Description
Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are juicy, crispy chicken strips coated in a flavorful spice blend, fried to perfection, and then drizzled with a sweet and spicy hot honey sauce. This dish offers a perfect balance of heat, sweetness, and crunch, making it an irresistible appetizer or main course.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Chicken Tenders:
- 1 lb chicken tenderloins, white tendon removed
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 1/2 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/4 tsp black pepper, or to taste
For the Hot Honey Sauce:
- 1/2 cup hot sauce (such as Frank’s RedHot)
- 1/2 cup honey
Oil, for frying
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, and onion powder. Add the chicken tenderloins and buttermilk to a bowl, then toss to coat. Let it sit for 20 minutes at room temperature to marinate.
- Coat the Chicken: In a large resealable bag or shallow dish, mix the flour, cornstarch, and remaining spices. Remove the chicken from buttermilk, allowing excess to drip off, then dip each tenderloin into the flour mixture, making sure they are fully coated.
- Fry the Chicken: Heat oil in a deep fryer or deep skillet to 350°F (175°C). Fry the tenders in batches for about 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack to drain excess oil.
- Make the Hot Honey Sauce: In a saucepan over medium heat, combine hot sauce and honey. Bring to a gentle simmer and whisk for 2-3 minutes until smooth.
- Coat and Serve: Toss the fried chicken tenders in the hot honey sauce or drizzle the sauce over the tenders. Serve immediately, optionally garnished with chopped parsley or scallions.
Notes
- Ensure the oil temperature remains steady at 350°F for optimal crispiness.
- You can bake the chicken tenders at 400°F for a healthier alternative—bake for about 15-20 minutes or until cooked through and crispy.
- Adjust the heat level by varying the amount of hot sauce added to the honey.
- This dish is best served hot immediately after coating with the hot honey sauce.
- Use a thermometer to check oil temperature for safety and best frying results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tender
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
