Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Recipe: A Tasty Delight

Crispy honey garlic chicken tenders reinvent ordinary poultry into a mouthwatering sensation that sparks instant cravings.

Golden-brown coating meets sweet and savory flavors in this irresistible dish that elevates weeknight dinners.

Delicate meat gets enveloped in a crunchy exterior, promising a textural experience that delights the senses.

Each tender carries a perfect balance of caramelized honey and robust garlic undertones that dance across your palate.

Home cooks can easily master this restaurant-quality recipe with simple ingredients and straightforward techniques.

Families and friends will devour these succulent morsels faster than you can plate them.

The magic lies in creating a harmonious blend of crisp, sweet, and garlicky notes that complement each other beautifully.

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders to Crave

• Achieve Irresistible Crunch: Double-coating chicken tenders creates an incredibly crispy exterior that delivers satisfying texture and golden-brown perfection with every bite.
• Unlock Flavor Explosion: The honey garlic sauce combines sweet, tangy, and savory notes that transform simple chicken tenders into a mouthwatering dish that tingles taste buds and keeps everyone coming back for more.
• Master Simple Cooking Technique: This recipe offers straightforward steps that even novice cooks can confidently execute, making it an ideal weeknight dinner or quick meal solution that impresses without complicated preparations.
• Customize with Ease: Flexible recipe allows adding red pepper flakes for heat, adjusting sauce thickness, or pairing with various sides, making it adaptable to different preferences and meal occasions.

What Goes Into Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

• Chicken Tenders: Lean, tender meat perfect for crispy coating, choose fresh and evenly sized tenders for consistent cooking.

• All-Purpose Flour, Salt, Pepper, Dried Thyme, Paprika: Dry mix creates a flavorful and crispy exterior, each spice adds depth and complexity to the chicken's taste.

• Eggs: Helps dry mix adhere to chicken, creates a smooth binding layer for a perfect crispy coating.

• Garlic, Soy Sauce, Honey, Red Pepper Flakes: Combination creates a sweet, savory, and slightly spicy sauce that complements the crispy chicken, garlic provides aromatic punch.

• Canola Oil: Neutral oil with high smoke point, ideal for achieving golden and crispy chicken tenders without overpowering the dish's flavors.

How to Fry Up Perfect Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

Step 1: Create Magical Coating Stations

Set up two shallow dishes. In the first dish, mix flour with salt, pepper, thyme, and paprika. In the second dish, whisk eggs until smooth and golden.

Step 2: Dress Up Your Chicken

Dunk each chicken tender into the flour blend, making sure every inch gets covered. Shake off excess flour. Next, dive the tender into egg wash, letting extra drip away. Roll it back into flour for an extra crispy armor.

Step 3: Sizzle and Fry

Heat canola oil in a large skillet over medium temperature. When oil looks shimmery, gently place chicken tenders. Cook each side for 4-5 minutes until they turn gorgeous golden brown and reach internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 4: Drain and Rest

Transfer fried tenders onto paper towel-lined plate. Let excess oil drip away while preparing sauce.

Step 5: Craft Honey Garlic Sauce

In a small pan, sauté minced garlic until lightly golden. Pour in honey, soy sauce, and sprinkle red pepper flakes if desired. Simmer for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.

Step 6: Bring The Magic Together

Drizzle warm sauce over crispy tenders or serve sauce on side for dipping. Enjoy immediately while hot and crunchy!

Serving Suggestion: Pairs wonderfully with rice, roasted vegetables, or fresh salad.

Tips for Tender Chicken with a Crunchy Coat

• Optimize Flour Coating: Double-dip chicken tenders for maximum crunch by creating a thick, even layer of seasoned flour that locks in moisture and creates an extra crispy exterior.
• Control Oil Temperature: Maintain a consistent medium heat around 350°F to ensure even cooking and prevent burning, using a food thermometer for precision.
• Pat Chicken Dry: Remove excess moisture from chicken tenders before coating to help flour adhere better and create a crispier texture.
• Drain Excess Oil: Let fried chicken rest on paper towels to absorb extra oil, keeping the tenders crisp and preventing sogginess.
• Sauce Application Technique: Brush sauce just before serving to preserve the chicken's crispy texture, or serve sauce on the side to maintain maximum crunchiness.

Keep Chicken Tenders Fresh and Ready

• Refrigerate: Place chicken tenders in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keep sauce separate to maintain crispiness.
• Reheat Oven: Preheat oven to 375°F, spread tenders on a baking sheet, and warm for 10-12 minutes until heated through. Brush with extra sauce before serving to restore moisture.
• Microwave Caution: Avoid microwaving if possible, as it will make the chicken soggy. If needed, use 30-second intervals at 50% power and check texture between each interval.

Great Dipping Sauces for Honey Garlic Tenders

• Elevate with Crisp White Wine: Pair these golden chicken tenders with a chilled Sauvignon Blanc, whose bright acidity cuts through the richness and complements the honey garlic sauce's sweet and savory notes.
• Refresh with Zesty Slaw: Create a tangy coleslaw with apple cider vinegar and green onions, providing a cool, crunchy contrast to the hot, crispy chicken tenders that balances the meal's flavors.
• Match with Roasted Vegetable Medley: Prepare a side of roasted Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes, which add earthy undertones and nutritional depth to the dish while echoing the chicken's caramelized honey glaze.
• Cool Down with Creamy Dip: Whip up a quick herb-infused ranch or blue cheese dressing that offers a smooth, cooling counterpoint to the chicken's spicy-sweet profile and helps moderate the meal's intense flavors.

Add Some Flair to Your Chicken Tender Recipe

• Spicy Southwest Chicken Tenders: Replace thyme and paprika with chili powder, cumin, and cayenne. Swap honey garlic sauce for a zesty chipotle-lime glaze made with adobo sauce, lime juice, and cilantro.
• Mediterranean Herb Chicken Tenders: Use oregano, rosemary, and za'atar in the flour mixture. Create a tangy yogurt-based sauce with tzatziki ingredients like cucumber, dill, and lemon zest.
• Asian Ginger Sesame Chicken Tenders: Incorporate ginger powder and sesame seeds into the coating. Make a vibrant sauce using rice vinegar, sesame oil, ginger, and a touch of brown sugar for depth.
• Parmesan Herb Crusted Chicken Tenders: Mix grated parmesan cheese and Italian herbs into the flour mixture. Serve with a classic marinara dipping sauce or a creamy basil aioli for extra flavor.

Crispy Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders Recipe

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4.9 from 30 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Honey garlic chicken tenders bring irresistible sweet and savory flavors to your dinner table. Crispy golden coating blends perfectly with a glossy, tangy sauce that makes these tenders a quick family favorite you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) chicken tenders

Dry Coating Mix:

• 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Binding and Sauce Ingredients:

• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ¾ cup (255 grams) honey
• ¼ cup (60 milliliters) soy sauce
• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Cooking Medium:

• Canola oil

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Instructions

1. Craft a seasoned flour blend by combining flour with aromatic herbs and spices, creating a flavorful base coating for the chicken tenders.
2. Whisk eggs in a separate shallow container to develop a smooth, binding layer that will help the seasoned flour adhere perfectly to the meat.
3. Methodically dredge each chicken tender first in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coverage across the entire surface.
4. Submerge the flour-coated tender into the whisked eggs, allowing excess to gracefully drip away before returning to the flour mixture for a second, crisp-enhancing coating.
5. Heat canola oil in a spacious skillet until it reaches a dynamic, shimmering temperature that promises golden, crunchy exteriors.
6. Carefully place the double-coated chicken tenders into the hot oil, allowing each side to transform into a rich, amber-hued crust for approximately 4-5 minutes.
7. Transfer the freshly fried tenders onto a paper towel-lined surface to absorb excess oil and maintain their delightful crispiness.
8. In a separate pan, gently sauté minced garlic until it releases its aromatic essence and develops a light golden hue.
9. Introduce soy sauce, honey, and optional red pepper flakes to create a luxurious, glossy sauce that balances sweet, savory, and subtle heat.
10. Generously coat the crispy chicken tenders with the vibrant honey garlic sauce, or present the sauce alongside for personalized dipping pleasure.

Notes

• Soak chicken tenders in buttermilk overnight for maximum tenderness and flavor infusion.
• Double-coating technique creates an incredibly crunchy exterior that locks in juicy meat.
• Sauce can be prepared ahead and refrigerated for up to three days, making meal prep super convenient.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 15 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Asian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 530
• Sugar: 27g
• Sodium: 730mg
• Fat: 16g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 72g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 28g
• Cholesterol: 170mg