Crispy Panko Chicken Tenders (Printable Version)

Golden chicken tenders coated in seasoned panko, air-fried to crisp perfection and drizzled with spicy honey.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.1 lb boneless, skinless chicken tenders
02 - 1 tsp kosher salt
03 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper

→ Dredging Station

04 - ½ cup all-purpose flour
05 - 2 large eggs
06 - 2 tbsp water

→ Coating

07 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
08 - 1 tsp garlic powder
09 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
10 - ½ tsp onion powder
11 - 2 tbsp olive oil or neutral oil spray

→ Hot Honey Sauce

12 - ¼ cup honey
13 - 1–2 tsp hot sauce (e.g., Franks RedHot or Sriracha), to taste
14 - ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes.
02 - Pat chicken tenders dry with paper towels and season evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
03 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with whisked eggs and water, and one with mixed panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and onion powder.
04 - Dredge each tender in flour, shaking off excess, dip into egg wash, then coat thoroughly with the seasoned panko mixture.
05 - Lightly spray or brush both sides of the breaded chicken tenders with olive oil or neutral oil spray.
06 - Place tenders in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, flip, then cook for an additional 6 to 7 minutes until golden and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
07 - Combine honey, hot sauce, and red pepper flakes in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, stirring gently until combined. Avoid boiling.
08 - Drizzle the hot honey over the cooked chicken tenders immediately and serve extra honey on the side.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The air fryer gives you that deep fried crunch without turning your kitchen into a greasy mess
  • That hot honey drizzle hits every craving at once sweet heat salt and crunch in one bite
  • These come together fast enough for a weeknight but feel special enough for guests
02 -
  • Do not skip the flour dip even if it seems like extra work this is what keeps the egg and panko from sliding off during cooking
  • Let the tenders rest for about 2 minutes after air frying before drizzling the honey so the crust sets up and does not get soggy
  • Warm the honey just until combined if it bubbles it has gotten too hot and will harden into a glaze instead of staying drizzly
03 -
  • Buy panko in the Japanese aisle not the breadcrumb aisle the flakes are larger and stay crunchier longer
  • Let your chicken tenders come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before breading so they cook evenly all the way through
  • Serve the honey warmed not cold so it drizzles beautifully instead of clumping up on the crispy crust
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