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Honey Hot Chicken Tenders

Take your taste buds on a ride of delicious sweet and spicy flavors with these quick and easy hot honey chicken tenders that are the perfect party appetizer!

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
27 mins
Servings: 4
Calories: 461 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound chicken tenders
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup Italian style panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup olive oil or enough to cover the bottom of the pan for frying
  • ¼ cup hot sauce
  • ¼ cup honey

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a shallow bowl, combine the garlic powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Stir until they are evenly mixed.
  2. In a separate shallow bowl, crack the eggs and whisk them until smooth. Optionally, add a pinch of salt and pepper to the egg mixture for added flavor.
  3. Take the chicken tenders and season them evenly with the seasoning mix you prepared in Step 1.
  4. Dip each seasoned chicken tender into the egg mixture, making sure it’s fully coated on all sides.
  5. In another shallow bowl, add the Italian Style Panko breadcrumbs along with the remaining seasoning and combine. Take the egg-coated chicken tenders and transfer them to the Panko mixture, pressing the breadcrumbs onto the chicken to ensure a full, even coating. For extra crunch, you can repeat the egg and Panko coating process.
  6. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, carefully place the chicken tenders into the pan. Fry them for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F. Transfer the cooked tenders to a plate lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
  7. Note: I recommend getting the oil to around 350°F-375°F.
  8. In a small bowl, mix together the hot sauce and honey until well they are combined. If the honey is too thick, microwave it for 15 seconds and combine. Glaze the chicken with the sauce or serve it sauce on the side as a dipping sauce to preserve the crispiness of the chicken tenders.
  9. Serve the crispy hot honey chicken tenders on their own or with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, potato wedges, or a simple salad.

Notes

  • Brine it: To make the chicken tenders extra soft and tender, you can soak them in some pickle juice for about 20-30 minutes, get them out, pat them dry and then use them for the recipe.
  • Make it quick: Save a bit of your hands-on kitchen time by using some packaged or homemade hot honey sauce instead of putting it together.
  • Set up an assembly line: Keep your fingers from being fully coated in breadcrumbs and egg by setting up a simple assembly line. Set chicken tenders, whisked eggs, and breadcrumbs one after the other in separate plates or bowls, and then, all you need to do is dip! 
  • Double dip: To make the spicy chicken tenders extra crunchy and crispy, do a double coating of the eggs and breadcrumbs. Use one hand for the egg mixture and the other for the breadcrumbs to avoid messy fingers.
  • Fry in batches: This maintains the oil temperature and ensure even cooking and the crispiest chicken.

Nutrition Information

Calories 461kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 38g (13%) Protein 31g (62%) Fat 20g (31%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 3g Monounsaturated Fat 12g Trans Fat 0.02g Cholesterol 166mg (55%) Sodium 1053mg (44%) Potassium 555mg (16%) Fiber 1g (4%) Sugar 19g (38%) Vitamin A 298IU (6%) Vitamin C 13mg (14%) Calcium 73mg (7%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 461

% Daily Value*

Calories 461kcal 23%
Carbohydrates 38g 13%
Protein 31g 62%
Fat 20g 31%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 3g 18%
Monounsaturated Fat 12g 60%
Trans Fat 0.02g 1%
Cholesterol 166mg 55%
Sodium 1053mg 44%
Potassium 555mg 12%
Fiber 1g 4%
Sugar 19g 38%
Vitamin A 298IU 6%
Vitamin C 13mg 14%
Calcium 73mg 7%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.