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Crispy, juicy, sweet and absolutely delicious, these Air Fryer honey garlic chicken tenders are the perfect side or appetizer to whip up for that house party you’re hosting.
Team them up with some rice and a veggie side (like my Air Fryer snap peas) and you an easily turn these into a family-friendly weeknight meal! Love honey-garlic flavors? Also try my Air Fryer honey garlic chicken wings recipe.
I’m a bit of a sucker for anything that’s breaded, coated and then fried (read air fried)! So naturally, I’ve experimented with almost every crispy, coated appetizer recipe out there!
Everything from the classics like Air Fryer onion rings, Air Fryer mozzarella sticks and Air Fryer frozen jalapeno poppers to unique ones like Air Fryer avocado fries and Air Fryer Babybel cheese. This time, I wanted to try something more filling and wholesome. Something that I could prep ahead of time too- and chicken tenders were obviously the easiest choice.
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Sweet and savory.
⏱️ Prep time: 10 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 12 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 22 minutes.
👥 Servings: 4 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer.
❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: For an extra crunchy coating, double dip the chicken tenders in the egg mixture and the breadcrumbs.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It’s the perfect no-fuss appetizer you can put together in under 30 minutes- just like my Air Fryer Flamin’ Hot Cheetos chicken.
- The recipe is super versatile and meal-prep friendly.
- You can double this up as a quick and effortless weeknight dinner for the whole family!
Recipe Ingredients
- Chicken tenderloins: I love using pre-cut chicken tenderloins. You can use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs and then cut them into strips if you want to.
- Eggs: To help the coating stick to the chicken.
- Soy sauce: For that savory, umami depth.
- Honey: For the sweetness and to balance out the flavors. Use brown sugar if you don’t want to use honey.
- Garlic: Minced fresh, for that flavor and aroma. Use some Air Fryer roasted garlic if you want the tenders to have a bit of a smoky aroma.
- Breadcrumbs: I used Panko breadcrumbs here for that extra crunchiness. You can use regular breadcrumbs too, or just skip the breading like I did with my naked Air Fryer chicken tenders.
- Salt & pepper: To season. For extra flavor, you can add some seasonings like I did with my Air Fryer blackened chicken tenders or just use some of my homemade poultry seasoning!
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- To make gluten free honey garlic chicken tenders, simply swap the soy sauce for some tamari or coconut aminos and use gluten free breadcrumbs for the coating.
- For extra flavor, you can experiment with different seasonings and spices. Try my homemade BBQ rub which tastes absolutely delicious with these tenders, or my taco seasoning mix which tastes just as good as the packaged ones out there.
- You can also add some shredded Parmesan cheese into the breadcrumbs to make the tenders cheesy- like I did with my Air Fryer Parmesan crusted chicken.
How to Make Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders
- Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
- Whisk eggs in a bowl and add breadcrumbs to another.
Dip the chicken tenders into the eggs and then into the bowl with the breadcrumbs, coating them evenly.
- Transfer the chicken tenders into the Air Fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little room in between each chicken tender.
- Air fry the tenders at 350 F for 12 minutes, or until golden brown and an internal temperature of 165 F has been reached.
- In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic.
- Remove the chicken tenders from the Air Fryer and drizzle the honey garlic sauce over the top right before you serve.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
Enjoy these crispy air fried honey garlic chicken tenders on their own or with a nice dipping sauce of your choice if you’re serving them as an appetizer- just like with my Air Fryer popcorn chicken and my Air Fryer lemon pepper chicken wings.
If you’re making these for a game day celebration or a house party you’re hosting, pair them with some crispy Air Fryer tortilla chips, my favorite Air Fryer fried pickles or Air Fryer stuffed mini peppers and an assortment of dips and sauces, including the classic cheese sauce.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Depending on the cut of chicken you’re using, you may need to adjust the cooking time slightly.
- Just remember not to overcrowd the Air Fryer basket with too many tenders. Leave room for the hot air to circulate and crisp up the tenders.
- I used Panko breadcrumbs for the coating, but you can experiment with other ingredients too! Crushed Doritos work wonderfully if you want a super crunchy exterior- I actually made Air Fryer Dorito chicken sometime back and it turned out incredible! You can also try using oatmeal if you want to keep things healthier- I like making my Air Fryer oatmeal crusted chicken occasionally for dinner.
- In fact, you can also use crushed cornflakes for a crunchy texture, chopped pistachios (like I did with my Air Fryer pistachio crusted chicken) and even coconut flakes (like with my Air Fryer coconut chicken) to experiment with different kinds of breading.
Recipe FAQs
You can store your leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container and refrigerate them for 2-3 days.
To reheat these air fried honey garlic chicken tenders, follow my detailed post about how to reheat chicken tenders in the Air Fryer.
Check your Air Fryer basket at the 12 minute mark. If the chicken is no longer pink in the middle or if the internal temperature reads 165 F, the tenders are cooked through.
To prep these chicken tenders ahead of time, simply coat them, arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze them until they’re solid. Then transfer them to a Ziploc bag and freeze for up to 2 months, until you’re ready to air fry them.
More Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
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Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 pound chicken tenderloins
- 2 teaspoons Honey
- 4 teaspoons Soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon garlic, minced
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups Panko breadcrumbs
Instructions
- Season the chicken tenders with salt and pepper.
- Create a dipping station with two beaten eggs in one bowl and the panko breadcrumbs in another.
- Dip the chicken tenders into the egg bowl and then the breadcrumbs and place into the breadcrumbs. Coat each piece of chicken evenly.
- Place the chicken tenders into the Air Fryer basket in a single layer, leaving a little room in between each chicken tender.
- Air fry the chicken tenders at 350 F for 12 minutes, or until golden brown and an internal temperature of 165 F has been reached.
- In a small bowl, combine the honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic.
- Remove the chicken tenders from the Air Fryer and cover with the honey garlic sauce immediately before serving.
Notes
- Make sure the chicken tenders are nicely coated in the breadcrumb mixture. Do a double coat if needed to make the tenders extra crunchy.
- To prep these ahead of time, coat and freeze them until you’re ready to air fry them.
- Remember to flip them over midway during the cooking time.
- Experiment with different breading like crushed cornflakes, Doritos, Cheetos and even oatmeal.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
