Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Sauce

Crispy, juicy and sensationally delicious, these Air Fryer chicken tenders with honey mustard sauce are the perfect no-fuss appetizer or snack for your next get-together. 

Team them up with a side and they can also be a delicious dinner for the whole family- kids will love them too! Best of all, these barely take any time to make, and are much healthier than deep fried chicken tenders.

On rushed weekdays, I like to stick to simple, wholesome and no-fuss recipes and flavors that my whole family can enjoy- it just takes away so much of the brainwork. 

Honey-mustard is a delicious flavor that I can almost always rely on- the balance of sweet and spicy- what’s not to love?

I’ve tried making Air Fryer honey mustard chicken legs and Air Fryer honey mustard crusted salmon sometime back, but this time, I really wanted to serve the honey mustard sauce separately, along with some crispy, juicy chicken tenders. And here we are! 

Why You’ll Love this Recipe

• Crispy and delish: The tenders have an amazing crispy texture, and when teamed up with the spicy, sweet and savory honey mustard sauce, it’s just wicked delicious! 
• Easy to make: These crispy chicken tenders and the honey mustard sauce are so easy to make. You’ll need just minutes of hands-on kitchen time to make them. 
• Healthier: Air frying is so much healthier than deep frying. It barely uses any oil and you’ll still enjoy that delightful crispiness. 

Ingredients For the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Sauce Recipe

• Chicken tenders: I used pre-cut chicken tenders here, but you can also make them on your own by slicing a chicken breast if that’s what you have at hand. 
• Breadcrumbs: For the crispy, crunchy exterior. Use panko breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs. 
• Flour: Just some regular all purpose flour. 
• Eggs: To coat the chicken tenders and keep them juicy and soft on the inside. 
• Honey: To add a touch of sweetness to the sauce. 
• Mustard: Use your favorite mustard here. Dijon mustard works well too. 
• Garlic powder: Just a dash, for that delicious flavor. 
• Mayonnaise: This will be the base for the sauce, and will mellow down the spicy and sweet flavors of the mustard and honey. 
• Lemon juice: For that tanginess and to tie all the flavors together.

Variations & Substitutions

• To make an egg-free version, use buttermilk to dip the chicken tenders in. 
• To make gluten-free air fried chicken tenders, swap the breadcrumbs and all purpose flour for gluten-free versions. 
• You can also use crushed Doritos to coat the chicken tenders. That’s actually what I did when I made my Dorito crusted chicken strips. 
• You can also choose a different cut of meat like chicken thighs or chicken legs if you want to. 
• To add more flavor to the tenders, season the breadcrumbs with some Italian seasoning or a dash of cayenne or paprika if you like it spicy. 
• I followed a simple version of the honey mustard sauce here, but you could also try my copycat KFC honey mustard sauce recipe if you want to enjoy a more authentic flavor. 

How to Make Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with Honey Mustard Sauce

Prep Chicken Tenders: Start by patting the chicken tenders dry with paper towels. Season them with salt and pepper.

Set Up Breading Station: In three separate bowls, place flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumbs. Dredge each chicken tender in flour, dip in the egg mixture, and coat with breadcrumbs.

Air Fry Chicken Tenders: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil and arrange the breaded chicken tenders in a single layer. Spray the tenders with a bit of oil. Cook for 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until they are golden brown and crispy.

Make Honey Mustard Sauce For Chicken Tenders: While the chicken cooks, mix together honey, mustard, mayonnaise, garlic powder, and lemon juice in a bowl. Adjust the seasoning to taste.

Serve: Once the chicken tenders are done, serve them hot with the homemade honey mustard sauce on the side for dipping.

Storage Instructions

Refrigeration: Store your leftover chicken tenders in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If you have some honey mustard sauce leftover too, use a clean glass jar to store it. 

Reheating: To reheat the chicken tenders, use the microwave or the Air Fryer. Remember that microwaving will cause the tenders to be soft and chewy, and if you really want them to have that crispy texture, using the Air Fryer is your best bet.

Serving Ideas & Suggestions

Serve these Air Fryer chicken tenders with honey mustard sauce and an assortment of other sauces and dips of your choice. 

I love serving them with my Olive Garden creamy garlic sauce and Hooters chicken wing sauce. 

And of course, you can never go wrong with a potato side dish. Pick a simple Air Fryer potatoes and onion side or try some crispy Air Fryer Parmesan potatoes or Air Fryer accordion potatoes if you want to experiment with something fancy. 

FAQs

How will I know the chicken tenders are cooked? The best way to check if the chicken is cooked is to check its internal temperature using a meat thermometer. If it reads 165 degrees, the tenders are cooked. 

How can I check it without a meat thermometer? If you don’t have a meat thermometer, cut through a chicken tender and check if it looks pink on the inside. If it doesn’t, and the juices from the chicken run clear, the tenders are done and ready to be served. 

Can I make oven baked chicken tenders? You absolutely can! Arrange the coated chicken tenders on a baking sheet lined with parchment and pop it in an oven preheated at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. 

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

• Air Fryer Garlic Paprika Chicken Drumsticks
• Air Fryer Chicken Fajita Burritos
• Air Fryer Peruvian Chicken Drumsticks

Don’t Forget To Pin!