Description
Crispy and flavorful Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders are a quick and delicious meal. Coated in a seasoned breadcrumb crust and cooked to golden perfection in the air fryer, these chicken tenders are then tossed in a luscious honey butter garlic sauce for a perfect balance of sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Tenders Coating
- 1 lb chicken tenders
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons milk
Honey Butter Garlic Sauce
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons honey
Other
- Cooking spray or olive oil spray
Instructions
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and allow it to preheat for about 5 minutes to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare the Flour Mixture: In a shallow dish, combine the all-purpose flour, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper, mixing well to create a seasoned coating.
- Whisk Eggs and Milk: In another bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk until fully blended.
- Prepare the Breadcrumbs: Place the panko breadcrumbs in a third shallow dish, ready for breading the chicken.
- Coat Chicken with Flour: Dredge each chicken tender in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour for a light coating.
- Dip in Egg Mixture: Dip the floured chicken tenders into the egg and milk mixture, ensuring they are fully covered for better adhesion.
- Coat with Panko Breadcrumbs: Roll the chicken tenders in the panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to help the crumbs stick thoroughly.
- Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray or olive oil spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange Chicken in Basket: Place the breaded chicken tenders in the air fryer basket making sure they do not touch for even cooking and crispiness.
- Air Fry the Chicken: Cook the tenders in the air fryer for 10-12 minutes, flipping them halfway through to ensure even browning until they are golden and cooked through.
- Make Honey Butter Garlic Sauce: While chicken cooks, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Honey to Sauce: Stir in the honey and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to blend the flavors and slightly thicken the sauce.
- Toss Chicken with Sauce: Transfer the cooked chicken tenders to a large bowl and pour the honey butter garlic sauce over them, tossing gently to coat each piece evenly.
- Serve: Serve immediately while hot with your favorite dipping sauces or side dishes of choice.
Notes
- Ensure chicken tenders are evenly sized for uniform cooking.
- Use fresh garlic for the best flavor in the honey butter sauce.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket to maintain crispiness.
- Flip the tenders halfway through cooking for even browning.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the air fryer for a few minutes to restore crispness.
