Honey Chipotle Air Fry Chicken Tenders (2024)

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Learn how to air fry chicken tenders with this easy honey chipotle chicken crispers recipe. Chicken tenderloins are seasoned, breaded, and then air fried to crispy golden perfection. Toss them in a homemade honey chipotle sauce for a sweet, spicy finish.

If you love air fried chicken tenders, try Chicken Fried Steak Fingers, Garlic Parmesan Chicken Tenders, and Chicken Strip Mummy Sliders.

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Why We Love This Honey Chipotle Air Fry Chicken Tenders Recipe:
Ingredients you need:
How to Air Fry Chicken Tenders:
How to Serve:
Recipe Variations:
Pro-Tips for the Best Air Fry Chicken Tenders:
Storing and Reheating:
FAQ:
More Air Fryer Recipes to Try
📖 Recipe
Be sure to tag me on Instagram or Facebook when you make this Air Fry Chicken Tenders recipe! I would love to see your creation, and give you ashoutout!

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Once you air fry chicken tenders, you may never want to bake or fry them again! Enjoy them for lunch or dinner for a quick and easy protein. So skip the premade frozen chicken tenders because these homemade chicken strips have more crunch and flavor than anything you can find in the frozen section of the grocery store!

@razzledazzlelife
Go ahead and make you some of these Honey Chipotle Air Fried Chicken Tenders!! Full written recipe + instructions is linked at the top of my page. Heres’s what you need: Chicken tenderloins, cleaned and tendon removed Seasoned salt Garlic powder Onion powder Black pepper Flour, (seasoned with same seasonings as chicken) Eggs, beaten in bowl Ritz crackers, crushed Vegetable oil spray HONEY CHIPOTLE SAUCE Butter Garlic, minced Honey Chipotle paste #chickentenders #airfryerrecipes #airfriedchicken #honeychipotlecrispers #tenders #dinnerideas #airfryer
♬ original sound - Tamara

Why We Love This Honey Chipotle Air Fry Chicken Tenders Recipe:

Easy to Make! Skip the mess of grease splatter when you air fry chicken tenders instead of deep frying them. This main course is ready in just 30 minutes!

Healthier Alternative! Air fryer chicken tenders have less and fewer calories than deep fried chicken fingers.

Family Friendly! Kids and adults alike clamor for these every time I make them. The chicken is crispy with a tender center and the sauce is super addicting!

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Ingredients you need:

Chicken tenderloins: Clean and remove the tendons.
Seasoning: I use a mix of seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper.
Flour: Season the flour with the same seasonings as the chicken so the air fried chicken tenders are extra flavorful.
Eggs: Beaten in a bowl.
Ritz crackers: Crushed for coating. This provides a light, crunchy coating.
Vegetable oil: Use olive oil spray as an alternative.

HONEY CHIPOTLE SAUCE

Butter: This adds a butter, mouthwatering quality to the sauce.
Garlic cloves: Mince fresh garlic for garlic flavor.
Honey: For a sticky, sweetness.
Chipotle paste: This puree adds a touch of heat to the sauce.

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How to Air Fry Chicken Tenders:

Clean and Season Chicken Tenderloins

Clean your chicken thoroughly, and remove the tendon out of each tenderloin.

Prepare Dredging Station

Set up your dredging station by adding your flour into a bowl and season the flower with the same seasonings you used for the chicken. Mix the seasonings into the flour until fully combined. Now add the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk them until they are mixed well.

Add the Ritz crackers into a large Ziplock bag and use a rolling pin or back of a skillet to crush the crackers into fine crumbs.

Start by coating the chicken tender in flour, knock off as much flour as you can, then dip the tender into the egg mixture, then back into the flour, back in the egg, and then into the bag with the crushed crackers.

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Shake the Ziploc bag around until the tender is fully coated with the cracker crumbs. Press the crackers into the chicken. Remove it from the bag and set it aside on a cooling rack while you repeat the process for all of the other tenders.

Air Fry Chicken Tenders

After coating the chicken tenders, add them to the air fryer basket in one single layer. Spray them liberally with vegetable oil. Set the air fryer to 390ºF and cook for 10 minutes on the first side.

Flip the tenders over, spray with more vegetable oil, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the tenders from the air fryer and set them aside. Continue cooking all of the chicken tenders until they are cooked through.

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Prepare Honey Chipotle Sauce

Add the butter into a skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add in the minced garlic. Cook the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Now add in the honey and the chipotle paste. Stir the mixture until everything is fully combined. Simmer on low for about 1-2 minutes.

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Toss the chicken tenders in the honey chipotle sauce. Serve with your favorite condiments. Finally, ENJOY!

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How to Serve:

Your Favorite Dipping Sauce: You can use ranch dressing, blue cheese dressing, Creamy Chipotle Sauce, or Copycat In-n-Out Sauce.
Potatoes: For a fast food-inspired meal, serve the tenders with french fries or sweet potato fries. Alternatively, serve them with Crispy Smashed Potatoes or Garlic Parmesan Roasted Purple Potatoes.
Salad: Place them over a simple salad for a well-balanced meal.

Recipe Variations:

Sauce: Not a fan of honey chipotle sauce? Toss the chicken tenders in buffalo sauce, barbeque sauce, or whatever sauce you prefer. You can also serve them as is with no sauce at all.
Chicken: If you are in a pinch, you can use chicken breasts but the cooking time will vary because breasts are thicker. Slice them thin to stay true to this recipe.
Breadcrumbs: Instead of Ritz, try Panko or crushed cornflakes.

Pro-Tips for the Best Air Fry Chicken Tenders:

Place the chicken fingers in a single layer in the air fryer basket so the heat can properly circulate.
Do not overcrowd the air fryer. Otherwise, they will steam instead of crisping up. Cook in batches if necessary.
Remember to flip the chicken after 10 minutes, for even cooking.

Storing and Reheating:

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, add them to the air fryer for 5-8 minutes at 370ºF. I do not recommend the microwave because the chicken will become soggy.

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FAQ:

Can you cook raw chicken in an air fryer?

Yes, you can cook raw chicken in an air fryer.

How long do you cook raw tenders in the air fryer?

When cooked from raw at 390ºF, chicken tenders have a cook time of 15 minutes.

Why is my air fried chicken tough?

If overcooked, your chicken may be tough. Chicken is done once it reaches an internal temperature of 160ºF.

More Air Fryer Recipes to Try

Air Fryer Shrimp
Air Fryer Crab Rangoon
Hot Honey Lemon Pepper Wing
Cheesy Garlic Naan

📖 Recipe

Yield: 8 servings

Honey Chipotle Air Fry Chicken Tenders

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

8 Chicken tenderloins, cleaned and tendon removed
1 tablespoon Seasoned salt
2 teaspoons Garlic powder
1 teaspoon Onion powder
1 teaspoon Black pepper
1 cup Flour, (seasoned with same seasonings as chicken)
2 large Eggs, beaten in bowl
2 cups Ritz crackers, crushed
Vegetable oil spray

HONEY CHIPOTLE SAUCE

1 tablespoon Butter
2 cloves Garlic, minced
3 tablespoons Honey
2 tablespoons Chipotle paste

Instructions

Clean your chicken thoroughly, and remove the tendon out of each tenderloin.
Add your clean chicken into a large bowl and sprinkle with all of the seasonings including the seasoned salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Set the chicken aside.
Set up your dredging station by adding your flour into a bowl and season the flower with the same seasonings you used for the chicken. Mix the seasonings into the flour until fully combined. Now add the eggs into a separate bowl and whisk them until they are mixed well.
Add the Ritz crackers into a large Ziplock bag and use a rolling pin or back of a skillet to crush the crackers into fine crumbs.
Start by coating the chicken tender in flour, knock off as much flour as you can, then dip the tender into the egg mixture, then back into the flour, back in the egg, and then into the bag with the crushed crackers.
Shake the Ziploc bag around until the tender is fully coated with the cracker crumbs. Press the crackers into the chicken. Remove it from the bag and set it aside on a cooling rack while you repeat the process for all of the other tenders.
Once the chicken tenders are coated with the breading, add them to the air fryer in one single layer. Spray them liberally with vegetable oil. Put it on the air fryer method on 390ºF and cook for 10 minutes on the first side.
Flip the tenders over, spray with more vegetable oil, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the tenders from the air fryer and set them aside. Continue cooking all of the chicken tenders until they are cooked through.

Honey Chipotle Sauce

Add the butter into a skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add in the minced garlic. Cook the garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Now add in the honey and the chipotle paste. Stir the mixture until everything is fully combined. Simmer on low for about 1-2 minutes.
Toss the chicken tenders in the honey chipotle sauce. Serve with your favorite condiments, and ENJOY!