Air-Fried Honey Buffalo Chicken Tenders Recipe
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.
- 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
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
