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Hot Honey Chicken Tenders Recipe

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4.3 from 7 reviews

Crispy and flavorful Hot Honey Chicken Tenders marinated in buttermilk, coated with a seasoned flour mixture, and pan-fried to golden perfection. Finished with a sweet and spicy hot honey drizzle that adds a perfect balance of heat and sweetness, making these tenders a delicious snack or meal.

Ingredients

Chicken and Coating

  • 2½ pounds chicken tenderloins
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 tablespoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup oil, plus more as needed (your preferred cooking oil)

Hot Honey Drizzle

  • ¼ cup honey
  • 1½ teaspoons hot sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Marinate chicken: Pour buttermilk over chicken tenderloins in a bowl and stir to coat evenly. Cover and refrigerate while you prepare the coating mixture and hot honey drizzle to tenderize and add moisture to the chicken.
  2. Prepare coating: In a shallow dish, combine the flour, paprika, salt, and ground black pepper. Mix well to create a flavorful coating base.
  3. Make hot honey drizzle: In a small bowl, whisk together honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes. Adjust hot sauce and red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level. Set aside for serving.
  4. Coat chicken: Remove chicken from buttermilk marinade and dredge each piece liberally in the flour mixture, ensuring all sides are well coated. Repeat until all tenders are coated.
  5. Heat oil: Add oil to a large skillet and heat over medium heat until shimmering hot but not smoking.
  6. Cook chicken: Place the coated chicken tenders in the hot skillet in a single layer without crowding or touching. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side until golden brown, then flip and continue cooking for another 4-5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165˚F (74°C).
  7. Drain and repeat: Transfer cooked tenders to a paper towel-lined plate to remove excess oil. Repeat cooking process in batches, adding more oil to the skillet as needed.
  8. Serve: Arrange the cooked chicken tenders on a platter and drizzle the hot honey mixture evenly over the top. Optionally, serve additional hot honey on the side for dipping or drizzling to taste.

Notes

  • Use a digital meat thermometer to ensure chicken is fully cooked to 165˚F without overcooking.
  • Adjust the amount of hot sauce and red pepper flakes in the honey drizzle according to your preferred spice tolerance.
  • For extra crispiness, double dredge the chicken by dipping back into buttermilk and then flour again before frying.
  • You may substitute buttermilk with milk mixed with 1 tablespoon lemon juice or vinegar if buttermilk is unavailable.
  • Use an oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable or canola oil for best frying results.

Find it online: https://marthatasty.com/hot-honey-chicken-tenders-recipe/