Honey Butter Chicken Tenders
Honey Butter Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
For the Chicken Tenders
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- as needed cooking oil spray
For the Honey Butter Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For Serving
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 2 cups steamed broccoli
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- 1
Set up your breading station: Pour the all-purpose flour onto a shallow plate. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk the large egg until well combined. Pour the panko breadcrumbs onto a third shallow plate.
⏱️ 3 min
- 2
Bread the chicken tenders: Take one chicken tender at a time and coat it completely in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip the flour-coated tender into the whisked egg, ensuring it is fully covered. Finally, coat the egg-dipped tender thoroughly in panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Repeat this process for all chicken tenders.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Air fry the chicken tenders: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Place the breaded chicken tenders into the basket in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd. Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking oil spray. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). You may need to work in batches.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375
- 4
Prepare the honey butter sauce mixture: While the chicken is air frying, combine the soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, water, and cornstarch in a small bowl or measuring cup. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Cook the sauce and coat the chicken: In a large skillet or pan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, pour the prepared sauce mixture into the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky sweet. Reduce heat to low.
⏱️ 5 min
- 6
Add the air-fried chicken tenders to the pan with the thickened sauce. Using tongs, toss and coat the chicken tenders thoroughly in the sticky honey butter sauce until each piece is well covered.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Serve the honey butter chicken tenders immediately over a bed of cooked white rice. Serve with steamed broccoli on the side. Garnish with chopped green onions or chives, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Honey Butter Chicken Tenders
For the Chicken Tenders
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- as needed cooking oil spray
For the Honey Butter Sauce
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1/4 cup water
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For Serving
- 4 cups cooked white rice
- 2 cups steamed broccoli
- 2 tablespoons chopped green onions, for garnish, optional
Instructions
- 1
Set up your breading station: Pour the all-purpose flour onto a shallow plate. In a separate shallow bowl, whisk the large egg until well combined. Pour the panko breadcrumbs onto a third shallow plate.
⏱️ 3 min - 2
Bread the chicken tenders: Take one chicken tender at a time and coat it completely in flour, shaking off any excess. Dip the flour-coated tender into the whisked egg, ensuring it is fully covered. Finally, coat the egg-dipped tender thoroughly in panko breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere. Repeat this process for all chicken tenders.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Air fry the chicken tenders: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil spray. Place the breaded chicken tenders into the basket in a single layer, ensuring not to overcrowd. Spray the tops of the chicken tenders with cooking oil spray. Air fry for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). You may need to work in batches.
⏱️ 15 min•🌡️ 375 - 4
Prepare the honey butter sauce mixture: While the chicken is air frying, combine the soy sauce, honey, minced garlic, water, and cornstarch in a small bowl or measuring cup. Whisk until the cornstarch is fully dissolved and the mixture is smooth.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Cook the sauce and coat the chicken: In a large skillet or pan, melt the unsalted butter over medium heat. Once the butter is melted and bubbling, pour the prepared sauce mixture into the pan. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce thickens and becomes sticky sweet. Reduce heat to low.
⏱️ 5 min - 6
Add the air-fried chicken tenders to the pan with the thickened sauce. Using tongs, toss and coat the chicken tenders thoroughly in the sticky honey butter sauce until each piece is well covered.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Serve the honey butter chicken tenders immediately over a bed of cooked white rice. Serve with steamed broccoli on the side. Garnish with chopped green onions or chives, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min