Hot Honey Chicken Tenders (Printable Version)
Extra crispy chicken tenders drizzled with a warm honey glaze spiced with cayenne and hot sauce.
# Ingredients:
→ Marinade
01 -
240 ml buttermilk
02 -
5 g kosher salt
03 -
2 g freshly cracked black pepper
04 -
450 g boneless skinless chicken tenders, trimmed
→ Dredge
05 -
125 g all-purpose flour, unbleached
06 -
40 g cornstarch
07 -
5 g garlic powder
08 -
5 g onion powder
09 -
5 g smoked Spanish paprika
10 -
5 g kosher salt
11 -
3 g baking powder
12 -
2 g freshly cracked black pepper
13 -
2 large eggs
14 -
30 ml hot sauce
15 -
15 ml water
→ Hot Honey Sauce
16 -
120 ml honey (floral or wildflower)
17 -
30 ml hot sauce
18 -
1 g cayenne pepper
19 -
1 g kosher salt
→ Frying
20 -
Vegetable oil or shortening, enough to fill 1.3 cm depth in skillet
# Steps:
01 -
Whisk buttermilk, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large bowl until combined. Submerge chicken tenders, turning to coat fully. Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to tenderize and infuse flavor.
02 -
In a medium bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, baking powder, and black pepper. In a separate bowl, whisk eggs with hot sauce and water until smooth.
03 -
Remove chicken from marinade allowing excess to drip off. Dredge fully in flour mixture, pressing to adhere. Dip in egg mixture ensuring full coverage, then dredge again in flour mixture. Place coated pieces on a wire rack and rest for 15 minutes for crust to set.
04 -
Combine honey, hot sauce, cayenne pepper, and salt in a small saucepan. Warm over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld flavors. Remove from heat and let cool; sauce will thicken as it rests.
05 -
Heat oil or shortening in a deep skillet to a depth of 1.3 cm over medium-high heat until shimmering. Test by dropping a pinch of flour; it should sizzle immediately. Fry chicken in batches for about 3 minutes per side until golden and crisp. Transfer to a wire rack to drain and keep warm in a low oven if needed.
06 -
Drizzle warm hot honey sauce generously over fried chicken tenders. Use additional sauce for dipping. Serve immediately to maintain crisp texture and vibrant flavor.
# Notes:
01 -
Reheat leftover chicken gently in an oven or air fryer and add fresh hot honey sauce to preserve crispness.