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Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

Air Fryer Honey Garlic Chicken Tenders

4.50 from 6 votes
Author: Laurie Fleming
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 27 minutes
Servings: 6 Servings

Description

Sticky, glossy honey garlic chicken tenders made in the air fryer in 12 minutes. The glaze gets a quick simmer so it clings to the chicken instead of running off — five pantry ingredients, no deep frying.

Ingredients 

For the chicken:

  • 1½ lb chicken tenders
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, for the basket

For the honey garlic glaze:

  • ¼ cup honey
  • 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

For serving (optional):

  • 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
  • 2 green onions, sliced

Instructions

MAKE THE GLAZE

  • Whisk 1/4 cup honey, 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce, and 3 minced garlic cloves together in a small saucepan.
  • Simmer over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, until the glaze coats the back of a spoon. Remove from heat.

COOK THE TENDERS

  • Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Pat 1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders dry with paper towels.
  • Whisk 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper together in a shallow dish.
  • Dredge each tender in the flour, shaking off the excess.
  • Brush the air fryer basket with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  • Arrange the tenders in the basket in a single layer, leaving space between each. Cook in batches if needed.
  • Air fry for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).

GLAZE AND SERVE

  • Transfer the hot tenders to a large bowl and pour the warm glaze over the top.
  • Toss until evenly coated.
  • Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds and 2 sliced green onions. Serve immediately.

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Cooking Spray
  • Parchment Paper, optional

Notes

Glaze after cooking, never before — honey burns at 400°F. Store leftovers airtight for 3 days and reheat at 350°F for 4–5 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 245kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 26gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.01gCholesterol: 73mgSodium: 519mgPotassium: 481mgFiber: 1gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 75IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 29mgIron: 1mg