Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders
Make incredibly juicy and flavorful chicken tenders with a crispy exterior using your air fryer. This recipe features a simple, sweet, and savory honey butter garlic sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 12 min
- Total Time: 22 min
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Air Frying
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch strips (tenders)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour (optional, for light coating)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, toss the chicken tenders with salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. If you want a slightly crispier coating, lightly dust the tenders with flour and shake off the excess.
- Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C) for 5 minutes.
- Arrange the chicken tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Do not overcrowd; work in batches if necessary.
- Lightly spray the tops of the tenders with cooking spray or brush with a small amount of olive oil.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes, flipping the tenders halfway through, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and they are golden brown.
- While the chicken cooks, prepare the sauce. In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for about 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
- Stir in the honey, soy sauce, and lemon juice. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 1 minute until slightly thickened. Remove from heat.
- Once the chicken tenders are cooked, place them in a large bowl. Pour the honey butter garlic sauce over the tenders and toss gently until every piece is coated.
- Serve immediately as a quick weeknight chicken dinner or easy air fryer appetizer.
Notes
- For the best results and maximum crispiness, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Cook in smaller batches if needed.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce coating, let the sauce simmer for an extra minute or two until it reduces slightly more.
- These tenders pair well with a side of steamed broccoli or a simple coleslaw.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 tenders
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 450
- Fat: 15
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Unsaturated Fat: 8
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 0
- Protein: 38
- Cholesterol: 110