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Air Fryer Honey Butter Garlic Chicken Tenders

Cook Time12 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: air fryer
Servings: 2

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs chicken tenders
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ cup flour
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • cup honey
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped (optional)

Instructions

Preheat the Air Fryer

  • Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and let it preheat while you prep the chicken. This helps ensure the tenders get crispy as soon as they hit the basket.

Set Up a Breading Station

  • Grab three shallow bowls—one for flour (mixed with garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper), one for beaten eggs, and one for the panko breadcrumbs.

Bread the Chicken

  • Dip each chicken tender into the flour mixture first, then coat it in the egg, and finally press it into the breadcrumbs until fully coated. Repeat with all tenders.

Air Fry the Tenders

  • Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil. Place the breaded tenders in a single layer (work in batches if needed). Air fry for 10–12 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and cooked through.

Make the Honey Butter Garlic Sauce

  • While the chicken is cooking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant—about 1 minute. Stir in the honey and let the mixture bubble gently for 2–3 minutes. Remove from heat.

Toss and Serve

  • Once the chicken tenders are done, gently toss them in the honey butter garlic sauce or drizzle it on top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley if you like, and serve immediately!