5 from 10 votes
Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders
Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders are breaded chicken strips coated in a spicy, smoky hot sauce made from hot sauce, butter, honey, smoked paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder. The tenders are coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and baked or air fried until crisp and golden. The resulting chicken is crispy, spicy, and sweet, capturing the classic Nashville hot chicken flavor in a finger-friendly form.
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
25 mins
Servings:
5
servings
Calories:
357 kcal
Course:
Lunch, Dinner
Cuisine:
American
Ingredients
Chicken Tenders:
- 1.5 pounds chicken tenders or 3 chicken breasts cut into tenders
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour gluten-free if needed
- 3 tablespoon cornstarch (substitute with arrowroot starch or tapioca flour)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large egg
- 1 ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs whole wheat or gluten-free if needed
Nashville Hot Sauce:
- ¼ - ⅓ cup hot sauce I love Frank's Red Hot Sauce
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 2 - 3 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper ground
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Or preheat your air fryer to 380°F.
- In a small shallow bowl, add the flour and cornstarch. In a second shallow bowl, whisk the eggs. In a third shallow bowl, add the panko, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
- Trim off all fat and tendons from chicken tenders. Or, if using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut them into 1-inch thick strips.
- Working one at a time, dip a chicken tender into flour, make sure to coat it, and then shake off excess flour. Then, dip it into the eggs, and then finally into panko breadcrumbs. Use your hands to coat the chicken with the panko so it is fully covered.
- Repeat step 4 with the rest of the tenders.
- Oven: Place the breaded chicken tenders onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray. Bake for 10 - 14 minutes, until golden, crispy, and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
- Air Fryer: Place the breaded chicken tenders into the preheated air fryer basket and lightly spray with cooking spray. Air fry at 380°F for 8 - 11 minutes, until golden, crispy, and the internal temperature of the chicken is 165°F.
- Meanwhile, add all the hot glaze sauce ingredients to a microwave-safe dish and heat for 20 - 30 seconds. When the chicken is done cooking, drizzle and coat the tenders in the warmed hot honey and enjoy!
Cup of Yum
Nutrition Information
Calories
357kcal
(18%)
Carbohydrates
28g
(9%)
Protein
27g
(54%)
Fat
15g
(23%)
Saturated Fat
4g
(20%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
(12%)
Monounsaturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Cholesterol
147mg
(49%)
Sodium
984mg
(41%)
Potassium
331mg
(7%)
Fiber
1g
(4%)
Sugar
8g
(16%)
Vitamin A
701IU
(14%)
Vitamin C
0.2mg
(0%)
Calcium
52mg
(5%)
Iron
2mg
(11%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 5 servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 357
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 357kcal | 18% |
| Carbohydrates | 28g | 9% |
| Protein | 27g | 54% |
| Fat | 15g | 23% |
| Saturated Fat | 4g | 20% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Cholesterol | 147mg | 49% |
| Sodium | 984mg | 41% |
| Potassium | 331mg | 7% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 8g | 16% |
| Vitamin A | 701IU | 14% |
| Vitamin C | 0.2mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 52mg | 5% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.