Everybody loves a good chicken tender dish. And when the crispy chicken tender is tossed in honey-hot sticky sauce? Ummm, aren’t you already mouthwatering? I am too.
I think you have already guessed what my recipe today is! Yes, it’s none other than the honey-hot chicken tender recipe to hit the spot. And what makes it special is that it’s very easy to make, takes only a few minutes, and needs minimal ingredients.
Plus, you can make it ahead of time and store it to use the next day or two months later. Yes, you heard it right; you can store this chicken tender for up to three months. How? We will know below.
Right now, let’s jump to know the full recipe in a few simple steps. Trust me; it’s the simplest version you can ever find. And, like always, some tips and tricks are also there, so beginners can also win the game.
Health Benefits of Honey-Hot Chicken Tenders
If you’re looking for a healthy and delicious meal that will fill you up, honey-hot chicken tenders are one of the best options. These tender chicken strips are coated in a sticky honey hot sauce, perfect for dunking into your favorite vegetables or side dish. Let’s know some notable health benefits of honey hot chciken tenders.
- Honey is high in antioxidants which can help protect the body against harm caused by toxins and free radicals. It can reduce the risk of cancer and improve cardiovascular health by reducing inflammation and promoting blood vessel integrity as well.
- Honey hot chicken tenders are high in protein which can help to build muscle tissue and support your athletic goals. This means these chicken tenders can provide you with all the nutrients your body needs to build muscle and lose weight.
- They offer great flavor without having to be heavy on calories or indulge in unhealthy fats. In fact, they’re usually loaded with nutrients such as vitamins A and C, as well as potassium.
- These chicken tenders are a good source of vitamins B12 and B6, which play roles in energy production and cognitive function. These two nutrients also contribute to maintaining healthy skin and hair by converting food into energy.
- Honey hot chicken tenders also contain vitamins and minerals that benefit overall health. For example, Vitamin C boosts immunity, niacin for energy production, folate for reproduction, potassium to keep blood pressure low, magnesium to relieve anxiety and stress, zinc for wound healing, as well as manganese, selenium, chromium, and beta-carotene.
And if you have made the gluten-free version, people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity can consume them.
Why Honey Hot Chicken Tender
When it comes to food, nothing is better than a delicious and juicy chicken tender that’s coated in honey. Honey hot chicken tenders are a delicious and easy way to flavor your meal without fussing with spices. The honey gives them a warm but not overpowering sweetness, while the spices give them a nice kick.
They are perfect for any occasion and can be enjoyed as an appetizer or main course. So, try these delicious honey-hot chicken tenders, whether cooking for your family or hosting a party.
The favorable aspects of honey-hot chicken tenders don’t stop there! They’re also low in calories and glycemic index, making them great for people trying to maintain weight or manage diabetes mellitus. And the best part is that you can make them at home in just minutes using simple ingredients you likely already have on hand.
Honey Hot Chicken Tenders Recipe To Tantalize Your Tastebuds
5
servings10
minutes15
minutes250
kcal25
minutesHoney hot chicken tenders are a delicious and nutritious appetizer; you can enjoy them anytime. They’re made from seasoned boneless chicken tenders that have been marinated, coated, and then deep-fried. Finally, toss in honey hot sauce and serve with your choice of dipping sauce.
These delicious bites are made with marinated chicken tenders coated in a healthy mixture of flour, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and salt.
Then they are fried until golden brown and tossed in secret honey hot sauce.
Ingredients
500-gram chicken tenders
1 cup buttermilk
½ cup of hot sauce
1 teaspoon of red chili powder
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
1 teaspoon of Black pepper
1 teaspoon of salt
- Crisp Coating
2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of paprika powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder,
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of mixed herbs
1 teaspoon of black pepper,
1 teaspoon of salt,
- Honey sauce
½ cup of honey,
½ cup of hot sauce
½ cup of melted butter
- Equipment You Will Need
Large Mixing Bowl
Rubber spatula
Hand whisk
Skillet for deep frying,
Small mixing bowl,
Serving plate
Ten Simple Steps To Make Honey Hot Chicken tenders
- Season The Chicken Tender: In a large mixing bowl, take your chicken tenders and ensure all of them pat dried. Now add one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of pepper. Mix it with the chicken tender.
- Add Spice: After seasoning the chicken, it’s time to add the masala. Add one teaspoon of red chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder, each. Give it another good mix.
- Marinate the chicken tender: After seasoning and masala mixing we have to do the final marination. After adding the dry masala and spices, we will add liquid ingredients so the chicken can absorb the marination. Add half a cup of hot sauce and one cup of buttermilk. If you don’t like spicy chicken tender, reduce the hot sauce quantity. Use the rubber spatula or your hand and mix everything.
- Rest: Once the marination is done, levae the chicken in the corner of your kitchen countertop, wrapping it with wrapping paper. Or you can cover it with a lid or plate also. Let the chicken absorb the marination, and wait for a minimum of 30 minutes. If you do the marination at night, leave it overnight in the refrigerator.
- Make The Coating: On a wide or spread plate, take two cups of flour. Add paprika powder, onion powder, garlic powder, mixed herbs, black pepper, and salt. You will need one teaspoon for each ingredient. Now whisk them all to give it a good mix. The coating is ready!
- Coat The Chicken: Take out the marinated chicken one by one and dip them in the coating. Coat the chicken tender well. Give it a shake to remove the excess coating, and place it on another plate. Like this, coat all the chicken tenders and keep them aside.
- Fry The Chicken Tender: Turn on the stove and put a deep skillet for deep frying. Fill it with enough cooking oil and set the heat on medium-high. Once the oil is smoking hot, reduce the heat to medium-low. Now, add the chicken tenders one by one. After a few minutes, flip the chicken and fry the other side. Don’t wait until one side turns brown; we will flip and fry a few times so the chicken can cook thoroughly and turn loverly brown.
- Let The Chicken Chill: After frying the chicken tender, take it out and place them on top of a cooling rack. This will ensure no excess oil is there, and let them chill for a few minutes.
- Make The Sauce: Meanwhile, the chicken is cooling down; let’s make our honey sauce. In a small mixing bowl, pour half a cup of honey, half a cup of hot sauce, and half a cup of melted butter. Use the hand whisk to mix the sauce. I also add one tablespoon of lemon juice, as I love the tangy flavor.
- Serve: Take the chicken tender in a bowl and pour the honey sauce on top of them. Now you can use your hand or rubber spatula to mix the chicken with the sauce. But the best method is tossing. I usually toss the chicken and honey sauce until the chicken is finely glazed with the sauce. Serve immediately alongside your choices of sides, such as salad or fries. Enjoy!
You can use some chopped spring onion or toasted sesame seeds to garnish the honey-hot chicken tender.
Recipe Video
How To Store Chicken Tenders
You can store chicken tenders in a few ways. Usually, you can store these chicken tenders at room temperature for up to 24 hours in an airtight box. If you want to store it for more time, put the airtight box in the refrigerator and store it for up to 3-5 days. If you have made them in a large batch and want to store them for long later use, you can store them in two ways. One is after frying, but without tossing in sauce, another one is without frying.
Storing without frying the chicken tenders.
- After coating the chicken tenders, place them in a tray lined with parchment paper. Keep enough space between the chicken tender so they don’t stick with each other. Keep the tray in the fridge and let them chill for two hours. After two hours, take out the chicken tender one by one and store them in a ziplock bag or airtight container. Keep this in the fridge, which will be good for up to 3 months. Whenever you want to eat, take them out the previous night and thaw overnight. Then fry or bake them and serve hot tossed in the honey hot sauce.
Storing after frying the chicken tenders
- After you have fried the chicken tenders, don’t toss all of them in the sauce. Toss only the ones you need and keep the others aside. Once they come to room temperature, put them inside a ziplock bag, make the bag air less, and keep it in the fridge. Or use an airtight container, seal it properly and keep it in the fridge. If you have already tossed the chicken tenders in the sauce, it’s better not to store them for a long time. Not even in the fridge. Eat them as soon as possible or store them in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Tips and Tricks
- I have used long slices of chicken tenders. If you want, you can use chicken breast instead. Cut them into large pieces and cook them just like tenders. But while frying the chicken breast, lower the flame; they are too soft and cook faster than chicken tenders.
- To make the chicken tender gluten-free, use gluten-free flour instead of regular or all-purpose flour.
- As I said, we must fry the chicken tender by flipping it very often, so each side is well cooked, not overcooked. Overcooking will snatch the juiciness of the dish and make the chicken tenders dry from the inside.
- If you are a spice lover like me, add one teaspoon of cayenne pepper while making the sauce. This will make the sauce spicier and hot. And for tanginess, one tablespoon of lemon juice.
- You must use buttermilk to make this version of chicken tender. If you don’t have buttermilk, add one tablespoon of lemon juice to the milk and wait for ten minutes. You can use white vinegar instead of lemon juice as well.
- Toss the chicken tenders in the sauce just before serving it. Prepare the sauce and keep it aside. When you serve, just toss spread some spring onion and serve.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving | 5 people |
| Fat | 31% |
| Cholesterol | 32% |
| Sodium | 19% |
| Carbohydrate | 16 % |
| Protein | 60% |
Frequently Asked Questions
I have shared the honey hot chicken tenders recipe in detail so you don’t face any problems while making it. My next couple of answers will address some related concerns you might have. So, let’s know them.
Can you oven-bake honey hot chicken tender?
Yes, you can oven-bake honey hot chicken tender. Set the oven to 425 degrees, and bake the coated chicken tenders for 10-12 minutes or until golden and crisp. If it’s chicken breast tenders, don’t bake for more than 8-10 minutes.
How to fry chicken tenders on air fryers?
It’s simple. First, preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees for 10 minutes. Then spray the tray lightly with cooking oil and place the coated chicken tender one by one.
Put the tray in the air fryer and fry at the same heat for 8-10 minutes. After 10 minutes, give it a check. If the chicken tenders are not crisp enough, golden; fry for another 2 minutes.
What is the internal temperature of perfectly fried chicken tenders?
If you are not sure whether the chicken tenders are well-fried or not, check their internal temperature. If the temperature is 165 degrees F, it means the chicken is ready. Avoid over-frying if you want juicy chicken tenders.
How to reheat honey hot chicken tenders?
After thawing or coming to room temperature, microwave the chicken tenders for 5-8 minutes. And if you have an air fryer, use that. An air fryer will take only 3-5 minutes to reheat the chicken tenders.
Conclusion
Honey hot chicken tenders are sweet and crispy yet hot, just like it sounds. You can make this dish by deep frying or oven-bake them. And if you are highly health conscious, you still have the option of an air fryer. The best part? These tenders require very little preparation time and cannot be beaten when it comes to taste.
So now you have no option but to say a big “no” to these crispy and sticky chicken tenders. Hurry up and make these delicious tenders to satisfy our tastebuds without sacrificing health.