzle honey butter sauce over the hot tenders, tossing gently to coat evenly.
- Serve: Serve any leftover sauce on the side for dipping. Enjoy warm, optionally garnished with fresh herbs. These tenders pair well with coleslaw, sweet potato fries, or a fresh garden salad. For a fun twist, serve them in a sandwich or wrap.
Notes
- Marinate chicken for at least 1 hour for best flavor; overnight marinating yields more tender meat.
- Ensure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket to allow proper air circulation and even cooking.
- If you prefer spicier tenders, add more hot sauce to the honey butter sauce or sprinkle cayenne pepper on the coating mix.
- Use cooking spray liberally for a crispier crust and to prevent sticking.
- Check internal temperature to ensure chicken is fully cooked for safety.
