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Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders Recipe

Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders Recipe
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★★★★★

5 from 25 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders feature tender chicken coated in a seasoned breadcrumb crust, air-fried to perfection, and tossed in a deliciously sweet and tangy honey BBQ sauce. Perfect for a quick dinner or game day snack, these chicken tenders are healthier than traditional fried versions but just as tasty.

Ingredients

Scale

Chicken and Coating

  • 1½ pounds chicken tenders (or boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into strips)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup breadcrumbs
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika

Honey BBQ Sauce

  • ½ cup BBQ sauce
  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon onion powder

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Coating Mix: In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika. Mix well to ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
  2. Set Up the Dredging Station: Place the beaten eggs in one bowl and the breadcrumbs in another. This will make it easier to coat the chicken tenders thoroughly.
  3. Coat the Chicken: Dip each chicken tender first into the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally coat evenly with the breadcrumbs. Ensure all tenders are well-coated for maximum crispiness.
  4. Preheat the Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. This helps achieve a crisp texture.
  5. Air Fry the Chicken: Arrange the coated chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and cooked through to an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
  6. Make the Honey BBQ Sauce: While the chicken cooks, whisk together the BBQ sauce, honey, apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, and onion powder in a bowl until smooth and well combined.
  7. Toss Chicken in Sauce: Once the chicken tenders are cooked, transfer them to a large bowl and pour the honey BBQ sauce over them. Toss gently to coat each tender evenly with the sauce.
  8. Serve: Serve the Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders immediately with your favorite dipping sauces or sides like coleslaw or fries for a delicious meal.

Notes

  • For extra crispiness, spray the chicken tenders lightly with cooking spray before air frying.
  • You can adjust the sweetness by adding more or less honey to the sauce.
  • Use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs to make this recipe gluten-free.
  • Chicken breasts cut into strips can be used instead of tenders if preferred.
  • Make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket for even cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: air fryer chicken tenders, honey BBQ chicken, crispy chicken tenders, easy dinner recipe, healthy chicken tenders

Find it online: https://bitesizedbenny.com/air-fryer-honey-bbq-chicken-tenders-recipe/