Oh, friends, get ready because we’re diving headfirst into something truly special today: my Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe To Savor! Trust me, these aren’t just any chicken tenders. They’re a symphony of sweet, spicy, and oh-so-satisfyingly crispy happening all at once. I stumbled upon this magic combo totally by accident one night when I had a lonely jar of honey and a craving for something with a kick. It turns out that simple combination of sweet honey meeting fiery hot sauce, tossed over perfectly fried chicken, is pure genius!
It’s the kind of dish that makes everyone at the table go quiet for a second, just so they can savor that perfect bite. Whether you serve these for a weeknight dinner or a game-day appetizer, they’re guaranteed to disappear FAST. Forget dry, bland tenders; this recipe is all about juicy chicken, a crunchy coating, and that sticky, addictive glaze.
Why You’ll Love This Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe
Seriously, why THIS recipe? Let me count the ways:
- Super Easy to Make: Even if you’re a beginner, you can totally nail these. The steps are straightforward!
- Flavor Explosion: That perfect sweet-spicy-savory combo is just unreal. It hits all the right notes.
- Crazy Crispy Texture: We’re talking *super* crunchy on the outside, but perfectly juicy inside. No soggy bottoms here!
- Crowd-Pleaser Guaranteed: Kids and adults alike devour these. They’re a hit for dinner or as an appetizer.
- Incredibly Versatile: Serve ’em with fries, a salad, or just eat them straight from the pan (I won’t judge!).
- Quick to the Table: From start to finish, it’s a pretty speedy recipe, perfect for busy nights.
Gather Your Ingredients for Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Alright, let’s get down to business! To make these amazing Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders, you’ll want to gather these goodies. Don’t worry, it’s all pretty standard stuff you probably have in your pantry or grab easily at the store:
- 1.5 pounds of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into nice tender strips.
- 1 cup of all-purpose flour – this is for our first coating.
- 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of black pepper – to season everything up right.
- 1 teaspoon of paprika – for a little color and subtle flavor.
- 2 large eggs and 1/4 cup of milk – this makes our wet mixture for sticking the breadcrumbs.
- 1 cup of panko breadcrumbs – these are key for that super-duper crispiness!
- 1/2 cup of vegetable oil, enough for frying up those tenders until they’re golden.
And for that glorious glaze:
- 1/2 cup of honey – the star of the sweet show!
- 2 tablespoons of your favorite hot sauce (I’m partial to Frank’s RedHot).
- 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar – just a touch to balance the sweetness.
- A half teaspoon of red pepper flakes, if you like a little extra fire. Totally optional, but oh-so-good!
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Perfect Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Okay, deep breaths! This is where the magic really happens. It might look like a few steps, but trust me, it flows so nicely. We’re gonna get these tenders perfectly crispy and then slathered in that glorious, sticky glaze. Just follow along, and you’ll be making your own Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders in no time!
Preparing the Chicken Tenders for Frying
First things first, let’s set up our little breading stations. Grab three shallow dishes. In the first one, mix your flour, salt, pepper, and paprika. Give it a good stir. In the second dish, whisk those eggs with the milk until they’re nice and frothy. And in the third dish, just have your panko breadcrumbs ready to go. Now, take each chicken tender, give it a good dredge in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then, dip it in the egg mixture, letting any extra drip off, and finally, press it into those panko crumbs. Really make sure they’re coated!
Frying the Chicken Tenders to Golden Perfection
Now for the fun part – frying! Get a big skillet nice and hot over medium-high heat with about half an inch of vegetable oil. You wanna make sure that oil is ready; I usually test it with a tiny bit of breadcrumb – it should sizzle right away. Carefully lay your breaded tenders into the hot oil, but don’t crowd the pan! Fry them in batches for about 3 to 4 minutes on each side. You’re looking for a gorgeous golden-brown color and that they’re cooked all the way through. Once they’re perfect, lift them out and place them on a wire rack set over a baking sheet. This is key to keeping them super crispy!
Crafting the Irresistible Hot Honey Glaze
While your chicken is doing its thing in the pan, let’s whip up that dreamy glaze. Grab a small saucepan and pour in your honey, hot sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Pop it on low heat and just warm it through, stirring gently until everything is beautifully combined. If you’re feeling brave and want some extra heat, now’s the time to stir in those red pepper flakes! This sticky, sweet-and-spicy concoction is inspired by the wonderful flavors you can get from recipes like this honey garlic chicken recipe. Seriously, the smell alone is incredible.
The Final Toss: Glazing Your Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
This is the grand finale! Once your chicken tenders are all fried up and still nice and warm, carefully add them to the saucepan with the hot honey glaze. Gently toss them around until every single tender is coated in that gorgeous, sticky goodness. It happens so fast! Make sure you get them coated evenly. And that’s it! Serve these babies up immediately while they’re hot, crispy, and gloriously glazed. They really are best right out of the pan.
Tips for Making the Best Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Alright, so you’ve got the recipe, but let’s talk about how to make these truly, absolutely, mind-blowingly *perfect*. Little touches can make all the difference, trust me! If you’re like me and crave that extra-crispy crunch, you’ve gotta try a double-dip. After the first coat of panko, dip them back in the egg and then back into the panko. It sounds like extra work, but wow, the texture is insane – think along the lines of these crispy baked zucchini fries, but, you know, chicken!
Spice level is totally your call, my friends. If you’re sensitive to heat, start with just a tablespoon of hot sauce and a pinch of pepper flakes, or skip the flakes altogether. You can always crank it up next time! And for that beautiful, even glaze? Make sure your glaze isn’t too thick or too thin – you want it just right so it coats without pooling too much at the bottom. A gentle toss is all you need!
Serving Suggestions for Your Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Okay, so your hot honey chicken tenders are ready, and they smell DIVINE! But what do you serve with them to make it a full-blown meal? I love keeping things fresh and a little bit zingy to balance the sweet and spicy. A big, colorful vegetable salad is always a winner, or how about a simple, refreshing cucumber and tomato salad? Of course, you can never go wrong with classic fries or some creamy mashed potatoes. And for dipping? A simple ranch or even a blue cheese dip is fantastic!
Storage and Reheating Instructions for Leftover Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
Now, let’s be real, these hot honey chicken tenders are genuinely best eaten fresh, right when they’re hot and crispy. But life happens, and sometimes you have leftovers! If you do, just pop them into an airtight container once they’ve cooled down a bit. They’ll be good in the fridge for about 2-3 days. Reheating them is the tricky part – you want to get that crisp back! Your oven or an air fryer is your best bet; try a moderate temperature (around 375°F or 190°C) for a few minutes until heated through and slightly crispy again. Microwaving tends to make them a bit soggy, so I’d skip that if you can!
Frequently Asked Questions about Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
You’ve got the recipe, and it sounds amazing, right? But maybe you’re wondering about a few things. Totally normal! Here are some common questions I get asked about these addictive Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders:
Can I make the hot honey glaze less spicy?
Absolutely! The beauty of this recipe is that you can totally customize the heat. If you’re not a big fan of spicy food, just start with a tablespoon of hot sauce and skip the red pepper flakes altogether. You can always add more heat if you try a little and feel it needs it, but it’s way easier to add than take away!
What kind of hot sauce works best?
I love using Frank’s RedHot because it has that perfect vinegary tang and a nice medium heat that blends beautifully with the honey. But honestly, any cayenne-pepper-based hot sauce will work great. Just make sure it’s one you enjoy the flavor of, as it really comes through in the glaze. Stay away from super thick or creamy hot sauces for this one!
Can I bake these instead of frying them?
You sure can! While frying gives you that unbeatable crispy texture, baking is a great option if you want something a little lighter or just prefer to keep things simple. Just lay your breaded tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at around 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through. Then, toss them in the glaze just like you would the fried ones. They won’t be *quite* as crispy, but they’ll still be delicious!
How do I get the breadcrumbs to stick really well?
The key is the three-step process: flour, egg, then panko. Make sure you shake off any excess flour so you don’t get clumps. Let the excess egg mixture drip off before hitting the panko. Then, really press those panko crumbs onto the chicken tender. Don’t be shy! A good press ensures they adhere nicely and get super crispy when they fry up.
Nutritional Information (Estimated)
Just a heads-up, this nutritional info is a pretty good guess, folks! It’s based on the typical ingredients and amounts we used. Things can change a little depending on your specific brand of hot sauce, how much oil you use, or even the size of your chicken tenders, so take it as a guideline. But generally, these Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are a fantastic source of protein with a good balance of healthy fats and carbs. Enjoy!
- Serving Size: About 4 oz
- Calories: Around 550
- Protein: About 35g
- Fat: Roughly 25g (with about 5g being saturated)
- Carbohydrates: Around 45g
- Sugar: Approximately 30g
- Sodium: Around 700mg
Irresistible Hot Honey Chicken Tenders
- Total Time: 35 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Crispy chicken tenders coated in a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into tenders
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil, for frying
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tbsp hot sauce (like Frank’s RedHot)
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, combine flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.
- In another shallow dish, whisk together eggs and milk.
- In a third shallow dish, place panko breadcrumbs.
- Dredge each chicken tender first in the flour mixture, then dip in the egg mixture, and finally coat with panko breadcrumbs. Press gently to adhere.
- Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Fry chicken tenders in batches for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on a wire rack.
- While chicken is frying, prepare the hot honey glaze. In a small saucepan, combine honey, hot sauce, and apple cider vinegar. Heat over low heat until warm and well combined. Stir in red pepper flakes if using.
- Toss the fried chicken tenders in the hot honey glaze until evenly coated.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For extra crispy tenders, double-coat them in the breadcrumbs.
- Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes to your spice preference.
- These tenders are best served fresh.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 oz
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: hot honey chicken tenders, spicy chicken tenders, sweet and spicy chicken, crispy chicken, easy chicken recipe, homemade chicken tenders