Crispy Panko Chicken Tenders (Printable)

Golden panko-coated chicken tenders air-fried to crisp, finished with a spicy hot honey drizzle.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders
02 - 1 tsp kosher salt
03 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Dredging Station

04 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 2 tbsp water

→ Coating

07 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
08 - 1 tsp garlic powder
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp onion powder
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil or neutral oil spray

→ Hot Honey

12 - ¼ cup honey
13 - 1–2 tsp hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot or Sriracha), to taste
14 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

# Step-by-Step:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and allow to warm for 5 minutes.
02 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels and season evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, second with beaten eggs combined with water, third with panko mixed with garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
04 - Dredge each tender first in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into egg wash, and finally coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture.
05 - Lightly spray or brush both sides of the breaded tenders with olive or neutral oil to promote crispiness.
06 - Place tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, flip, then continue air-frying for an additional 6 to 7 minutes until golden-brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
07 - While chicken cooks, gently warm honey, hot sauce, and optional red pepper flakes in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring until combined; do not boil.
08 - Remove tenders from the air fryer, immediately drizzle with the hot honey glaze, and serve the remaining glaze alongside.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you impossibly crispy chicken without the mess of deep frying
  • That hot honey drizzle hits your tongue with sweet before the heat kicks in
  • You can have dinner on the table in half an hour start to finish
02 -
  • Do not skip drying the chicken thoroughly with paper towels first or the coating will slide right off
  • Let the hot honey cool slightly before drizzling so it clings to the chicken instead of running off
  • Work quickly when breading so the panko does not get gummy from sitting in the egg mixture
03 -
  • Use a thermometer to check doneness the first time you make these so you learn exactly how long your air fryer takes
  • Make the hot honey up to a week ahead and store it at room temperature for quick weeknight dinners
  • Let the breaded chicken rest 5 minutes before air frying to help the coating set better
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