These perfectly crispy air fryer honey BBQ chicken tenders are smothered in a delicious honey barbecue sauce. Everyone will want seconds of this sweet and savory appetizer, and it only takes 5 ingredients, 15 minutes to make, and an appetite!
Want more chicken wing Recipes – try out my Vietnamese crispy chicken wings and Kung Pao chicken wings.
It’s Thursday. It’s almost weekend and we all crave something quick, easy, crispy, and satisfying. This air fryer honey BBQ chicken tenders recipe is exactly what you need to try. The flavor and textures are amazing, and the homemade sauce only takes a few minutes to make.
Why do you need these honey bbq chicken tenders
- Easy recipe. You only need 5 main ingredients and 15 minutes
- Air fryer recipe means less oily and more crispy. No hot splattering oil on the stove!
- No air fryer? Then, bake the chicken in the oven. Easy peasy
- Honey and BBQ always makes a perfect duet!
- Fingerlickinlicious. Period.
The ingredients
These flavorful honey BBQ tenders are crispy and smothered in sweet and spicy sauce. I love dipping these tenders in a side of ranch or blue cheese. Perfection! Now I know you’re ready for this recipe so let’s jump into it. Here’s a list of ingredients you need:
- Chicken strips or tenders. My favorite is Applegate natural spicy chicken breast tenders
- Barbecue sauce
- Hot sauce. I use Franks red hot sauce, but you can also use sriracha
- Honey. Always use a rich, dark honey for the best flavor, and not the little plastic bear
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping
- Optional: Korean pepper flakes. You can alter the level of spice with how much of this you add
How to make honey barbecue chicken
- Preheat oven to 400F, or an air fryer to 360F
- Bake the chicken strips on an ungreased cookie sheet at 400F for 18-20 minutes, or place the chicken strips in a single layer in an air fryer and air fry for 11-12 minutes or according to the packaging
- While the chicken strips are cooking, add the BBQ sauce, hot sauce, Korean pepper flakes, and honey to a medium saucepot and heat over medium heat. You can also heat this in a microwave. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat
- Dip the cooked chicken strips in the sauce to completely coat on all sides
- Serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce
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Tips for cooking air fryer chicken tenders
- Single layer: Make sure to place the chicken in a single layer to ensure crispiness. Cook the chicken following your air fryer’s manufacture guidelines
- EXTRA HOT TENDERS! How spicy your hot honey is depends on the hot sauce you use and if you add any Korean pepper flakes. I sometimes add peri peri sauce
Don’t have an air fryer?
Preheat oven to 400F and bake the chicken strips on an ungreased cookie sheet for 18-20 minutes.
Meanwhile, make the sauce by combining the BBQ sauce, hot sauce, Korean pepper flakes, and honey to a medium saucepot and heat over medium heat. You can also heat this in a microwave.
Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer, for about 2-3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat.
Dip the cooked chicken strips in the sauce to completely coat on all sides and serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce.
Storing
These saucy chicken tenders really are the best right when it comes out of the air fryer.
However, you can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat the chicken, place the leftovers back in the air fryer for about 4-5 minutes at 375F.
Can you cook frozen chicken tenders in an air fryer
Yes! Some air fryers don’t require you to preheat the air fryer so you can place the chicken right away and start cooking.
Can I use meatless chickenn
Yes! You can enjoy this recipe with plant-based tenders, such as Gardein chick’n tenders or Impossible chicken nuggets.
Best sauces to serve with chicken tenders
I like serving these with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce. And these air fryer tenders also go well with avocado cilantro dressing or garlic parmesan sauce.
Side dish recommendations
I love to serve this dish over quinoa chickpea salad or chicken adobo fries. Or turn this into chicken tenders tacos, fried chicken sliders, or copycat KFC honey BBQ chicken sandwich.
These air fryer chicken tenders are easy and perfect for crowd-pleasing appetizers or quick dinners. If you’re looking for more air fryer recipes, keep that air fryer plugged in for more of these delicious easy dinner recipes: char siu wellington, salmon BLT salad, or potato croquettes.
Air Fryer Honey BBQ Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
- 1 25-ounce package frozen chicken tenders such as Tyson
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ⅓ cup Franks Red Hot Sauce plus more to taste
- ¼ cup honey
- Ranch or blue cheese dressing for dipping
- ¼ teaspoon Korean pepper flakes optional
Instructions
Air fryer
- Set the air fryer to 360°F
- Place the chicken tenders in a single layer in an air fryer and air fry for 11-12 minutes, or according to the packaging direction
- While the chicken strips are cooking, add the BBQ sauce, hot sauce, honey, and Korean red pepper flakes to a medium saucepot and heat over medium heat. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat
- Dip the cooked chicken tenders in the sauce to completely coat on all sides
- Serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce
Oven-baked
- Preheat oven to 400°F
- Bake the chicken tenders on an ungreased cookie sheet at 400°F for 18-20 minutes
- While the chicken strips are cooking, add the BBQ sauce, hot sauce, honey, and Korean red pepper flakes to a medium saucepot and heat over medium heat. Bring the sauce to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, about 2-3 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat
- Dip the cooked chicken tenders in the sauce to completely coat on all sides
- Serve hot with ranch or blue cheese dipping sauce
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