Air-Fried Honey Buffalo Chicken Tenders Recipe

Introduction

These Air-Fried Honey Buffalo Chicken Tenders are a perfect balance of crispy, spicy, and sweet flavors. With a crunchy cornflake coating and a sticky honey buffalo sauce, they offer a delicious twist on classic chicken tenders that’s easy to make at home using an air fryer.

Ingredients

• 1 lb chicken tenderloins
• 1 tbsp cajun seasoning (or all-purpose poultry seasoning)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
• 2-3 cups plain corn flakes, crushed into coarse crumbs
• Oil spray
• 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce (not hot sauce, ensure it’s wing sauce)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-2 tbsp honey

Instructions

1. Step 1: Prepare your work station. In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour and seasoning. In a second shallow dish, whisk the eggs and milk until smooth. In a third shallow dish, place the crushed corn flakes.
2. Step 2: Pat the chicken tenders dry. Working in batches, coat each tender in the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Then dip into the egg mixture, coating both sides thoroughly.
3. Step 3: Remove tenders from the egg mixture and let excess drip off. Press each into the crushed corn flakes, patting to help crumbs stick well.
4. Step 4: Arrange the coated chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the tops with oil. Air-fry at 400°F for 5 minutes. Flip tenders, spray again, and cook for another 5 minutes. Flip one last time and cook for 1-3 more minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Step 5: In a shallow dish, whisk together buffalo wing sauce, minced garlic, and honey. Warm the mixture in the microwave for 30-45 seconds to melt the honey, then whisk again.
6. Step 6: Toss the cooked chicken tenders in the honey buffalo sauce until evenly coated on both sides. Serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Substitute plain corn flakes with crushed panko breadcrumbs for an extra crispy texture.
• Adjust the honey amount to control sweetness according to your taste.
• For a milder version, use mild buffalo wing sauce or reduce the garlic amount.
• Make sure to spray the chicken with oil before air frying to achieve a golden, crispy exterior.

Storage

Store leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, place them in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until heated through and crispy again. Avoid microwaving to prevent sogginess.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular hot sauce instead of buffalo wing sauce?

Buffalo wing sauce has a unique balance of flavor and tanginess that differs from regular hot sauce. Using hot sauce alone may result in a spicier and less balanced coating, so it’s best to stick with wing sauce for this recipe.

Do I have to use an air fryer for this recipe?

While the air fryer gives these tenders their crispy texture without deep frying, you can also bake them in a preheated oven at 400°F for about 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through. Just expect slightly less crunch compared to the air fryer.

Air-Fried Honey Buffalo Chicken Tenders Recipe

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5 from 101 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Air-Fried Honey Buffalo Chicken Tenders coated in a crunchy cornflake crust seasoned with Cajun spices, then tossed in a sweet and tangy honey buffalo wing sauce. A healthier alternative to traditional fried chicken tenders, made quickly in the air fryer for a delicious appetizer or main dish.

• Author: Maya
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 13 minutes
• Total Time: 23 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Appetizer
• Method: Air Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Chicken Tenders

• 1 lb chicken tenderloins
• 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning (or all-purpose poultry seasoning)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup milk or buttermilk
• 2–3 cups plain corn flakes (crushed into coarse crumbs)
• Oil spray

Honey Buffalo Sauce

• 1/3 cup buffalo wing sauce (not hot sauce, ensure it’s wing sauce)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1–2 tbsp honey

Instructions

1. Prep your workstation: In a shallow dish, whisk together flour and Cajun seasoning. In a second shallow dish, whisk eggs and milk until smooth. In a third shallow dish, add crushed corn flakes.
2. Coat the chicken: Pat the chicken tenders dry. Working in batches, toss each tender into the seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Then dip into the egg mixture, coating both sides thoroughly.
3. Apply corn flakes crust: Remove chicken from egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, then transfer to the crushed corn flakes. Pat gently to ensure the coating sticks well.
4. Air fry the tenders: Place the chicken tenders in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Spray the tops lightly with oil. Air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes. Flip the tenders, spray again with oil, and cook for another 5 minutes. Flip one last time and cook an additional 1-3 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the coating is crispy and golden.
5. Prepare the honey buffalo sauce: In a shallow dish, whisk together the buffalo wing sauce, minced garlic, and honey. Microwave for 30-45 seconds to warm and melt the honey, then whisk again to combine thoroughly.
6. Toss the chicken: Add the hot air-fried chicken tenders to the sauce and toss to evenly coat each piece on both sides with the honey buffalo sauce.

Notes

• Use plain corn flakes for the best crunchy coating; avoid flavored varieties.
• Adjust the amount of honey in the sauce to your desired sweetness level.
• Ensure chicken tenders reach an internal temperature of 165°F for safe consumption.
• For spicier flavor, add cayenne or extra hot sauce to the buffalo wing sauce.
• This recipe works well with air fryers of different sizes; cook tenders in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding.

Keywords: air fried chicken tenders, honey buffalo chicken, crispy chicken tenders, air fryer recipes, buffalo wing sauce, honey buffalo chicken tenders