Crispy Hot Honey Chicken Tenders are the perfect balance of crunchy, spicy, and sweet. Marinated in a flavorful buttermilk mixture, fried to golden perfection, and coated in a sticky hot honey glaze, these tenders are irresistible.
Ingredients
🍗 1 lb chicken tenders
🥛 1 cup buttermilk
🌶 1 tbsp hot sauce
🧂 1 tsp jalapeño seasoning
🧂 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning
🧂 1 tsp Cajun seasoning
🌾 1 cup all-purpose flour
🌽 1/4 cup cornstarch
🧂 1 tsp salt
⚫ 1/2 tsp black pepper
🌶 1/2 tsp paprika
🛢 Oil for frying (vegetable or canola)
🧈 3 tbsp butter
🌶 1/3 cup hot sauce (e.g., Frank’s RedHot)
🍯 2 tbsp brown sugar
🍯 2 tbsp honey or maple syrup
Instructions
1- Marinate the Chicken:
- In a bowl, combine buttermilk, jalapeño seasoning, all-purpose seasoning, Cajun seasoning, and hot sauce.
- Add chicken tenders, ensuring they are well coated.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours for deeper flavor).
2- Prepare the Breading:
- In a shallow dish, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, black pepper, and paprika.
3- Coat the Chicken:
- Remove chicken from the buttermilk marinade, letting excess drip off.
- Dredge each tender in the flour mixture, pressing firmly to ensure an even coating.
- Place coated tenders on a plate and let them rest for 5-10 minutes to help the coating stick.
4- Fry the Chicken:
- Heat oil in a deep pan or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry chicken tenders in batches for 5-6 minutes, flipping once, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature should reach 165°F (74°C)).
- Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
5- Make the Hot Honey Sauce:
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.
- Stir in hot sauce, brown sugar, and honey (or maple syrup).
- Simmer for 2-3 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
6- Coat the Chicken:
- Toss the fried chicken tenders in the hot honey sauce or drizzle the sauce over them.
7- Serve and Enjoy:
- Serve immediately with ranch, blue cheese dressing, or extra honey on the side.
- Pair with fries, coleslaw, or a fresh side salad.
Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus marinating)
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes (including marinating)
Servings: 3-4
Equipment: Mixing bowls, shallow dish, deep pan or fryer, wire rack
Cooking Tips:
- For extra crispy tenders, double-dip by dredging in buttermilk again before coating in flour.
- Letting the breaded tenders rest before frying helps the coating adhere better.
- Adjust the spice level by adding more or less hot sauce in the marinade and glaze.
Congratulations @therecipe! You have completed the following achievement on the Hive blockchain And have been rewarded with New badge(s)
Your next target is to reach 50 upvotes.
You can view your badges on your board and compare yourself to others in the Ranking
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOP