If you’ve caught yourself drooling over the delicious viral cooking videos, you’re not alone. These AIR FRYER HONEY GARLIC CHICKEN TENDERS are inspired by a viral video from TikTok, with a bit of my own flair and finesse. They’re the perfect amount of sweet, tender, and sticky, and you’ll absolutely LOVE them.

• Save

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Recipe

Uh… did you hear where I said they’re sweet, tender, and sticky? Well, if you need a little more convincing, you’ll also love that gorgeous crunch the moment you bite into the perfectly air fried chicken tenders, and remind yourself that you don’t have to compromise on taste just because you’re trying to eat healthier (especially with air frying).

These chicken tenders are also incredibly easy and quick. You’ll have a delicious dinner ready in no time, without slaving away at the stove or oven. They will quickly become a family favorite (call them giant chicken nuggets or chicken fingers to help win your kids over), and are a great alternative to take out on busy weeknights.

🛒 Ingredients You’ll Need:

• 1 Chicken Breast, boneless and skinless
• Pinch of Salt
• Pinch of Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Paprika
• 2 Eggs
• 2 cups Corn Flakes, crushed
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• 4 teaspoons Soy Sauce
• 1 teaspoon Minced Garlic

*see recipe card for detailed amounts

• Save

How To Make Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders:

1. Slice the chicken breast into cutlets (tenders). Season with salt, pepper, and paprika and rub on all sides of each piece.
2. Crack two eggs in a small bowl and crush 2 cups of cornflakes in a medium bowl.
3. Dredge each seasoned chicken tender in the egg wash, then roll each one in the crushed cornflakes and coat evenly.
4. Place all the chicken tenders in your air fryer basket, leaving a bit of space between each of them.
5. Air fry at 350 degrees for 12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
6. While the tenders are cooking, whisk together the honey, soy sauce and minced garlic in a bowl.
7. Remove the crispy air fried chicken tenders from your air fryer and toss them in the honey garlic glaze.
8. Serve warm.

• Save

• Save

• Save

• Save

• Save

• Save

• Save

Substitutions and Variations

• While I find boneless skinless chicken breasts to be the best cut for these crispy chicken tenders, you could also use chicken tenderloins (they can sometimes be a little more expensive) or skinless chicken thighs.
  You may just need to change the shape and therefore the cooking time if you have smaller chicken pieces.
• You could also use this recipe for making crispy chicken wings with the honey and garlic sticky sauce still added after they’re cooked.
• If you don’t have any Corn Flakes on hand, you can use panko breadcrumbs, or any other breadcrumbs you have on hand.
• If you’re a chicken lover that craves the crispy texture but also lives for the juicy chicken (but struggles to marry the two together), then try this: let your chicken strips sit in chicken broth for 20 – 30 minutes before you go through the other steps in this recipe.
  This can help your chicken fillets maintain their juiciness without drying out.
• Add red pepper flakes to the honey garlic sauce to make it more of a hot sauce with hot honey chicken tenders.

• Save

How To Serve Air Fryer Chicken Tenders

This is such a versatile option for chicken lovers, and you can serve them as a side dish to most meals or as a standalone main dish that takes center stage and is loved by all.

As A Main Dish – Because this is such an easy recipe, you can add a simple veggie side dish to the crispy chicken tenders to create a healthy and wholesome main dish.

As A Quick & Easy Meal – If you’re wanting to create a meal that’s even easier, slice up the chicken tenders into smaller pieces and serve on a bed of white rice or jasmine rice. Add some green beans, sprinkle with sesame seeds, and drizzle some extra sauce over the top.

As A Delicious Snack – These tenders are the perfect balance of crispy, juicy, sweet, and salty, which makes them the best snack. You don’t even have to add anything to them, they’re perfect just as they are.

As The Perfect Game Day Appetizer – Crispy chicken with a dipping sauce screams ‘Game Day’, these tenders are bound to be a massive hit. My tip is to double the sauce you make, and then pour sauce into a dipping bowl and set it in the middle of your plate of tenders. If you really want to take things up a notch, add a dipping bowl of this buttermilk ranch dressing (thank me later).

• Save

How Can I Tell When The Crispy Chicken Is Fully Cooked In The Air Fryer?

The best way to check if any meat you are cooking is cooked through is by using an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature.

For chicken, the internal temperature should reach 165F.

It’s easier and more accurate to check with a thermometer rather than guessing, so I highly recommend investing in one if possible.

How To Store Air Fried Crispy Chicken Tenders

Store any leftovers in an airtight container and place them in the refrigerator. The tenders will still be crispy when you reheat them.

How To Reheat Crispy Chicken In The Air Fryer

If you want the tenders to be extra crispy, then place them in your air fryer at 375F for 3-5 minutes. The chicken should reach 165F when it’s fully heated through.

Alternatively, you can also heat them up in the oven or microwave. The air fryer will definitely give you the crispiest chicken though!

• Save